The Newcastle Jets put space between themselves and the bottom of the W-League ladder with a dominant 4-0 victory over Perth Glory at Dorrien Gardens on Monday night.
In the fortnight leading into the round-11 clash with Perth, the Jets had gone from top-four hopefuls to a three-way fight to avoid the wooden spoon with Melbourne City and Glory.
Before the match, Newcastle and City both had four points and Glory just one.
Unable to make finals and with only four rounds remaining, instructions from Jets coach Ash Wilson ahead of the Perth clash were that she wanted her side to finish as high up the ladder as possible.
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The win never looked in doubt on Monday night. Newcastle came out of the blocks firing to have the hosts under constant pressure.
The Jets created several early attacks on goal without success - the best coming when midfielder Cassidy Davis hit the crossbar with a left-footed strike from directly in front after a Newcastle corner in the 24th minute.
The break finally came in the 29th minute when attacking midfielder Rhianna Pollicina, who returned to the Jets starting side after serving a one-match suspension, scored into the top right corner with a left-footed shot assisted by Lauren Allan and started by Tara Andrews.
Sunny Franco gave the visitors a 2-0 advantage going to the break when she scored from close range in the 36th. The tireless attacker made it a match brace in the 47th when she headed into the net.
Allan completed the rout in the 83rd with a close-range tap-in.
The win moved Newcastle to seven points ahead of their round-12 match with City in Melbourne on Sunday.
