Newcastle Jets 0 - 1 Wellington Phoenix FC

Jets shot down by Phoenix in heat

Updated: November 22, 2009, 8:24 AM UK

Wellington Phoenix continued their climb up the A-League ladder with a 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets in brutal conditions at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday.

Star striker Paul Ifill gave the Phoenix the lead in the 13th minute and they were never headed in a match that kicked off in blistering 41 degree heat.

The win saw Ricki Herbert's side climb up to fifth spot and continued a happy period for the coach and six of his players who helped New Zealand clinch World Cup qualification last week.

But it was a disappointing performance from the Jets in front of 4239 fans - their lowest crowd of the season - as they failed to build on a 2-0 win over North Queensland last start and were left a point off last place on the ladder.

It was the in-form Ifill who did the damage again, just as he did in the Phoenix's 3-0 win when the sides met in cold and windy conditions in Wellington three weeks ago.

The Barbados international cleverly toed the ball into the net from a Tony Lochhead cross in the 13th minute and the goal stood despite the Jets' claims Ifill should have been booked for a high foot.

It was the sixth goal of the campaign for Ifill, who also has a competition-high seven assists in his debut A-League season.

The Jets struggled to find their rhythm for most of the match and their few sniffs on goal were quickly thwarted by the Phoenix defence.

Newcastle's first genuine chance came in the 67th minute when Labinot Haliti was unleashed by a Jin-Hyung Song ball but the striker hit his shot straight at Mark Paston.

The loss margin could have been greater if not for a great save from goalkeeper Neil Young, playing his second A-League match in place of injured custodian Ben Kennedy.

Ifill looked set to double his side's advantage just after halftime with a carbon copy of his first-half effort but Young did brilliantly to tip the ball over from point blank range.

Young made another good stop in the 63rd minute to deny Leo Bertos while the Jets missed a golden injury-time chance to equalise with Fabio Vignaroli just failing to get on the end of a Matt Thompson cross.