Bryce Bafford’s goal proved enough to propel the PGFC Academy First Team into the top three on the NPL WA ladder as they edged Cockburn City out 1-0 at 1620 Capital Stadium on Saturday.
In what was an entertaining, free-flowing game, Bafford struck from close-range seven minutes before the break, while City’s best chance fell to former Glory man Kristian Santich who struck the post from the penalty late in the second half.
Richard Garcia’s side started brightly and went on to dominate for long periods of the first half, Fraser Dunlop firing over the bar after some intricate approach work before the impressive Giordano Colli struck the bar with a curling free-kick 22 minutes in.
Colli was also involved in Glory’s opener, capitalising upon a defensive error to play in Ciaran Bramwell and although his initial effort was blocked by Luke Radonich in the Cockburn goal, Bafford was on hand to force the loose ball over the line.
The visitors mustered a spirited response after the break, however, the lively Santich cutting in from the left and rifling in a fierce drive which Sam Reilly did well to palm over the bar.
As they continued to press, City were rewarded with a penalty when David Araya was adjudged to have been impeded as he attempted to meet Cameron Edwards’ cross.
Santich took responsibility, but saw his low effort strike the post and rebound away to safety, leaving Glory to see out the final ten minutes with a relative degree of comfort and lock in their third win of the campaign.
In the day’s other games, meanwhile, Glory’s Under-18s enjoyed a 4-0 win and the Under-20s went down to a 3-1 defeat.
All three teams have midweek action against Floreat Athena to look forward to this week, with the the Under-18s and Under-20s visiting E&D Litis Stadium on Tuesday evening (kicking off at 6pm and 8pm respectively) and the First Team heading to the same venue for a 7.30pm start on Wednesday.
Match Details
Perth Glory 1 (Bafford 38′) Cockburn City 0
Half-time: 1-0
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Perth Glory: 1.Sam REILLY, 2.Alessandro CIRCATI, 5.Jacob MUIR, 6.Lewis TUCKER (16.Jayden LEADER 59′), 7.Fraser DUNLOP, 8.Aidan EDWARDS, 9.Ciaran BRAMWELL (13.Mason TATAFU 69′), 10.Giordano COLLI, 11.Bryce BAFFORD, 17.Jack PAINTER-ANDREWS (15Tyler VECCHIO 79′), 18. Nick WALSH
Substitutes not used: 20.Kade WHITE 22.Joshua RAWLINS,
Yellow Cards: Muir
Red cards: None
Cockburn City: 1.Luke RADONICH (GK), 3.Daniel DOLS (17. Fanuel DAWIT 66′), 8.Cameron EDWARDS, 9.Anthony SKORICH (10.David ARAYA 16′), 12.Ryan PRATT 24.D DOS SANTOS 80′), 14.Hayden STEVENS, 15.Daniel SANTICH, 21.Jesse LAZZARO, 22.Kristian SANTICH, 23.Riley WOODCOCK, 25.Breckan BAKER
Substitutes not used: 20.Alessandro BASTO, 32.Ryan BARKER
Yellow Cards: Lazzaro, Dols
Red Cards: None
(picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
#OneGlory
