Jets coach Ash Wilson felt "one moment" proved the difference in a 1-0 loss to Melbourne City in round 12 of W-League at Kingston Heath on Sunday.
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Newcastle went into the match with the lowly placed defending champions after a dominant 4-0 win over last-placed Perth in Perth in Monday night.
They came out firing and looked set for another strong result when striker Sunny Franco headed into the net in the seventh minute before the goal was denied by an offside ruling.
It was one of a number of chances Newcastle created in the game but they could not convert. Leading scorer Tara Andrews was in a good position to score in the 24th but her attempt from directly in front was blocked by City defender Jenna McCormick.
City, who were coming off a 4-0 defeat at the hands of sixth-placed Western Sydney three days earlier, had not won since round four and had not scored in three previous outings.
But the hosts made the most of a break down the right in the 42nd minute when midfielder Tori Tumeth crossed into the box and a leaping Chinatsu Kira scored at the far post with the outside of her right foot.
"They had a chance that they took and we didn't take our chances," Wilson told the Newcastle Herald. "We probably lacked a little bit of quality in that final third sometimes with our execution of crossing or just being a little bit composed when we were in those areas.
"I don't think either team really created a lot. It was a bit of an arm wrestle in the middle of the pitch. Overall, it was a tough, well-fought match and they managed to take their chance and we didn't, and that's football sometimes.
"It was really probably one moment where we let our guard down in terms of how aggressively we got out to a ball and they managed to capitalise on some space they found and cross they delivered, and that was the hard part."
Kira produced a good chance to increase the lead for the hosts in the 60th minute only to be denied at the near post by Jets shot-stopper Claire Coelho, who pushed the ball over the bar.
Newcastle centre-back Hannah Brewer's close-range shot after a Jets free kick in 64th went straight to City goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri.
Andrews' header off another free kick in the 76th had an advancing Barbieri beat but City defender Emma Checker scrambled to clear the ball.
A win for Newcastle would have put six points between them and City, who have struggled through this season after the departure of a host of high-profile players to overseas leagues. Instead, City drew level with the Jets on seven points with two rounds remaining. Newcastle retained seventh position with a superior goal difference to eighth-placed City.
"I said to the girls [before the match] they're in a similar situation to what we were when we played Perth - they're coming off a big loss and they're playing for pride," Wilson said.
"They're a top-four team that's really underperformed this season, so we knew it was going to be tough.
"To their credit, they played a lot better football this game and were a lot more organised and that caused us some issues in terms of not giving up as much space as maybe what we wanted in behind. But, at the same time, we created some chances and just needed to be a bit more effective with them."
Jets co-captain and left-back Gema Simon returned in the only change to Newcastle's starting side after missing the Perth trip due to concussion. East Maitland's Rhali Dobson was promoted to City's starting 11 after being used off the bench against Wanderers (13).
The Jets are back at home for the last time this season when they host fourth-placed Canberra (18) at No.2 Sportsground next Saturday night.
Canberra beat Perth (one) 3-2 at Viking Park on Friday night and second-placed Brisbane (22) defeated Adelaide (19), who are third.
Melbourne Victory (17), fifth, play Perth in Perth on Tuesday night.
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