The Jets capitalised on sustained pressure to go one up through a James Virgili goal in the 43rd minute for a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Sydney came back into the match in the second half and almost snatched a late equaliser in injury time through a Nick Carle penalty, but the shot was stopped by Jets keeper Matthew Nash to give Newcastle the win.

Jets coach Branko Culina said the performance was encouraging, especially given the fact that the Newcastle side featured a number of younger players including Virgili, Jacob Pepper, Mario Simic and Sam Galloway as well as the return of key midfielder Kasey Wehrman from an ankle injury.

However, the win was somewhat soured by a hamstring injury to winger Ryan Griffiths who limped off the field just before half-time.

"We don't know the extent of the (Griffiths) injury until we get it check out, but I thought the young guys like Pepper and Chili (Virgili) were outstanding. These guys have come on leaps and bounds since last season," Culina said.

"The result in games like these is not always important but it is nice to win against quality opposition."

The match began in warm conditions and it was the Jets who had the better of the opening with a number of chances in the opening 20 minutes.

Griffiths hit the crossbar from with a stinging shot from 18 metres after being put into space by a lovely through ball from Ali Abbas, left-back Byun forced a good save from Liam Reddy with a shot on the volley from 25 metres before Sydney defender Nathan Sherlock cleared off the line from a Nikolai Topor-Stanley header from an Abbas corner.

The Jets continued to press and striker Labinot Haliti got in behind the Sydney defence and looked to have been brought down on just inside the area, but the referee disagreed and showed Haliti a yellow card for diving.

Sydney had their first real chance 11 minutes before half-time when Terry Antonis got the better of Topor-Stanley before crossing into the box where Mark Bridge sent a scuffed shot wide of the far post.

Down the other end a Halliti through ball put Griffiths into space but he sent his shot just wide of the far post. Griffiths grabbed at his hamstring after the run and was replaced by youngster James Virgili, who made an immediate impact when he scored with his first touch after a good piece of work down the right flank from Tarek Elrich.

Elrich got inside Scott Jamieson and slide a pass into the box for Virgili who got past Michael Beauchamp before slotting the ball inside the far post for a 1-0 lead at half-time.

The Jets looked more likely to go on with it at the start of the second half but couldn't find their range in front of goal and they allowed Sydney to get back into the match midway through the second half with an inspired Carle leading the fightback.

The classy attacking midfielder set up substitute Shannon Cole for a shot on goal in the 70th minute from 10 yards out but Jets keeper Nash blocked shot with his body.

A moment later Carle shot wide from close range before Cole volleyed wide from a dangerous Jamieson cross.

Carle almost pulled out a late equaliser in the final minutes when he sent a hurried shot just wide of the far post after good lead-up work from Cole and Jamieson.

Sydney FC was awarded a penalty with just 30 seconds of regular time after Wehrman brought down Jamieson in the box.

Carle stepped up to the spot but Nash picked the right way and got a glove onto the shot and pushed it into the post before it was cleared by the Jets defence.

Sydney coach Viteslav Lavicka was disappointed with the result and said his side still needs some work.

"It was a really good test for us and the Jets played very well but I think we still have some room for improvement," he said.

"We needed to play more aggressively in the first half and we competed physically well in the second half and created some chances but couldn't finish them off."

Newcastle Jets 1 (Virgili 43')
Sydney FC 0
Crowd 1786 at Cessnock Sports Ground