The Jets made it seven points from a possible nine since the league's lockdown ended as a crowd of 2,570 saw a home success at the McDonald Jones Stadium.

O'Donovan netted in the 29th minute, timing his run to meet Jason Hoffman's cross from the right and glance the ball across goal into the left corner.

It was the experienced Irish forward's 10th goal of the season, and his fourth since arriving at Newcastle from the Brisbane Roar in January.

O'Donovan later struck the outside of the post, while the visitors were denied an equaliser when Besart Berisha found the net with a close-range volley but was flagged offside.

Newcastle jumped two places to seventh with its win, nudging above Western United which fell to eighth.