Newcastle turned it around after going behind early and beat Sydney FC 3-1 thanks to goals from Melina Ayres and Sophie Hoban.
Skipper Mackenzie Hawkesby opened the scoring for Sydney but it was all downhill from there for the visitors, as defensive fragility saw them punished first by Melina Ayres and then twice by Sophie Hoban.
The win boosts Newcastle to within two points of the playoff places and throws them back into the crowded fight for the top six. Sydney FC remain bottom of the Ninja A-League Women, and will be officially out of playoff contention if other results do not go their way.
Claire Corbett had a great chance to open the scoring for Sydney after just seven minutes when she found herself in space inside the area, but Georgia Ritchie produced a great reaction save to deny the 16 year-old.
But just minutes later Ritchie ventured well outside of her box to close down Riley Tanner but lost out, and Sydney were able to take their time finding Mackenzie Hawkesby who beat the scrambling goalkeeper from outside the area.
Sydney ‘keeper Heather Hinz experienced a similar slip-up at her end just five minutes later when her attempted clearance bounced back off Madison Ayson and into the path of Melina Ayres who rolled the ball into an empty net.
Sydney’s defence continued to shake and was punished again when Rubi Sullivan tried to cut out a pass from Emma Dundas, but was dispossessed by Sophie Hoban, who finished coolly past Hinz.
Hinz kept the visitors in the contest when Josie Allan wriggled brilliantly into the penalty area and forced her into an elastic save, tipping the ball over the crossbar.
Newcastle did double their lead with 15 minutes to play when Allan lifted a tidy pass over the defensive line and Hoban poked the ball neatly underneath Hinz.
Hoban was played through by Ayres and had a hat-trick in her sights but Hinz stood firm and denied her in the closing stages. Hoban had another look with seconds to play, but Hinz again pulled off a scrambling save to keep the deficit at two.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Sophie Hoban
Mackenzie Hawkesby
