Midfielder Rhianna Pollicina scored an emphatic goal to help Melbourne Victory move to the top of the A-League Women ladder thanks to a 3-1 win over Newcastle.
In a match between second and third in the standings, goals from American Kennedy White, striker Nicki Flannery and Pollicina helped Melbourne jump the ladder leaders, Canberra United.
Conditions weren't easy, as rain and heat bore down on Newcastle's No.2 Sportsground on Friday night.
Regardless, Pollicina's magic touch in the 57th minute was the moment of the game as she fired a volley into the back of the net from a Holly Furphy chip.
White also moved one goal clear in the competition's golden boot race after planting a classy header.
"There's so much quality in the squad ... everyone's fighting for that starting 11 spot," Pollicina told Paramount+.
"If we keep winning and we have quality coming off the bench, that's what you want, and it gives Jeff (Hopkins, team coach) a headache as well."
The Jets didn't let Melbourne claim a second consecutive clean sheet, Lauren Allan scoring a late consolation goal.
"We lacked a little bit of finesse going forward, and we let them in. If you give Melbourne Victory a sniff, they will take it," Newcastle captain Cassidy Davis said.
"We need to work on our combinations going forward. It's probably the hardest area to get right, but we'll get there."
Melbourne dominated possession from the outset and almost rewarded their travelling fans when Sofia Sakalis rocketed a shot towards the top left corner in the third minute, but goalkeeper Anna Leat superbly palmed it over the crossbar.
Victory continued to up the ante and found a goal in the 25th minute when Alana Jancevski lobbed a free kick and found White, who planted it in the bottom left corner.
After a grinding start to the second half, Pollicina scored a dazzling volley to double the Victory's lead.
Nine minutes later, Newcastle came agonisingly close to finding a goal when Melina Ayres' shot was tipped on to the crossbar by goalkeeper Courtney Newbon.
Flannery guided the ball past Leat in the 77th minute, before Allan's strike slipped through Newbon's fingers five minutes later.
