The Newcastle Jets have ended a difficult week in the best possible way with their first win of the season, a morale-boosting 2-0 disposal of Perth Glory at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Friday night.
The Jets dominated the match creating a plethora of chances but it was a Michael Bridges' volley in the 10th minute and a Labinot Haliti strike just before full-time that secured Newcastle's first three-point haul of the campaign.
The Jets opening goal came from the first corner of the match. Kasey Wehrman lobbed a dangerous cross to Bridges at the back post and the former English international took the ball on his chest before firing a volley into the top corner of the net to give the Jets a 1-0 lead.
Newcastle should have gone further ahead in the first half. They hit the post after a goal-mouth scramble before Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi produced a full-length diving save to deny Nikolai Topor-Stanley heading home and then parried away a stinging drive from Ruben Zadkovich.
The Glory attack rarely troubled the Jets defence. Robbie Fowler shot wide from 15 yards just before half-time.
Newcastle continued to dominate in the second half. Zadkovich saw his lofted shot bounce off the crossbar in the 51st minute before substitute Ali Abbas shot wide after a promising run.
The Glory looked spent when Fowler was replaced after falling heavily on his head and the Jets were able to seal a resounding victory when an Abbas break put substitute striker Haliti in on goal and he made no mistake firing a low shot to the far corner when unmarked and just 16 yards out from goal.
The win not only lifts the spirits of the Newcastle side but sees them move up the ladder from second last spot while the loss is the second in a row for the Glory.
Newcastle Jets 2 (Bridges 10, Haliti 89)
Perth Glory 0