The Jets youth, boosted by senior squad members Ben Kantarovski, Josh Brillante, Josh Mitchell, Taylor Regan, Ben Kennedy, Jacob Pepper and Andrew Hoole, went down 3-2 to Western Sydney Wanderers at Adamstown Oval on Saturday.

Most of the senior players played half a game.

Kantarovski scored a rare goal with a superb long-range effort before Hoole sent a scare through the camp when up-ended challenging for a header early in the second half.

Hoole, deployed as a right back, got flipped over and landed awkwardly on his back. He was replaced but has been cleared of major damage. 

‘‘Hooley was probably the pick of the players in terms of consistency before he went off,’’ Zane said.

‘‘As you would expect, first half we controlled the game.

‘‘We created numerous chances and should have been a couple of goals up.

‘‘We put quite a few young ones on in the second half. It was more like a genuine youth match.

‘‘It was 2-2, and then they scored on the bell.’’

Kale Bradbery scored the Jets’ second.

The Jets open the season against the AIS in Canberra on October 26.

‘‘It seems like a short preparation but we had a couple of internal trials with the senior team and have got minutes into their legs,’’ Zane said.

‘‘Like most A-League clubs we have gone for a young squad with an emphasis on development.’’

The game aganst the AIS kicks off at 4.30pm.

 – James Gardiner