Two goals in the final ten minutes from Jets forward Sasha McDonnell decided the result in an exciting and highly entertaining encounter that could have gone either way.

The loss was a tough pill to swallow for the new look Lady Reds, who showed encouraging signs and arguably had the better of the chances in the second half, only then to fall to a sucker punch from the Jets courtesy of two clinical finishes from McDonnell late on.

After having disappointing seasons last year, United's Women and Newcastle's Women's Team were determined to start the 2010/11 campaign well, both teams featuring a host of new faces.

Starting their season opener without captain Christina Papageorgiou, who was missing through injury, the home side took it up to the Jets in a high paced opening half with Katrina Gorry lively in midfield, but despite chances at both ends, the score remained nil-all at the break.

The Jets went inches from opening the scoring 10 minutes into the second half, but the Reds defence managed to clear the ball off the line.

Then in the 66th minute the home side had claims for a penalty turned down after the Jets halted Donna Cockayne's dangerous run into the box, but the referee was unmoved.

With both sides trying to break the deadlock, in the 72nd minute Newcastle's new American keeper Allison Lipsher produced a brilliant finger tip save to deny a long range Victoria Balomenos effort, defender Ruth Blackburn then watching her header crash into the cross bar from the resultant corner.

United goalkeeper Sian McLaren was doing her best at the other end to keep the Jets at bay, superbly tipping the ball over the bar from a stinging McDonnell shot in the 78th minute.

A draw seemed the likely result, and a point for each team would arguably have been fitting in what was a highly skilled and willing contest, but McDonnell had other ideas as she netted a late double.

First she took advantage of some confusion over a throw in on half way, getting on the end of a neat diagonal ball and putting her shot past McLaren. She then made sure the three points were heading back to Newcastle when she again timed her run to perfection to tuck away her second in the 88th minute and put the game out of United's reach.

Although the result did not go the Reds' way, there were plenty of positives to come out of the performance for Coach Mike Barnett, his team already showing significant improvements on last year.

Adelaide United Women's next match is against Perth Glory Women at nib Stadium in Perth on Saturday 13 November.

Match Details
Adelaide United Women 0
Newcastle Jets Women 2 (McDonnell 83', 88')
Hindmarsh Stadium
Referee: Stacey Sasopolous

Adelaide United line-up: 1.Sian McLAREN (gk) (c), 2.Ashleigh GUNNING, 4.Ruth BLACKBURN, 5.Stacey DAY, 7.Racheal QUIGLEY (12.Selin KURALAY 59'), 8.Katrina GORRY, 9.Ruth WALLACE (19.Nenita BURGESS 81'), 11.Vedrana POPOVIC, 13.Loren MAHONEY, 14.Donna COCKAYNE, 17.Angela FIMMANO (10.Victoria BALOMENOS 56')
Substitutes not used: 20.Kristi HARVEY (gk)

Yellow cards: Gorry 47'
Red cards: Nil

Newcastle Jets line-up: 1.Allison LIPSHER (GK), 2.Hannah BREWER, 3.Hayley CRAWFORD (c), 5.Gema SIMON, 6.Renee CARTWRIGHT (16.Kate HENSMAN 68'), 7.Tara ANDREWS (12.Melissa FEUERRIEGEL 75'), 8.Amber NEILSON, 9.Sasha McDONNELL, 10.Leia SMITH, 11.Kara MOWBRAY, 13.Thea SLATYER (17.Alex HUYNH 60')
Substitutes not used: 20.Alison LOGUE (GK)

Yellow cards: Cartwright 68'
Red cards: Nil