Football: High-flying Nix down down the Jets

The Phoenix's Andrew Durante, centre, celebrates with Michael McGlinchey and Rolieny Bonevacia during their team's win over the Newcastle Jets. Photo / Getty Images

Ernie Merrick will wake up this morning a contented man, feeling that his philosophy is finally bearing fruit at the Phoenix.

It was far from a perfect performance but the manner in which they snatched the game away from the Jets last night hinted at the promise in store.

It's not time for cartwheels just yet - Newcastle haven't won a match since April and have the equal-worst defence in the league - but Wellington displayed a potency in the second half they have rarely had in their history.

They trailed 1-0 with less than 20 minutes on the clock after spurning several opportunities in a disjointed display. Then they flicked the switch, scoring three goals in a little over five minutes to seal their fifth win of the campaign.

It represents their best ever start to a season and cements their place in the top five, well clear of sixth-placed Brisbane. It's also a timely boost ahead of Saturday's clash with the Central Coast Mariners at Eden Park. The crowd will surely come. Who wouldn't want to watch the Phoenix, in this kind of form?

When Merrick arrived in Wellington, he talked about attacking football. He wanted his teams to attack, liked his fullbacks to go forward and liked numbers in the area.

Last season, the formula wasn't quite right. They took time to get going, then went on a run before petering out in the latter stages of the season.

This year it's quite different.

Dutch import Roly Bonevacia has made a huge impact, and he played the final pass for all three goals last night. Roy Krishna has found his feet and showed his burgeoning confidence with a stunning strike from 25m to round out the scoring yesterday, and his form explains why the club are willing to grant Jeremy Brockie an early release in his contract.

Michael McGlinchey has also delivered everything fans hoped. His movement and attacking runs create havoc for opposition defences and he adds an x-factor the Wellington club haven't always had. The final - and perhaps most important - piece of this attacking puzzle is Nathan Burns. He arrived amid little fanfare, after the Jets had failed to offer him a new contract, but is now the current A-League golden boot. Full of confidence, running off the shoulders of defenders and his combination with Bonevacia and McGlinchey is terrific.

Burns has played himself into contention for the Socceroos Asian Cup squad and his goal yesterday, his eighth of the season, was crucial. Played through by an slide-rule pass from Bonevacia, Burns showed great composure and touch to round the goal keeper and finish. Until that moment, it was a game that could have slipped away.

Earlier, the Phoenix kept up their run of conceding on the road - they haven't had a clean sheet in 28 consecutive games away from Wellington - when Joel Griffiths tapped home at the far post in the 25th minute. It came moments after McGlinchey had squandered a wonderful chance, stabbing over from six yards with the goal at his mercy, although the Jets also hit the cross bar twice in the first half. The visitors dominated possession and territory but couldn't convert their advantage until the three-goal blitz courtesy of Burns, McGlinchey (bundling home a rebound from a fierce Bonevacia strike) and Krishna.

Newcastle Jets 1 (J. Griffiths) Wellington Phoenix 3 (N. Burns, M. McGlinchey, R. Krishna). Halftime: 1-0 Jets.