Reigning Westfield W-League champions Sydney FC have maintained their winning form with a thumping 4-0 win over a youthful Newcastle Jets in Wollongong on Saturday.
Reigning Westfield W-League champions Sydney FC have maintained their winning form with a thumping 4-0 win over a youthful Newcastle Jets in Wollongong on Saturday.
Jodie Taylor bagged a double for Sydney, while Renee Rollason and Sam Kerr were also on the scoresheet against a brave Jets side who battled gamely throughout on a sodden pitch.
The scoreline flattered the Sky Blues who, having opened the season with a sparkling 5-1 win over the Melbourne Victory, were not at their fluent best – only to run away with the contest thanks to three goals in the latter stages of the match.
Sydney made one change to the last week’s side with Emma Kete brought in, and Ellyse Perry dropping to the bench after being on the wrong end of a crunching tackle last weekend against the Victory.
Both teams hit the frame of the goal on numerous occasions, with the Jets’ very unlucky not to earn at least a consolation, with Tara Andrews notably seeing her effort rock the crossbar.
Sydney striker Taylor set the tone early hitting the post with only the goalkeeper to beat after being set free by Kete.
Taylor had another chance within a matter of minutes, this time from a more acute angle, but Eliza Campbell was out bravely to smother the shot.
The usually deadly Sky Blues striker Leena Khamis pushed an effort wide from near the penalty spot, while Hannah Beard’s long-range effort sailed narrowly over.
A scrappy opening half seemed set to end goalless, only for Rollason to produce a moment of magic with virtually the last kick.
The central defender curled a delightful free-kick over the wall and inside the near post for a perfectly timed Sky Blues opener.
After the break Andrews, who hit a memorable long-range winner against Sydney a few seasons back, seemed set to reprise that goal but her sweet strike from distance pinged against the underside of the bar and onto the line before bouncing away to safety.
Taylor was then twice denied by some desperate last-ditch defence in the penalty area, before it was the turn of Nicola Bolger to rock the underside of the bar in a near-carbon copy of Andrews’ effort a few minutes earlier.
Sydney FC finally doubled their lead with Kerr pushing home from point-blank range at the far post, after Rollason’s free-kick caused havoc in the defence.
Newcastle were denied reward for their enterprise with two crosses within a matter of seconds from Hannah Beard and Rhali Dobson striking Casey Dumont’s crossbar.
A couple of late goals blew out the scoreline for the Jets, much like last week in a 5-2 loss against Perth.
Taylor finally got on the scoresheet with 10 minutes remaining by turning in Perry’s incisive cross from close range.
Amazingly, the post again prevented another goal with Trudy Camilleri this time denied.
Taylor nabbed a second in the final minute with another poacher’s finish, again tapping in from close range after profiting from Chloe Logarzo’s assist.
Sydney FC 4 (Rollason 45, Kerr 68, Taylor 80, 89)
Newcastle Jets 0
Sydney FC: Casey Dumont (gk), Teresa Polias, Alesha Clifford (Ellyse Perry 46-), Liz Ralston, Nicola Bolger, Amy Harrison (Chloe Logarzo 82-), Renee Rollason, Jodie Taylor, Emma Kete, Leena Khamis (Trudy Camilleri 70-), Sam Kerr
Subs: Sham Khamis (gk)
Cautions: Nil
Newcastle Jets: Eliza Campbell (gk), Stacey Day, Siahn Bozanic (Sophie Nenadovic 73-), Ashley Spina, Gema Simon, Tara Andrews, Rhali Dobson, Hannah Beard, Jasmin Courtenay (Lauren Brown 73-), Cassidy Davis (Elizabeth Copus-Brown 80-), Adriana Jones
Subs: Claire Coelho (gk)
Cautions: Nil
