Phoenix dominated the shot count and but for a top save by Jack Duncan in the 95th minute would have walked away with a share of the spoils.

In the end a Jason Hoffman goal in the 43rd minute - his fifth of the campaign - decided the contest and pushed the Jets within five points of leage leaders Sydney FC.

Hoffman, whose first effort was charged down, lashed home the ricochet past Tando Velaphi who got a glove to the ball but couldn't keep it out

Midfielder Nathan Burns  described the performance against the second-placed Jets as "awesome". 

“We created chances and I was really pleased how we finished the game,” Burns said post-match.

“We showed a lot of fight against a very good team and I was proud of the boys.”

 

Wellington remain rooted to the bottom of the table while the result was a rare win for Newcastle in New Zealand - just their fourth in the past 18 games.

Ernie Merrick's men were playing with fire, holding a high line with speedsters  Burns and Roy Krishna regularly getting in behind.

But it was a night of near misses for the cellar dwellers as Burns, Krishna and youngster Sarpreet Singh all conspired to drag their shots wide.