A late brace from Mikey Katsoulis was not enough for Canberra United on Saturday as three first-half goals from Newcastle saw them to victory in the Foxtel Y-League clash at McKellar Park.
The game got off to a fast start and it took just five minutes for the Jets to open their account when Kent Harrison broke down the right before squaring the ball to Cameron Joice to finish easily.
Katsoulis forced a save out of Tristan Esquilant shortly after but United struggled to force a way through in the morning heat. Drinks were called after 17 minutes and not long after the Jets doubled their lead as Harrison turned scorer with a tidy goal from close range.
It looked as though the visitors would enter the half time break two goals to the good, but when Sam Brown did well to save from Joice in stoppage time, Kosta Petratos was on hand to tap home the rebound and extend the lead to three goals.
United came out of the sheds looking to make arrears, and started strongly in the second half. Katsoulis played in Lachlan Griffiths only for the latter to fire the ball over the bar, and substitute Roko Strika fizzed an effort wide after good build up play.
Katsoulis had a chance of his own approaching the 70-minute mark after a great run from Josh Gulevski, but he put it wide with the goal begging.
But Katsoulis gave United a chance with just four minutes left in regulation. A good cross-field ball picked him out streaking down the wing and Katsoulis took it down with a sensational touch, raced inside his defender and tucked the ball home.
When Tom Krklec picked Katsoulis out in the area to score again deep in stoppage time there was unease in the Jets camp, but with just one goal separating the teams the full-time whistle went to hand the Jets a less than comfortable win.
United turn their attentions to the final game of the season next Saturday, at McKellar Park against Sydney FC.
