The Newcastle Jets will “throw caution to the wind” in the second leg of the A-League Women’s (ALW) finals series this weekend.

That’s the promise from coach Ryan Campbell.

The Hunter-based club has just 90 minutes to book a berth in the 2023/24 decider after dropping the opening showdown 3-0 to Melbourne City at the Maitland Regional Sportsground.

A crowd, recorded at 6,800-plus people, saw an out-of-sorts Newcastle not only drop the fixture but unfairly earn the ire of the referee, much to everyone’s dismay.

“Maybe nerves played a part,” Campbell said.

“It probably felt like we started off a little bit slow in the game.

“Obviously it’s a big, big occasion as well, especially for the girls who haven’t played in front of crowds like this before.

“The atmosphere was amazing, Maitland really turned it on.

“But, I’m proud of the girls.

“I think they put in a really good effort, they were still going right to the end trying to score a vital goal.

“However, what’s done is done; we’ll rehash what occurred, reset and we’ll go again next week.”

For Newcastle, the equation is now reasonably simple.

The Jets must win 4-0, away from home, to progress to the grand final – and a slice of history.

“We’ve got nothing to lose,” Campbell told the Newcastle Weekly.

“There are no second chances, so we need to throw caution to the wind.

“However, to be honest, we’re pretty much that team anyway.

“Even against Melbourne, we had a go and went man-on-man with a really good side.

“With a bit of luck, and the rub of the green, it might have been a different story.

“I believe if we pulled one goal back, others would have followed… we had some chances but our execution let us down.

“We’re an attacking side, that’s just the way we are.

“I’ve said to the girls several times, and again after the match, that we’re a team that can score four goals.

“So, we just need to go and really make sure that next week we give it our best shot.”

Newcastle tackles Melbourne at AAMI Park on Sunday 28 April.

A-League Women’s semi-finals – leg two

• Saturday 27 April: 3pm, Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners at Leichhardt Oval
• Sunday 28 April: 1pm, Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park

Grand final

• Saturday 4 May: SF winner v SF winner

For more sports stories:

• ALW GALLERY: Match officials jeered from field as Jets lose 3-0
• Football and Lake Mac still Craig Johnston’s ‘passions’
• Hunter product Torrie Lewis stuns world champion in Diamond League debut

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