THE Newcastle Jets have been boosted in the lead-up to next week's FFA Cup opener with their first pre-season win against A-League opposition under new coach Arthur Papas - a 6-3 success against Macathur Bulls at Fairfield Showground yesterday.
After scores were locked 2-all at half-time, the Jets dominated the second stanza with a four-goal scoring spree.
Sam Silvera and Beka Mikeltadze scored for Newcastle before the break and Savvas Siatravanis, Daniel Penha, Valentino Yuel and Kosta Petratos all found the net in the second half.
The result followed a 6-1 win over Sydney NPL club Apia Leichhardt last weekend and continued Newcastle's improvement after a 5-0 loss to Sydney FC.
Newcastle face Western United in their first competition match - an FFA Cup qualifier - in Geelong on Saturday week. Eight days later, they kick off their A-League campaign by hosting arch-rivals Central Coast at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Papas described yesterday's hit-out as "a step forward" but admitted there were "many areas" in which the Jets needed to improve.
"The FFA Cup game is eight days away and that's a long time so we just keep working hard every day and prepare as well as possible," he said.
"The players that played the majority of today's game did well and have pulled up well.
"Ultimately, this trial match just provided another good opportunity to work on our football, to get matches, minutes and build our fitness in preparation for the season."
Meanwhile, Jets officials have announced a new sponsorship deal with electrical engineering company Ampcontrol.
.jpg?w=600)
