A 2-0 loss to Melbourne Victory may have hurt the Jets' top-four aspirations but Newcastle coach Ash Wilson declared there was plenty still to fight for with five rounds remaining.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The win at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday elevated Victory to 13 points and third place while the seventh-placed Jets slipped nine points adrift of the top four.
"We understand the situation we're in," Wilson said post-match. "It's disappointing but it's not lost. We've still got five games left and we're getting the chance to play some different teams now which is going to be good for us.
"As long as the girls have got the right mentality and they still believe that they can win and they go out and put on performances where they are aggressive and they are positive.
"If we can get results. If we can start off with two wins, one even, just one win and start to build a bit of momentum. If we come away having won the next five, we may still be relying on some other results but at least we're still pushing for the potential to be in those spots."
It was the second time Newcastle and Victory, who featured long-serving Matilda Lisa De Vanna and rising talent Kyra Cooney-Cross among their seemingly endless supply of attacking threats, had traded blows within a fortnight.
When the two sides met in round seven, Victory led 3-0 at half-time but the Jets staged a stunning second-half comeback to close the scoreline to 3-2 before losing 4-2.
It was another "frustrating" first half for Wilson on Saturday afternoon. The Jets mentor would have most certainly been feeling a sense of deja vu watching as her charges were outplayed by a much sharper side in the opening period.
Kayla Morrison scored with a header off Cooney-Cross's free kick in the eighth minute and Catherine Zimmerman found the back of the net with a close-range effort in the 30th after Melina Ayres had found her in a tight area.
As in the previous encounter, Victory put Newcastle under immense pressure and the hosts struggled at times to maintain composure and did not make the most of their possession in the final third.
Wilson's post-match bottom line was simple: "We just need to be better with the ball."
Newcastle now turn their focus to Adelaide. The two sides play at No.2 Sportsground on Friday night. Jets midfielder Rhianna Pollicina misses the round-10 match after being red-carded in the 93rd minute for two yellow card offences.
More:
Renee Valentine
Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle. She is passionate about increasing the visibility of sportswomen in the media. Got a sports story, email Renee at r.valentine@newcastleherald.com.au
Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle. She is passionate about increasing the visibility of sportswomen in the media. Got a sports story, email Renee at r.valentine@newcastleherald.com.au
