Bridge on target as WSW roll the Jets
WESTERN Sydney halted their winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle last night, courtesy of a Mark Bridge goal.
The Wanderers had not posted a win in three weeks, their last coming in round six over Melbourne Victory.
Bridge netted the lone goal in the 33rd minute to ensure the three points for the reigning premiers at Hunter Stadium.
The win keeps the Wanderers in second place on the ladder and within reach of top-dogs Brisbane, who remain five points ahead.
The Newcastle attack was dealt a double blow ahead of the match, with last week’s two-goal hero Nathan Burns and marquee man Emile Heskey both ruled out with knee complaints.
But it didn’t seem to deter the Jets, with skipper Ruben Zadkovich forcing a save from Wanderers’ gloveman Ante Covic within the first five minutes.
Bridge returned serve for the Wanderers with a shot of his own just moments later, with Jets keeper Mark Birighitti thwarting the effort.
Birighitti, however, was lucky not to be sent off mid-way through the opening half after handling the ball outside the area — the offence earning a yellow card.
The Wanderers went ahead in the 33rd minute after Shinji Ono sent a superb ball into the box with Labinot Haliti passing it to the waiting Bridge, who headed home.
But the goal was soured with the Jets crying foul after Haliti clearly pushed Jacob Pepper in the box just before the goal.
Bridge looked like doubling the Wanderers’ advantage with a powerful shot rocketing off the bar just before the break.
The Wanderers kept up the assault in the second half with Jerome Polenz and Ono both firing shots at goal while Haliti drew two saves from Birighitti.
Jets coach Gary van Egmond brought on Michael Bridges and Craig Goodwin for Zadkovich and Andrew Hoole with half an hour to go in a bid to bolster the attack.
And while the Jets did look more dangerous in the final stages, they couldn’t find the equaliser, suffering their first loss at home this season.