In far from ideal conditions, the Newcastle Jets gave the struggling Western Sydney Wanderers a lot to contemplate after handing them an embarrassing 5-1 loss at home.
It was only the second time in the Wanderers’ history they have conceded five goals, with both now having occurred at home.
Funnily enough, it was the Wanderers who got on the front foot early as Oriol Riera’s left footed attempt was parried away by a diving Glen Moss.
The Newcastle Jets put any doubt the weather would lead to a lack of goals when Dimitri Petratos opened the scoring in the 18th minute, doing so the only way he knows how finding the top corner with his left foot in an attempt which no goalkeeper would have saved.
The Jets soon had another as makeshift forward Jason Hoffman’s miss-hit sailed over Vedran Janjetovic for Newcastle’s second in the 22nd minute.
From here it only got worse for the Jets as Roy O’Donovan added a third in the 47th minute, following up on his saved penalty, before Josh Ridenton had the Jets four goals up in the 49th minute.
Newcastle had found themselves four goals up before the Wanderers could even contemplate their next move and the situation was further exacerbated when O’Donovan scored his second and his side’s fifth just before the hour mark.
New recruit Mitchell Duke was fast-tracked into action in Western Sydney’s need and managed to score with his very first touch off a corner to pull one back for the home side, but alas too much damage had already been done.
There were no complaints for the Jets who recorded their biggest win since last season’s six-goal victory over the Central Coast Mariners.
As for the Wanderers, the soul-searching continues as they have to find a way to pick themselves up for next week.
