Melbourne Victory has secured its first win of the season with a 2-1 win over the Newcastle Jets at Lakeside Stadium.
A goal filled opening 20 minutes saw the round start with a bang. Melina Ayres got the party underway doing what she does best; scoring freakishly good goals.
The 19-year-old struck it sweetly from halfway between the 18 yard box and the halfway line, right into the top corner beyond the outstretched arms of Britt Eckerstrom.
Here's the stunning opener from Melina Ayres! #MVCvNEW 2-0 #WLeague@FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/gh2ZwvKtZc
— Victory W-League (@victorywleague) November 1, 2018
Up until that point it had been all Newcastle, with the Jets keeping majority of the possession and testing Casey Dumont and the Victory defence.
However, Victory wasn’t content with just one goal. The team in navy was quick to double the score with Natasha Dowie getting off the mark for her first goal of the season.
A superb through ball from Grace Maher cut open the Jets’ defence and put Dowie one on one with Eckerstrom, the Englishwoman finishing coolly from an acute angle.
Cortnee Vine was able to conjure up an almost immediate reply to bring it back to 2-1. Katie Stengel produced the through ball for Vine who scored her first ever W-League goal.
While the goal scoring didn’t continue the chances kept coming, with the rest of the half being played end to end.
The second half saw more brilliant chances but no extra goals. Eckerstrom was up to the task this half, firstly stopping Emily Gielnik after a delightful Christine Nairn through ball.
Nairn was again influential in the middle – as was Orlando Pride teammate Dani Weatherholt - again producing an excellent pass, this time for Dowie. The Englishwoman found herself one on one with the Jets stopper but couldn’t best her this time.
The Jets had more than a few chances with Taylor Smith’s run down the right deserving of a goal, however, no one was able to capitalise on her pass into the box and Victory was able to clear.
Former striker Larissa Crummer also had one of the Jets better chances with her low striker wrong footing Casey Dumont in the Melbourne goal but rolling just wide.
In the end Victory was able to hold on to its lead and secure the three points.
Full-time at Lakeside Stadium and we've held on for our first win of the season! #MVCvNEW 2-1 #WLeague pic.twitter.com/N6hzpyyC7x
— Victory W-League (@victorywleague) November 1, 2018
The league now pauses for the international break where the Matildas play a two game series against Chile. Upon its return, Victory travel to cross town rivals City for a Melbourne derby while the Jets host Canberra.
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