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Newcastle Jets Women’s side have walked away with a share of the points after a frenetic match against Perth Glory at No.2 Sportsground in Newcastle on Sunday.
The Jets started the match dominating territory despite an even split of possession, the home side led by their triumvirate of American imports down their left flank Cannon Clough, Murphy Agnew and Sarah Griffith.
Two of the best opportunities for Newcastle to open the scoring fell to right back Tessa Tamplin who couldn’t quite control a chance in the 32nd minute in the penalty area, nor steer a longer-range effort two minutes later quite on target.
Despite having more chances on goal in the first half the Jets were beaten on to the scoresheet by the visitors in the 41st minute when Rylee Baiden scored the first of a brace to put Perth in front heading into the break.
It was more of the same to start the second half as Newcastle came out with energy lead by their effervescent skipper Cass Davis, who was a constant presence through the midfield alongside Emily Garnier pressing and breaking up any Perth incursions towards goal, while at the other end the Jets’ front three of Griffith, Tara Andrews and Lauren Allan continued to press their chances trying to open their account.
It was Allan, who in the 54th minute gained the breakthrough as she picked the pocket of defender Isabella Wallhead to take possession inside the 18-yard box before deftly chipping Perth goalkeeper Sarah Langman to get the home side back on level terms.
However, the scoreboard equality did not last long as four minutes later Perth took advantage of an unmarked player from a free-kick near halfway to set up Wallhead for her redemption as she broke away down the left flank before crossing into the six-yard box, finding the head of Baisden who duly nodded it past Jets shot-stopper Georgina Worth to snatch the lead back for the Glory.
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The Jets looked to have clawed back to level pegging when fresh substitute Sophie Stapleford had the ball spill to her feet on the edge of the 18-yard box after an Agnew free kick, however the well-struck volley was marginally off target and rattled the outside of the net and the Glory maintained their lead.
It was only two minutes later when the ball came to an unmarked Baisden inside the penalty area, however the strike ballooned well over the crossbar. The Jets quickly made the visitors pay as a long-range through-ball from Stapleford found fellow substitute Ash Brodigan, who took the ball to the outside of Liz Anton before taking on keeper Langman one-on-one and calmly slotting it home to bring the Jets back on to level footing at 2-2.
Both sides had a number of opportunities to turn one competition point into three in the final 15 minutes, with the pick of these being a shot that rattled the crossbar and inexplicably did not go in from Perth striker Baisden, while the Jets had a hearty shout for a penalty in the 82nd minute when Clough was dispossessed firmly by Sarah Cain inside the penalty area, but neither side was able to find the dagger blow to take maximum points.
Both sides will now look to regroup. The Jets will look to continue their alternating loss-win record next Saturday against ladder-leaders Melbourne City away from home at Casey Fields, while Perth will be looking for their first win of the season as they host City’s cross-town rivals Melbourne Victory next Sunday at Macedonia Park in Perth.
