A-League: Newcastle 2 Melbourne Victory 1

An Emile Heskey brace has helped the Newcastle Jets overcome the Melbourne Victory 2-1 in the A-League on Friday.

Melbourne’s strategy of a back five, with Mark Milligan effectively man-marking Heskey, looked like it proved successful with the former Liverpool front-man limited in the first half.

However, a cross from Josh Brillante and a Ruben Zadkovich corner laid the platform for Heskey’s goals in the 54th and 56th minutes.

The Jets held on for their third straight win despite Archie Thompson pulling a goal back late on.

After the Victory dominated the first half it was Newcastle who were the better team in the second and opened the scoring through Heskey.

A deflected Brillante cross fell into Heskey’s path and the striker made no mistake with his finish to make it 1-0.

He doubled his team’s advantage just two minutes later when, after a scramble in the area, he was left unmarked to hook an effort over his shoulder and past a helpless Nathan Coe.

Thompson gave the Victory a chance to get back into the match in the 71st minute when a miscued Tiago Calvano clearance fell to him and he nodded into the bottom corner.

But the visitors were unable to find an equaliser as the Jets continued their bright start to the season.