Jets Central: Young guns drive Newcastle to first A-League Men’s win of the season

The Newcastle Jets broke through for their first win of the A-League Men’s season against Western United, with one surprise group of players leading the team to victory.

BALLARAT, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 11: Jets players celebrate their win during the A-League Men round four match between Western United and Newcastle Jets at Mars Stadium, on November 11, 2023, in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images)

It was weekend of mixed emotions for the Newcastle Jets’ men’s and women’s A-League sides after both were on the road in Victoria.

The Jets’ men recorded their first win of the season with a tough 1-0 victory over Western United in Ballarat on Saturday, while the ALW team was hammered 4-0 by Melbourne Victory in Sunday afternoon’s fixture.

Catch up with the latest news and talking points below with Jets Central.

MEN BREAK THROUGH FOR WIN

It certainly wasn’t pretty, but the men’s side picked up its first win of the season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Western United in Ballarat.

The Jets were forced to soak up plenty of pressure in the first half, with the team struggling to keep the ball for large periods as Western started with a bang.

The Jets ALM celebrated their first victory of the season over Western United. Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images

Former Jet Daniel Penha hit the crossbar with a thundering strike after just 10 minutes, while a desperate deflection from Jets’ defender Mark Natta prevented what looked to be a certain goal as Western’s Noah Botic let fly from 10m out in the 36th minute.

A goal seemed inevitable, and Penha did find the back of the net in the 40th minute, only for it to be called back for the ball going out in the lead-up play.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos put the Jets in front on the stroke of halftime. Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images

The team’s resilience was rewarded just before the break when Apostolos Stamatelopoulos fired one home from close range to give the Jets a very unlikely lead.

And while the Jets did receive another slice of luck in the second half after Nikita Rukavytsya’s looping header was called back for offside, the Newcastle side were better after the break and held on for their first win of the season and first under new coach Rob Stanton.

Nikita Rukavytsya’s header was called back for offside. Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images

“I thought we showed a bit of maturity in our performance in how to manage the game in both boxes,” said Stanton.

“We did that really well. Sometimes you need to do that. Find a way to win.

“The benefits of the victory far outweigh what the game looked like. It was good to get three points and a clean sheet. I’ll take that and move on.”

YOUNG GUNS STAND UP

Clayton Taylor continued his strong start to the season. Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images

In fact, much of the result was down to the some of the squad’s younger players, who put in big shifts to hold Western out.

Centre-backs Mark Natta (20) and Phillip Cancar (22) were excellent, left back Lucas Mauragis (22) was strong getting up and down the line all day, while 19-year-old winger Clayton Taylor built on his excellent start to the season with another impressive performance.

“I’m super proud of them, it’s a collective effort when you defend. But you need leaders out there and I thought some of the young ones stood up and led today,” Stanton told Paramount + after the game.

While they have one of the youngest squads in the competition, the Jets have exceeded the expectations of many to be sitting on five points after the first four rounds, with a slew of Newcastle’s young guns shining for the side.

STAMA KEEPS ROLLING ON

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos once again hit the back of the net for the Jets. Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images

It might have only been a three-yard tap-in but Jets striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos showed good goalscoring instincts to score the all-important goal against Western.

After a nice shift down the left, Lucas Mauragis put in a looping cross to the back stick. Trent Buhagiar headed the ball towards goal, where it rebounded off the crossbar, only for Stamatelopoulos to swoop on the scraps and bury the ball home.

It was the striker’s fourth goal in as many games this season to leave him second in the competition behind Melbourne Victory’s Bruno Fornaroli with six.

But it just hasn’t been Stamatelopoulos’ goals that have caught eye this season, with the 24-year-old impressing with his clever runs and hold-up play since returning to the club from a two-year stint in Greece.

This was perhaps best shown midway through the first half when after making a nice run into the left channel, he kept his composure to find teammate Lachie Bayliss unmarked at the top of the box. It was great opportunity in what was a tough first half for the Jets, with the 21-year-old firing just wide of the post.

PENHA SHOWS HIS CLASS

Daniel Penha refused to celebrate against his old club. Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images

On the other side, Western United attacking midfielder Daniel Penha showed his class both on and off the pitch with an excellent display against his former club.

After hitting the bar early, the 25-year-old – who starred for the Jets in the 2021/22 season – found the back of the net in the 40th minute, but refused to celebrate out of respect to the Jets. The goal was subsequently pulled back after the ball went out in the lead-up.

Demonstrating the bond he still has with the Newcastle, before the game Penha met with his former teammates and Jets fans, who carried a banner supporting the Brazilian’s wife, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

And despite being disappointed after the loss, Penha was all class in his post-match interview.

“Everyone knew about my relationship with the Newcastle Jets and the players,” he told Paramount + after full-time.

“I’ll be forever grateful to the Newcastle Jets because I lived the most top moment of my life there.

“I respect everyone there. I respect the club,” he said, before adding. “I have too many friends there. It’s great, it’s a great team and club.”

MELBOURNE HOODOO CONTINUES IN ALW

The Jets’ ALW hoodoo in Melbourne continues. Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images

Melbourne remains a nightmare destination for the Jets’ ALW side as they were hammered 4-0 by Melbourne Victory at La Trobe Sports Park.

The Jets, who haven’t won in the city since 2017, were completely outplayed by the Victory, who had 17 shots to six – including nine shots on goal – to record a heavy win.

The rout started after just two minutes when Rachael Lowe swooped on a fumble from Newcastle goalkeeper Isobel Nino to open the scoring.

It was a painful afternoon for Newcastle. Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images

Claudia Cicco cleared a ball off the line in the 12th minute and Nino made up for her early mistake with a string of good saves as Victory dominated proceedings.

Lowe doubled the lead in the 65th minute with a deflected strike from the top of the box while Ella O’Grady made it three just one minute later.

Victory then made it four in the dying stages after a deflected cross looped over Nino’s head to put an exclamation on the loss.

THE GREAT RUN IS OVER

They say that a lot can happen in just one week in football.

Just one week after scoring a late screamer in the match that saw her break a club record for most ALW appearances for the Jets with 132, Cassidy Davies has seen another record run come to an end.

Remarkably having never missed a game since her debut, Davies held the Australian record for the most consecutive top-flight games after passing former Jet Nikolai Topor-Stanley early last year.

However the skipper was forced to miss the Victory game with a foot infection, with her incredible run coming to an end at 132.

And while her run is over, the record remains and may well stand for years to come.