Newcastle Jets defender Natasha Prior has been red carded in controversial fashion after biting back at a crowd member during her team's 2-0 loss to Western United.

Kahli Johnson scored a second-half double to help Western United rebound from last week's 8-2 home loss to Brisbane Roar in grand style.

Johnson struck in the 59th and 78th minutes to ensure United took home all three points, lifting them to fourth on the ladder.

But it was the 90th-minute red card to Prior that stole all the headlines.

Prior was given her marching orders for verbal abuse behind the play.

The referee initially believed the abuse was directed at a linesperson, but it appeared Prior was merely responding to flak she had received from a crowd member.

"You can't allow a person in the crowd to say something like that to her," Jets coach Ryan Campbell said from the sidelines.

"Linesman, it wasn't at you, it was at the crowd member."

His pleas fell on deaf ears, with the red card standing.

To add to the drama, players from both sides became involved in a mini melee moments later as confusion reigned and tempers threatened to boil over.

Both sides unleashed eight shots apiece in an entertaining first half that failed to yield any goals.

Johnson sent through a warning early on when she was able to round the goalkeeper before fluffing her shot.

And she almost broke the deadlock later in the half when her long-range shot struck the underside of the crossbar before rebounding away.

United's opener came in bizarre and controversial fashion, with Julia Sardo's speculative cross from near the sideline causing all sorts of panic.

Jets goalkeeper Tiahna Robertson jumped in a bid to catch the ball on the line but was knocked over by Johnson as the Western United striker bundled the ball in.

Newcastle players were in disbelief that the goal was allowed to stand, and Campbell was livid on the sidelines, believing it was a clear foul on Robertson.

Johnson iced the win with a header at the back post following a sweet cross from Kiara De Domizio.

In another feelgood moment for United, Adriana Taranto came off the bench in the 79th minute for her first appearance since tearing her ACL in March last year.

She was one of the players to receive a yellow card at the death for her involvement in the melee.