Perth Glory have handed Newcastle Jets a 6-1 thumping in an action-packed Westfield W-League clash at Wanderers Oval in Newcastle.
Perth Glory have handed the Newcastle Jets a 6-1 thumping in an action-packed Westfield W-League clash at Wanderers Oval in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
Matilda Katie Gill picked up a hat-trick in the six-goal riot after her side led 2-0 at the half-time break courtesy of goals to Lisa De Vanna and skipper Collette McCallum.
The Glory controlled the Round 4 fixture from the outset and exploited a leaky Jets defence in the second half with a lovely strike from Marianna Tabain in the 72nd adding to Gill's three second half strikes, the last of which from the penalty spot in injury time.
American import Tori Huster picked up the lone goal for the Jets late in the second half.
The win lifts the Glory to the top of the Westfield W-League ladder with the rest of the round to play, while the Jets remain rooted to the bottom with just one point from four matches.
The game started in cool overcast conditions and the Glory immediately took control when ex-Jet De Vanna pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area and fired a glorious 20-metre strike into the corner of the net for the visitors to hold a 1-0 lead after just five minutes.
The Glory had all the running in the opening 15 minutes, producing a number of corners as they camped out in Jets territory.
Newcastle had their first chance on the 15 minute mark when attacking midfielder Alisha Foote fashioned a strong shot from outside the area only for Perth goalkeeper Carly Telford to push the ball over the crossbar.
The Glory doubled their advantage in the 21st minute when skipper Collette McCallum produced a lovely high, swinging corner into the goal.
The visitors continued to have all the momentum and actually put the ball in the back of the net on another two occasions in the first half
In the 29th minute Gill lobbed Jets goalkeeper Eliza Campbell from long-range only for the play to be called back for offside, while Elisa D'Ovidio headed in from a corner just before half-time but referee Peta McCallum had picked an infringement from Perth in a crowded box and the Glory had to be content with a 2-0 lead at the break.
Perth didn't take long to take control of play in the second half and they had their third goal in the 58th minute when Glory midfielder Aivi Luik fired from long-range. The ball hit the post and bounced back to the feet of Gill who slotted into the corner of the net.
Gill grabbed her second goal just four minutes later when De Vanna slid a ball in behind the Jets defence and Gill latched onto it to push it past Campbell for a 4-0 lead just after the hour mark.
Perth made it five in the 68th minute when Gill turned provider to put a lovely ball through for Tabain who slammed home from 12 yards out to make it 5-0.
The Jets managed to peg a goal back when Huster showed good determination to hustle for the ball and poke home after a goal-mouth scramble to make it 5-1 after 72 minutes.
Both sides made a host of changes as fatigue set in but it was the Glory who had the final say deep in injury time when the Jets were penalised for pushing inside the box.
Gill stepped up to slot home from the spot for her third goal of the afternoon, sealing the thumping win.
Newcastle Jets 1 (Tori Huster 72) Perth Glory 6 (Lisa De Vanna 5, Collette McCallum 21, Katie Gill 58, 62,90+3pen, Marianna Tabain 68)
Wanderers Oval, Newcastle
Newcastle Jets 1. Eliza Campbell (GK), 2. Hannah Brewer, 3 Hayley Crawford (capt), 4. Gemma Pearce, 5 Tori Huster, 6. Angela Salem (18. Michaela Hatzirodos 72). 7. Gema Simon , 9. Tara Andrews 10. Emily van Egmond, 14. Sammara Schmitzer, (12, Tiffany Boshers 62min) 15. Alisha Foote ( 11. Kate Hensman 72min) Bench Unused sub 17. Alannah Rosewood (GK) . Perth Glory 1. Carly Telford (GK), 3. Carys Hawkins, 4. Bronwyn Studman, 6. Sash Andrews, 7. Aivi Luik, (8. Ella Mastrantonio 59min) 11. Lisa De Vanna (9. Rosie Sutton 70), 12. Kathryn Gill, 13. Elisa D'Ovidio (2. Sarah Carroll 76min), 14. Collette McCallum (capt), 15. Elizabeth Milne, 17. Marianna Tabain. Bench Unused sub Zoe Palandri (GK).