Looking to bounce back from last week's disappointing loss to Brisbane Roar, the Jets made one change to their lineup with Arin Wright being left out after complaining of hamstring tightness during the week, with Cortnee Vine returning in her absence.

For the visitors, there were two big inclusions as American import Rebekah Stott returned, while captain Steph Catley made her first appearance for the season.

In a frantic opening, both sides were guilty of missing guilt-edge chances as former Jet Rhali Dobson failed to turn home a Yukari Kinga cross from close range, before Jenna Kingsley also failed to hit the target with the goal gaping after being found at the back post by Emily van Egmond. 

The Jets lined up in an unfamiliar 3-4-1-2 formation with Gema Simon and Taylor Smith providing the width, but City looked to exploit the space in the wide areas time and time again and in the 30th minute they took a deserved lead.

Dobson did well to carve out an inviting cross, and Kinga timed her run across the near post perfectly to guide the ball home and open the scoring.

City then doubled their lead four minutes later when Kyah Simon's skewed shot fell favourably at the feet of Tamika Butt who calmly slotted the ball home.

The Jets were staring down the barrel of back to back home losses but started the second period on the front foot and halved the deficit when Van Egmond's pinpoint freekick found Katie Stengel who gave Williams no chance in the Melbourne goal.

As the Jets continued to push for an equaliser, a frantic few minutes brought out the best in both goalkeepers, before City restored their two-goal lead.

First, it was Britt Eckerstrom who produced an excellent save to turn Elise Kellond-Knight's freekick onto the post, before Williams did equally well to tip Smith's shot around the post just moments later. 

Almost immediately, City were back on the attack and it was Jasmyne Spencer who produced her own piece of class as she cut inside on her right foot to unleash an unstoppable effort from just inside the box to put the visitors ahead 3-1 in the 72nd minute.

The Jets continued to fight hard to try and find a way back into the match, however, City, led by the impressive Lauren Barnes in the heart of their defence, held firm and hung on for a well earned three points.

The win sees City leapfrog the Jets on the table as they head into the bye next round, while the Jets will need a big improvement as they head to across the country to take on Sam Kerr and her Perth Glory side next weekend.