W-League: Jets striker Lauren Allan keen to keep a starting role

But the 24-year-old striker wanted more in her second campaign, entering this instalment of the women's domestic football competition intent on becoming a starting player.

And, if she continues to produce performances like the 90-minute player of the match effort in Newcastle's 4-1 win over Western Sydney at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday, Jets coach Ash Wilson will not be able to leave her out.

In her first full game at W-League level, Allan proved pivotal. She scored twice to give Newcastle 1-0 and 2-1 advantages and got through a mountain of work.

The lightning-quick forward sped behind the Western Sydney backline to meet a through ball from Rhianna Pollicina in the eighth minute and showed great composure to score past Wanderers goalkeeper Courtney Newbon from a tight angle with centre-back Margaux Chauvet hot on her heels.

The second goal was a back-post header in the 33^rd minute which came from a free kick and was nodded on by Tara Andrews. A third nearly came early in the second half but Allan put it just wide of the left post.

"The first goal was a bit of a rush," Allan told the Newcastle Herald post-match.

"As I hit it, and I hit pretty well with the outside of my foot, I was thinking, 'That's actually going in'. It just felt good. Mini [Pollicina] got off that pass and that's what I've been aiming for. It just all worked out well. Then the second goal I was just thinking, 'Follow through and be aggressive and get to the ball first'."

Allan came off the bench in 2-1 losses to Wanderers and Sydney before starting in a 1-1 draw against Brisbane then retained her spot for the Wanderers clash.

"The goal now will be just to maintain that, back it up next week," Allan said. "Don't have a bad game next week. Make sure I continue to get better."

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The two-goal effort earned Allan a place in the W-League team of the week along with Andrews and Pollicina.

Left-back Gema Simon also scored against Wanderers and Andrews bagged her fourth goal in as many outings to be the league's equal leading scorer with Canberra's Michelle Heyman after five rounds.

"We said that we need people to help Tara, and Loz and Gem stepped up and did that," Wilson said on Saturday.

"I'm very happy for Loz. She's been threatening for a number of weeks. She's been scoring at training, so to come away with two was good. She probably could've come away with another two. She got into some good positions, so I'm really happy for her and her performance and it's a credit to the work that she's done. She's put her hand up over the past couple of weeks and it makes it hard not to pick her, and she's done it again today.

"That's what I want. I don't want a team where the starting 11 is guaranteed each week and people on the bench aren't fighting for that spot."

The Jets improved to four points and fifth position after their first win of the season and now turn their focus to unbeaten leaders Sydney (nine points) at Cromer Park on Sunday.

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