It was all but over from the get-go when David Williams burst past a shellshocked Newcastle backline to open proceedings after just 30 seconds, and despite a brief Newcastle resurgence, it didn't get much better from there.

Williams eventually notched a hat-trick, the clincher an incredible curling effort from outside the area straight into the top corner, with Sarpreet Singh rounding out the 4-1 win after Roy O'Donovan nicked a consolation.

"We were well-beaten in the end, the first goal we shot ourselves in the foot and then we got hit on the sucker punch," O'Donovan said.

"When we thought we had a chance on the counter they killed us, two great goals from Williams and another from Singh.

"We had a few good chances in the first half and it's been the story of our season, maybe we've been a bit unlucky, but it's been a bad day at the office - simple as that - we need to play better next week against (Western Sydney) Wanderers."

While Newcastle are mathematically still within contention for a finals place, especially given Adelaide United's announcement that Marco Kurz will leave at the season's end and the possible ramifications for their season, they now need a miracle to finish in the top six.

Wellington meanwhile are heaping the pressure on third-placed Melbourne Victory after a sensational run of results, and will be quietly confident - even with Louis Fenton's horror injury that could end his season - of a dark-horse run towards the Championship.