City put on vintage display to brush aside Jets

Melbourne City wound back the clock as they launched into Westfield W-League finals contention after they defeated Newcastle Jets 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.

The encounter at McDonald Jones Stadium saw City take a two-goal lead in the first half before both sides added a goal in what was a high-quality affair.

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Despite the warm conditions the match started at a breakneck pace, both teams going after each other with an intensity usually reserved for games of the knockout variety.

City could have been two up after three minutes, Kyah Simon heading wide before Rhali Dobson and Simon again both failed to take advantage of half chances as the Jets held on for dear life.

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Up the other end Katie Stengel ensured Lydia Williams was alert when the Westfield Matildas goalkeeper was forced into a smart save to deny the American striker from close range.

The home side would be left to rue a golden opportunity 13 minutes in after Jenna Kingsley missed a tap-in after she was found by a brilliant Emily Van Egmond cross.

With the heat on a drinks break was required and City returned with a lethal edge, netting two goals in the space of four minutes to grab a stranglehold on the game.

First Dobson, dangerous as ever, whipped in a smart cross that found Yukari Kinga who squeezed the ball past Britt Eckerstrom.

Four minutes later it was Tameka Butt on the scoreboard when she was picked out by Simon, her cool finish leaving the Jets defence shell-shocked.

Having been restricted to only 37% procession thus far the Jets needed a fast start and they got exactly what they were after 10 minutes in when Stengel got on the end of a Van Egmond free-kick to poke the ball home for her first goal of the season.

Simon, seemingly enjoying her first taste of action this season, picked the pocket of Jets defender Cassidy Davis, but her attempt is tipped away by Eckerstrom.

Both goalkeepers were in action again shortly after, Eckerstrom tipping Elise Kellond-Knight’s shot onto the crossbar while Williams was required to diffuse a powerful shot from Stengel.

A minute later and with 20 minutes to play City had their third, Jasmyne Spencer unleashing a curling shot past the flailing Eckerstrom to seal all three points.