Wanderers defeat Jets for first home win

Jan 22, 2017 - 9:05 AM Teenage striker Lachlan Scott finally got the monkey off his - and Western Sydney's - back, scoring his maiden A-League goal to help the Wanderers to their first home win of the season.

Scott's first-half strike and Jaushua Sotirio's 68th-minute effort sealed a much-needed 2-0 triumph over mid-table rivals Newcastle at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.

The result was a long time coming for Tony Popovic's stuttering squad, winless in their past six games, with just 15 points from 15 rounds and needing a win to stay in touch with the top six.

For now at least, they move up into seventh and within goal difference of a play-off spot, while the revived Jets slip to eighth following their second loss in seven games.

A change of scenery was seemingly all it took for the frustrated Wanderers, who found more success further west of their fruitless temporary home grounds of Spotless Stadium and ANZ Stadium.

Campbelltown also proved a happy hunting ground for Scott. The 19-year-old opened his A-League account in his 10th game, a little more than five months after netting a pre-season FFA Cup brace at the same venue.

Veteran Brendon Santalab later replaced him off the bench on return from his three-match suspension.

"It was a fantastic finish (from Scott) and a great ball from Kearyn (Baccus), but he was in the right place," Popovic said.

"Those types of chances at training he always puts away.

"He's a young boy who has a lot to learn ... but at the moment we're delighted for him."

Newcastle were enterprising but without the forward power of Andrew Hoole (suspended), Morten Nordstrand (concussion) and Wayne Brown (hip), managed only a single shot on target, as Devante Clut battled for accuracy and Finnish striker Aleksandr Kokko struggled to make traction on a rare start.

While usually blistering winger Andrew Nabbout was kept relatively quiet, Nicolas Martinez was his evasive self up the other end.

But the visitors defended well and centre-back Lachlan Jackson often stopped Scott getting much service.

That was until the 44th minute, when Kearyn Baccus delivered a pass to the top of the box for the former youth-team striker to swivel before drilling the ball into the top-right corner.

Mitch Nichols was industrious and Sotirio, a bundle of energy, threatened over and over to double the lead and finally got his moment 20 minutes from the end of regulation time via a deflected strike into the bottom left corner from a Dimas pass.

"I thought we controlled the first half and we were and truly in the game," Jets coach Mark Jones said.

"But at times we didn't execute well enough."

Source: AAP