MARK Jones waited 15 years to coach the Newcastle Jets. It took the proud Novocastrian just two games to win his first game in charge.
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And what a way to do it.
A week after holding champions Adelaide to a draw, the Jets stunned perennial powerhouse Brisbane Roar 4-0 at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
An own-goal by Roar defender Jack Hingert in the eighth minute, and second-half efforts by Nigel Bogaard (62nd), Steven Ugarkovic (68th) and Devante Clut (86th) sent the 8355 faithful into raptures and propelled the Jets into third place.
Jones, handed the job a fortnight before season kick-off, thought his side had done enough to get three points against the Reds.
There would be no denying them this time.
Boasting a front four of Andrew Nabbout, Morten Nordstrand, Wayne Brown and Andrew Hoole, the home side always looked dangerous in attack.
But it was the defence which stood tall. Marshalled superbly by skipper Boogaard, they were composed, kept their shape, hustled when required and closed down.
The Roar had 63% of possession but could only manufacture one shot on target, a stinging effort from 20 metres by Tom Oar, which Jack Duncan tipped over the crossbar.
The Jets made three changes to the side that drew 1-all with Adelaide in the season opener. Morten Nordstrand replaced injured striker Aleksandr Kokko and rookies Lachlan Jackson and Ivan Vujica came into a fresh-faced back four.
The home side, despite the disruptions, were the quickest into stride.
With Nabbout causing havoc down and the right wing, they went ahead in the eighth minute thanks to a bit of help from the visitors.
Round-one goal Roar hero, Luke DeVere, gave the ball away cheaply in his own half. Nabbout swooped, shook off an attempted tackle by Jacob Pepper and fired in a cross intended for Morten Nordstrand. With the Dane on his outside Roar, fullback Jack Hingert lunged at the ball, but managed only to turn it into the right post and over the goal line.
The Jets were nearly two to the good a minute later. Again it was Nabbout that posed the threat, cutting back on the inside and angling a left-foot shot which whizzed past the left post.
The Roar started to get a foothold midway through the half. They dominated possession and were able to build pressure but were let down by the final pass or cross.
Still, it took a spectacular finger tip save by Jets keeper Jack Duncan to deny a Tommy Oar thunderbolt and go to the break in front.
Devante Clut, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Sunday, came on as a makeshift striker at half-time, replacing Nordstrand.
With the game slipping away Roar coach John Aloisi produced his ace and introduced Thomas Broich for Brandon Borrello at the hour mark.
It was jut the third time in 158 A-League games that two-time Johnny Warren medalist had started on the bench.
Two minutes later, the Jets doubled the margin. Andrew Hoole over-cooked a corner from the right which Ben Kantarovski knocked into the box. The Roar defence were on their heels as Boogaard climbed above De Vere and headed into the left corner. It was his first goal for the Jets and fifth in 176 A-League games.
From there it became a party.
Ugarkovic, who was again outstanding, drilled an angled shot into the bottom right corner after the Roar failed to clear, before birthday boy Clut tapped in after a run and cross from Nabbout.
