The Western Sydney Wanderers were denied a response on the road, going down 1-0 to the Newcastle Jets in a tightly contested Ninja A-League clash.
The Jets started strongly, with Melina Ayres testing Sham Khamis early, but the Wanderers keeper was alert to make a solid save in the fifth minute.Â
The Red & Black briefly played with ten players as Ella Buchanan received treatment, and Newcastle nearly capitalised, with last-ditch defending keeping out Libby Copus-Brown before Ayres headed wide moments later.
The Wanderers looked to respond, with Olivia Price linking up well and nearly finding Sony in behind, but Jets keeper Anna Leat was well-positioned to clear. Holly Caspers then tested her own shooting range with a long-distance effort that went just wide, as Western Sydney continued to probe for an equaliser.
Newcastle broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, with Lauren Allan finding the net. The Wanderers responded immediately, with Buchanan powering down the left and winning a corner. Amy Harrison’s delivery was met by Poppie Hooks, who headed just wide.
The second half saw the Wanderers continue to create chances. Price controlled well in tight space inside the box in the 59th minute but was denied by a strong block.
Allyssa Ng-Saad went close in the 77th minute with a left-footed effort from outside the box, keeping pressure on the Jets.
Khamis was again the standout performer for Western Sydney, producing a string of top-class saves in the final stages.
She tipped a long-range strike from Ayres over the bar in the 85th minute, kept out a dangerous overhead kick at the 90th minute, and denied a one-on-one against Adams in stoppage time to keep the scoreline respectable.
Despite the defensive heroics and periods of attacking pressure, the Wanderers were unable to find the equaliser and will regroup as they look ahead to their next Ninja A-League clash.
