Jets striker Ryan Griffiths and Roar defender James Donachie clash competing for a high ball. Picture: Liam Driver
- LIVE: Jets 1 v Roar 0
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FOLLOW all the action as Newcastle Jets host Brisbane Roar in their A-League at Hunter Stadium.
84 MINS: Time running out for Brisbane Roar to find an equaliser. They win a corner but can't work anything from it. Jets just minutes away from a much-needed win over the struggling champions.
80 MINS: Shocker from Besart Berisha! The Roar striker has an excellent chance to equalise after a brilliant cross from Ben Halloran on the right. Last season he would have buried the chance, tonight he doesn't even get a shot away. That's a massive chance gone begging for Brisbane.
79 MINS: Another change for Newcastle as Michael Bridges enters the fray in place of Craig Goodwin. It's not a happy start for the former England striker though, his first contribution is to give away a free kick for a clumsy tackle.
75 MINS: Was that the chance for Brisbane? Roar defender James Donachie misses a great opportunity to level the scores. After winning a free kick Thomas Broich delivers a low set piece that flies through a mass of bodies before finding Donachie at the back post. But he's a central defender - not a striker - and his shot proves the point, slicing wide of the post.
73 MINS: Jets coach Gary van Egmond makes his first change with Josh Brillante replaced by the returning Jobe Wheelhouse.
71 MINS: Ben Halloran is again in the thick of the action for Brisbane, running on to a perfect through-ball from Massimo Murdocca. But the Roar winger's shot under pressure is well off target when a cut-back to Besart Berisha was probably the better option. Meanwhile coach Mike Mulvey makes another change for the visitors, bringing James Meyer on for Nick Fitzgerald.
69 MINS: Ben Halloran almost does it all on his own for Brisbane, as he beats a couple of players near the edge of the area to almost find himself clean through on goal. Not for the first time though Newcastle's defenders scramble well and shut down the chance.
66 MINS: Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey looks to change things up as he makes his first substitution, bringing on the energetic Massimo Murdocca for Erik Paartalu. They need a change too, not a lot working for the visitors in this half.
64 MINS: Ivan Franjic gives away a free kick on the right-hand edge of Roar's penalty area after Brisbane fail to deal with a corner. Taylor Regan manages to get a shot away as the ball ricochets around the area but Roar are eventually able to clear their lines.
61 MINS: Craig Goodwin is furious with himself after spurning another golden chance for the Jets. Moments after James Brown heads wide for Newcastle, the winger again bursts into the box on the left. He looks in two minds as he weighs up whether to shoot or try and tee up Ryan Griffiths at the far post and in the end chips it harmlessly wide. A low drive would have been a better option.
59 MINS: Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti is finally made to work by the Roar - and he's up to the task. Mitch Nichols slides a neat pass in for Ben Halloran, whose heavy touch puts himself clear into the area. But Birighitti spots the threat and races off his line to clear the ball, while Besart Berisha can't get a shot away after picking up the rebound.
58 MINS: Nick Fitzgerald wins a corner for the Roar as he's released for a run down the left by Mitch Nichols. Thomas Broich whips in the corner but it's easy pickings for Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, who hasn't been put under much pressure by the Roar so far.
54 MINS: Ben Halloran wins a free kick for Brisbane in an attacking position. Thomas Broich's cross from the right is decent, but Besart Berisha can't get a head on it and Newcastle eventually clear.
47 MINS: GOAL NEWCASTLE! Ryan Griffiths puts the hosts ahead just minutes after the second half gets under way. The Jets striker is played through on goal after a delightful backheel from James Brown on the edge of the area and his finish is just as good, chipping oncoming Roar goalkeeper for a lovely finish. Just the start the Jets wanted.
Jets striker Ryan Griffiths voices his frustration to Roar captain Matthew Smith. Picture: Liam Driver Source: Getty Images
HALF-TIME: No score in what has been a scrappy half of football at Hunter Stadium. Brisbane arguably started the better of the two sides but failed to create any chances of note while Newcastle slowly built their way into the game. Craig Goodwin looked likely to put the Jets ahead but dragged his shot wide from a good position. All to play for in the second half.
45 MINS: Drama as Ryan Griffiths goes to ground in the box under pressure from Roar skipper Matt Smith. Griffiths is furious, thinking that he's been blocked off by Smith, and lets the referee know it. He earns something for his troubles but it's not a penalty - Strebre Delovski issues a yellow card for dissent.
43 MINS: Craig Goodwin fluffs a golden chance to put Newcastle ahead after a nice ball from Ryan Griffiths. His first touch isn't the best as he charges into the box and his left-footed shot is far from clinical, flashing wide of the far post. Needed to do better there.
41 MINS: Ruben Zadkovich wins a corner for the Jets as his shot is blocked by Matt Smith after the Roar again give away possession in their own third. Zadkovich is again in the thick of it as Brisbane fail to clear convincingly, but his shot from outside the area flies over the crossbar.
35 MINS: Ryan Griffiths flashes wide with an opportunistic effort from outside the area. The Jets striker found himself in a decent position after neat work from James Brown on the right touchline, but really should have hit the target to make Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo work for it.
32 MINS: Samuel Galloway bursts down the left touchline and whips in a decent cross that is gathered at the near post by Michael Theo. Then Ruben Zadkovich wins a corner after a charge down the right. Jets can't conjur a chance but that's a better passage from the home side.
27 MINS: Roar winger Ben Halloran appeals to the referee for a decision after he goes to ground in the box - or on the edge of it - after getting in between two Jets defenders but Strebre Delovski is having none of it. Replays not entirely conclusive but Halloran might have had a case.
25 MINS: Roar winger Nick Fitzgerald finds himself in the book as he earns a yellow card for dragging down James Virgili from behind. Newcastle fail to make anything from the resulting free kick.
19 MINS: Super save, Michael Theo! More charity from Brisbane's defenders as they make a hash of clearing the ball, which falls in the lap of Craig Goodwin. The Jets young gun fires in an early shot from the edge of the area but Theo gets down quickly to his left and just does enough to tip it around the post.
16 MINS: Sloppy stuff from Brisbane as goalkeeper Michael Theo makes an absolute meal of a back-pass from Matt Smith, almost gifting Ryan Griffiths a goal. The Newcastle striker is surprised by Theo's generosity, however, and can't control the ball, with Roar scampering the ball clear. The Jets win back-to-back corners on the follow-up but can't create any kind of decent chance.
13 MINS: Chance for Brisbane as Ben Halloran steams down the right following a neat one-two with striker Besart Berisha. The Roar winger cuts the ball back into the box for Nick Fitzgerald but his right-footed shot is easy pickings for Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.
10 MINS: It's been a sloppy start to the game, that's for sure. Brisbane have had the majority of the possession but plenty of their passes have been wayward while the Jets have yet to find their groove.
7 MINS: Nick Fitzgerald races into the clear down the left for Brisbane. The attacker, making a rare start for the Roar, tries to find a teammate in the area but his pass is cut out.
1 MIN: The match is just seconds old before the referee is forced to intervene, issuing a yellow card to Newcastle's Taylor Regan for a brutal challenge on Roar star Thomas Broich. Brisbane can't make anything of the resulting free kick.
PREAMBLE: The Jets will be looking to overturn their horror home record against the Roar, having won just once when hosting the Brisbane side.
Their job hasn't been easy with star striker Emile Heskey ruled out through injury.
Brisbane, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back from their loss to Melbourne Heart last week.
A win for either side would see them jump into the top six ahead of the Heart's trip to Sydney tomorrow.
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