The Newcastle Jets are not dead yet as they notched their first win of the season with a truly inspired performance against one of the A-League favourites.
The joy for the home fans started as early as the 10th minute when a Wehrman corner falls to Bridges who brilliantly volleys in.
Another Wehrman corner has Topor-Stanley heading against an upright, then Zadkovich has a 40m run down the middle of the park after collecting a poor Coyne pass his cross/shot is pushed away by Velaphi.
On 18 minute Wehrman’s corner again finds Topor-Stanley who heads down to Bridges who this time blasts wide.
Its all the Jets, Perth look terrible, Topor-Stanley heads another corner goal bound but Velaphi makes a diving save.
On 28 minutes Brockie finds Shuo who from an acute angle hits one across the face of the goal and just past the upright.
It takes Perth half an hour to have their first strike at goal as Burns attempts a long range effort.
Zadkovich is looking great for the locals, he is quickest to the ball in the middle of the park and blasts one from 30m that Velaphi is forced to save. Velaphi is by far the busiest player on the pitch.
Perth show they are still up for this game as Sterjovski breaks away and finds Fowler in front of goal he is able to turn but his shot is soft and wide. Then Mitchell plays a one-two with Howarth he makes it to the by line and cuts one back for Fowler who just misses from in front of goal.
The second commences with a wonderful 20 meter Zadkovich run in which he beats player after player he finds Brockie who blasts a shot that beats Velaphi but hits the cross bar, it was beginning to feel like one of those nights for the Jets...
A Burns foul on Brockie has Abbas firing through the wall, but Velaphi makes a diving save.
On the hour a disappointing Fowler is replaced by Jelic and the game starts to open up more as Mitchell has used his three subs, but both teams suffer with their final pass or shot being inaccurate. Brockie is played in on goal but Velaphi makes another great save touching the ball wide, Milicevic is close with his header from the corner.
With just 12 minutes to go the home crowd fall silent as Sterjovski breaks down the wing and crosses for an unmarked Sekulovski but he fails to control the ball in front of goal.
Perth continue to storm forward in the closing minutes as Baird turns Milicevic but his close range shot is off target, then the busy McGarry is wide from 20 meters and Sterjovski whips in a dangerous cross that Kennedy takes well.
The game winner comes on 89 minutes as Abbas races down field and finds Haliti who cleverly slips a defender and slams in a left footer its 2-0 Jets, Haliti almost adds another an minute later but who else but Velaphi saves.
The Jets fans give their team a standing ovation at the final whistle.
The crowd attendance of 6,977 was heavily criticized but I believe the solution to the Jets woes will be in obtaining another less expensive venue in the area.