Newcastle Jets took the lead for 24 hours in the amazing 4 way battle for the Premiership. Goals to Joel Griffiths and Mark Bridge saw off a determined Perth Glory side who had previously won every game they have ever played in the A-League in Newcastle.

Much of the pre game talk was on who would win the Premiership (First past the post). Not surprisingly the Jets fans predicted they would and that they needed a 4 goal victory margin, the CCM were also mentioned, and the chances of both Sydney and Qld Roar were down played with everyone expecting both teams to slip up in their final games.

So Goals were the order of the day for the Jets and they started with a very attacking line up – Holland, Hoffman, Hearfield, Bridge and Griffiths all started, it was an attacking 4-3-3 and it was the Jets who commenced the quicker Hearfield is clear but falls over, Hoffman chips Petkovic and is just wide and then Griffiths misses from point blank in front of goal, all in the first 5 minutes.

Rukavytsya responds with a shot but Covic saves, Topor-Stanley twice in the space of 6 mins nutmegs Hoffman who fouls Topor-Stanley, Hoffman receives a yellow card.

The Jets have 3 men forward at all times and on 21 minutes a Holland free kick is cleared to Spencer his fierce shot is just wide of the far upright. The Jets take the lead a minute later Thompson’s beats Simpson and his perfect cross finds the head of Griffiths, who has the simplest of headers 1-0 Jets and Joel Griffiths has broken the A-League record for most goals in a regular season with 12.

Pert Glory leave Simon Colosimo out of the side (is he going to Sydney ?), Stan Lazaridis is injured and pacy James Downey is on the bench for Glory who have Rukavytsya again responding this time his shot is wide of the upright.

The Jets are keeping possession with a series of passes, but Rukavytsya is away on goal but Covic saves his close range effort.

On 36 minutes Rizzo is given a straight red card for a studs up challenge on Elrich, it seems a bit harsh and the home fans roar their approval and now anticipate a goal flood, its all smiles as predictions of 3, 4 and even 5 goals are boldly made.

But its Perth who then dominate possession with 10 men as the Jets drop off their intensity. The home fans are silenced as Topor-Stanley heads a corner on to Harnwell who heads home from close range as the first half ends, its 1-1.

The second half commences with a Hoffman long range shot. A procession of Jets passing ends with a 25m Elrich blast that has Petkovic diving to make a full stretch save.

On 54 minutes Hoffman beats Coyne and with the goal at his mercy he simply passes to no body.

The Jets attacks are ending with their wingers, but their final crosses aren’t accurate enough, Hearfield decides to take on the back peddling defence, his shot is deflected just wide of the near upright.

On 64 minutes a Hearfield pass has Bridge through on goal, and Bridge fires past Petkovic its 2-1 Jets. The Jets have retaken the lead and their fans are going crazy.

The Jets knowing goal difference will make the difference continue to create chances, Tunbridge fires just wide from 20m and Elrich strikes an upright. But in the end it finishes 2-1 Jets, the fans applaud but deep down everyone knows it’s not enough to win the Premiership, but is it enough to make the top two? The next 48 hours will tell us.

So for the third year in a row the Jets are semi final bound, Glory are yet to make the semi finals.

Back of the Net

The Newcastle Jets have taken a massive step towards securing a play-off top four spot after a heart stopping 2-1 win over Adelaide United. The Jets now lead Adelaide by 5 point with just two games to play.

A James Holland header in the 72nd minute was the winner after Adelaide played the entire second half with 10 men after Fabian Barbiero was sent off in the 44th minute, receiving his second yellow card.

Joel Griffiths returned to the team after serving his suspension, but Scott Tunbridge kept his place in the team. The Adelaide line up had Cassio, Sarkies, Agostino, Burns, Giraldi all missing, Reds fans must be thinking ‘if only’. They started with the inexperienced Fabian Barbiero (called up from the local SA State League) who surprisingly started ahead of Jonas Salley.

Griffiths opened the scoring in the 12th minute after he had won a free kick just outside the penalty area. The striker looked set to break the defence after accepting a Scott Tunbridge through ball, before he was brought down by United defender, Milan Susak. Griffiths then scored with a header into the far corner of the net from Holland’s free kick. Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek, who again watched on from the stands – would have been impressed. Its 1-0 Jets.

Adelaide responded immediately with Bobby Petta putting Lucas Pantelis through but his effort is just wide of the upright. Travis Dodd then went on a wonderful run skipping past two defenders but his cross/shot is wide.

Joel Griffiths who looked dangerous all night is put through in the 37th minute his low shot is saved by the legs of Eugene Galekovic.

In the 41st minute Bruce Djite holds off two defenders, finds the on running Lucas Pantelis, his shot is saved by Covic, but he is first to react and fires in the equaliser , its 1-1.

The half finishes with Fabian Barbiero receiving a second yellow card, which turns to red, this time for a foul on Adam Griffiths. He his yellow card in the 18th minute was for a fouls on Mark Bridge.

Adelaide commenced the second half a man down, but they dominated possession in the second half, despite being out numbered in the Jets ‘attacking third’ they were still able to find space and each other – Bruce Djite was continually able to hold the ball despite having two defenders on him, Travis Dodd and Lucas Pantelis showed great pace down the flanks.

Lucas Pantelis in the 56 minute found Travis Dodd but his goal bound shot is saved by Ante Covic. Two minutes later Bruce Djite brilliant run has him leaving two Jets defenders on the ground, he passes to Travis Dodd, who from in front of goal blasts wide. On 68 minutes its Dodd again with a chance but his low shot is saved by Covic.

The telling moment arrives in the 72nd minute, Tarek Elrich crosses for James Holland who heads in from point blank range, its 2-1 Jets and the home fans are going wild.

Adelaide are forced to push forward leaving large gaps at the back, the Jets have numerous chances, Joel Griffiths ties up Mark Bridge the ball falls to Adam Griffiths his goal bound blast is headed wide by the defence. The Jets squander several other chances, Adelaide create chances of their own, a low shot by Petta has Covic diving and Djite can’t quite have a clear shot at goal, as the Jets defenders have him well marked.

It finishes Jets 2-1, their first home win since the 14th of October.