Natasha Dowie delivers as Victory downs Jets

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Natasha Dowie’s first-half strike was enough for Melbourne Victory to record a 1-0 win in the Westfield W-League against Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.

Victory assistant coach Kat Smith opted to field an unchanged line-up from the one that took to the park against Sydney FC seven days earlier.

It was the home side which fired the first warning shot of the game minutes in when Gemma Simon’s dipping cross was headed into the side-netting by Rhali Dobson at the far post.

Barely 10 minutes had elapsed before Victory made Newcastle pay for its inability to capitalise. Melissa Taranto’s ball parted the Jets defence, giving Natasha Dowie a chance to size up the goal up before coolly flicking the ball over the outcoming Jets goalkeeper.

Chloe Logarzo looked the most threatening for the Jets, going close on two occasions prior to the interval with a long-range shot and free-kick that kept the Victory defence on its toes.

Victory came out in the second half intent on extending its lead and went close to doing so after Hayley Raso picked the pocket of Simon to surge towards goal and test Hannah Southwell at her near post.

A series of corners midway through the half culminated with a Christine Nairn delivery that made its way onto the roof of the net. She then tested the Newcastle rearguard with a dipping shot as the team seemed intent on finishing the game strongly.

Substitute Adriana Taranto could have sealed the result in the dying stages, but it mattered little as her side held on for the win.

Victory will round out its season with a trip to Perry Park to face the Brisbane Roar on Sunday afternoon.

Newcastle Jets 0 
Melbourne Victory 1 (Dowie 13′)