Sydney took the lead in the third minute with a 30-yard chipped goal from national player Heather Garriock before Newcastle equalised with an equally impressive long-range effort from Caitlin Munoz in the 15th minute.

The home side went to the lead in the 31st minute when Collette McCallum swung in a 25-metre free kick attempt for a 2-1 score-line at half-time.

Local lass Katie Gill put in a third goal for Newcastle 13 minutes into the second half before Gill grabbed her second in the 71 minute. Sydney striker Leena Khamis got a late goal to make it 4-2 in a thoroughly impressive fixture.

A good crowd was on hand in perfect sunny conditions to witness the opening clash of this three-game Women's A-League challenge played as a curtain-raiser to the Hyundai A-League match between Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners.

With 11 players from the national Matildas squad on show, the talent was obvious and the players from both sides gave a good account of themselves with a skillful display.

Sydney FC opened the scoring in just the third minute when Garriock spotted Newcastle goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri off her line and floated a pinpoint chip into the back of the net from 30 yards out.

Both sides displayed some crisp passing with plenty of room in the midfield and it wasn't long before Newcastle equalised when Munoz put fired a vicious low shot from 30 yards that squeezed under Sydney keeper Lisa Hartley.

Newcastle deservedly took the lead just on the half-hour mark with a fantastic curling left-foot free kick from 25 out from Collette McCallum. Katie Gill was felled just out adjacent to the corner of the penalty area. McCallum stepped up to swing her shot just inside the near post.

Moments later Sydney's Ellyse Perry found herself in acres of space just outside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot that was well saved by Barbieri before 14-year-old Newcastle striker Emily Van Egmond, daughter of Jets coach Gary Van Egmond went close with a shot just before half-time.

Jets dominated the start of the second half and went further in front when Van Egmond wrestled control of the ball just outside the penalty area and unselfishly squared to Gill, who smashed the ball into the net from right in front.

Gill got her second when a long throw-in from skipper Cheryl Salisbury found Gill unmarked in the penalty area and she did well to turn and volley a powerful shot into the far corner for a 4-1 lead after 74 minutes.

Hartley pulled off a great diving save to deny Victoria Balomenos in the 77th minute, while down the other end Barbieri pulled off an equally impressive stop to stop a shot from Joanne Burgess from just six yards out.

Khamis got a consolation goal for the visitors five minutes from full-time when she took advantage an incisive through ball from Linda O'Reilly to step around the keeper and tap into the open goal.

Newcastle takes on the women's Queensland Roar team in the second match of the Challenge series in Brisbane on Sunday December 9 before Sydney and Queensland meet in the final match at SFS on December 15.

Women's A-League Challenge
Newcastle 4 (Caitlin Munoz 15, Collette McCallum 31, Katie Gill 58, 74)
Sydney FC 2 (Heather Garriock 3, Leena Khamis 85)