Victory defeat Newcastle Jets again and keep unbeaten run going

Melbourne Victory 1 Newcastle Jets 0

Roy Hay

Melbourne Victory continued its unblemished sequence of wins over Newcastle Jets in the W-League at Simonds Stadium in Geelong on Saturday afternoon, running out victor by a goal to nil. That also meant that Victory women have not lost an A-League game in Geelong.

The first twenty minutes were fairly even with both sides creating and missing opportunities, but from then until the interval Victory was well on top, with Stephanie Catley threateneing every time she got the ball out wide on the left. Mike Mulvey has stressed that his charges keep the width in their attacking game and young Gulcan Koca did her best to provide balance on the right. The Jets proved resolute in defence with keeper Eliza Campbell outstanding. Several times she came off her line to break up attacks and she saved every shot which was on target until injury time at the interval. There had been no breaks in play until the 45^th minute, but then Sammar Schmitzer injured herself in a tackle in which she conceded a free kick. Referee Amy Patterson allowed it to be taken and Catley sent over a curving cross which eluded the defence and Rebekah Stott got a good strike to send the ball into the corner. New Zealand international Stott had been immense in the Victory defence and this was her first A-League goal.

Tiffany Boshers replaced the unlucky Schmitzer and the Jets had their best spell of the game, but found young Brianna Davey in equally fine form in the Victory goal. She got good distance on her deflections of a number of high balls across the goal area and saved several direct shots on goal overhead and by spreading herself when attackers came through on the ground. The game turned in Victory’s favour when Stacey Day, who had been having a typically robust game in defence to that point, was booked twice in the 80^th and 81^st minutes. The first was for a tackle and then a protest to the referee, the second for a shirt pull on Victory substitute Laura Spiranovic. In combination it was harsh, though well within the laws of the game. Stephanie Catley had three more free kicks in the second half but drove them all at the keeper and Jessica McDonald had a couple of good opportunities to score. The American striker did a lot of good defensive work, but she does not seem to have the striker’s instinct for goal which leads to challenges on everything that comes her way. The game ended as she headed a cross by Spiranovic over the bar. Socceroo Matthew’s sister’s stature is very unlike that of her brother and when she gets up to full match fitness she will be a real handful for any defence, particularly if used as an impact player later in the game. The crowd gave her a great reception when she came on in the 75^th minute. For the Jets, apart from keeper Campbell, American import Tori Huster was superb, covering the ground to great effect and setting up numerous attacking moves and finishing some of them. She had no luck in front of goal.

Captions for pics:

Tori Huster sizes up her options in a crowded midfield. Photo: Roy Hay.

Victory skipper Maika Ruyter-Hooley  and goalscorer Rebekha Stott (No. 4). Photo: Roy Hay.

Stephanie Catley (No. 7) helps out the Victory defence. Photo: Roy Hay.

Match details (unofficial and incomplete)

Saturday, 3 November 2012

Melbourne Victory Women 1 (Rebekah Stott, 45+1’) Newcastle Jets Women 0

Venue: Simonds Stadium, Geelong

Kick-off: 2 pm

Referee: Amy Patterson

Assistant referees:

Fourth official:

Attendance: 400 (estimated)

Melbourne Victory: 1. Brianna Davey, 2. Danielle Johnson, 3. Maika Ruyter-Hooley (c), 4. Rebekah Stott, 7. Stephanie Catley, 9. Tiffany Eliadis (5. Laura Spiranovic 74) 10. Jessica McDonald, 14. Enza Barilla, 15. Amy Jackson, 17. Gulcan Koca, 18. Cindy Lay (12. Jackie Vogt 82)

Newcastle Jets: 1. Eliza Campbell, 2. Hannah Brewer, 3. Hayley Crawford (c), 4. Gemma Pearce, 5. Tori Huster, 6. Angela Salem, 7. Gema Simon, 14. Sammara Schmitzer (12. Tiffany Boshers 45) 15. Alisha Foote (11. Kate Hensman 70) 16. Stacey Day, 18. Michaela Hatzirodos (9. Tara Andrews 61)