A double to Melina Ayres has kept the Newcastle Jets’ A-League Women’s (ALW) campaign alive following a controversial fixture at No. 2 Sportsground on Saturday.

With the home team trailing 2-1, with 10 minutes on the clock, the striker calmly slotted twice to give the hosts a much-needed 3-2 win over the fifth-placed Melbourne Victory.

But, the drama occurred soon after when tempers boiled over.

Firstly, Melbourne’s Emily Gielnik attempted to pull MelindaJ Barbieri up off the ground, claiming she was time-wasting.

That action not only upset the ex-Victory player but drew the ire of Newcastle goalie Izzy Nino, who flew in to protect her team-mate.

When play settled, official Rebecca Durcau yellow-carded Gielnik and Barbieri.

She then sent the fired-up Jets shot-stopper from the field.

That decision was surprising, in itself, considering Gielnik shouldn’t have laid her hands on Barbieri in the first place.

However, at the end of the day, credit must go to coach Ryan Campbell’s squad.

Faced with the distraction of the unsettled future of the Hunter club during the week, the players never shirked their responsibility.

Within the early stages of the showdown, striker Sarina Bolden and Sophie Hoban both hit the crossbar.

Lorena Baumann and Emma Dundas also went close.

Melbourne keeper Courtney Newbon proved unbeatable in goals, denying Bolden (10^th minute) and Laurean Allan (11^th) on consecutive shots.

The visitors then struck against the run of play in debatable circumstances.

Even though Sara D’Appolonia appeared offside, Rachel Lowe’s right-footed strike found its mark for a 1-0 lead.

But, the Jets remained stoic, with captain Cass Davis troubling the Victory defence.

In the 40^th minute, a beautifully-placed pass from Baumann found the feet of Allan, who levelled it up 1-all.

Newcastle looked certain to hit the front in stoppage time, however Newbon pulled off an incredible save to rebuff the golden boot of Bolden.

That effort allowed the combatants to head to the sheds locked 1-all.

The second half began with the Victory under siege immediately, as Barbieri, Bolden and Allan all launched individual attacking raids.

However, like the opening stanza, it was Melbourne who made the breakthrough.

Jamilla Rankin’s set-piece following Cicco’s foul, and subsequent yellow card, landed with Tori Hansen, who made no mistake for a 2-1 margin.

Again, the Jets refused to surrender.

Campbell then made the bold move to replace Bolden with Ayres – and it paid immediate dividends.

In the 80^th minute, she fired the ball past Newbon, with assistance from Allan, to lock the match at 2-all.

But, that wasn’t enough.

With three competition points crucial to Newcastle’s cause, Ayres smashed home the winner in the 87^th minute, much to the delight of the vocal crowd in attendance.

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