The PGFC Academy first team moved second on the Football West NPL table after a comprehensive 5-0 win against Joondalup United at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
Michael Domfeh gave Glory the lead before Callum Timmins doubled the advantage on the half hour, and Luke Bodnar added a third with a great solo run before the break.
Perth continued to dominate after the break and Henry Hore added a fourth and second half substitute Gomo Dukuly rounded off the scoring late.
“Today was a solid performance on so many levels,” Gibson said post-match.
“We put in a mature performance, for a side so young, we negated the physicality by playing some quick football.
“Our back four had an average age of 17.5 today. Daniel Walsh (15) made his starting debut whilst Nic McDonald, also 15, made his debut, while Harry Quigley (17) made his first start of the season and acquitted himself well.
“Fantastic for them but praise must be given to the young seniors around them who supported, guided and showed tremendous leadership.
“The downside for us that we were sloppy in front of goal where we created many chances and we were not clinical or ruthless enough.”
Gibson said there is a great attitude amongst the whole squad and when players come into the starting eleven they are performing well.
“The group has worked consistently hard over the years, and there is a real quiet confidence amongst the players and that is displayed with their consistent performances,” he said.
“Consistency and maturity are key focuses as part of their collective journeys, but we are striving for improvement in all of our details and processes. We still have major improvements in these key areas.
“Our whole discussion within the group is about ourselves and constant improvement. We are strongly motivated to keep improving and are moving nicely in an upward direction.
“The group would also like to wish our good mate Nafwan Pattiaratchi in his new position at Adelaide United as Head Physio – Nafwan has been integral to the Academy Program and we wish him all the best moving forward.”
The youngsters opened brightly, and had Joondalup on the back foot, and Yacoub Mustafa went close to the opener on the quarter hour.
He eased past three home defenders with a mazy run, but Joondalup keeper James Bosdet denied him with a great save.
But on 22 minutes, their pressure was rewarded with the lead. A defence splitting through ball from Michael McDougall sent Domfeh into the box, he took a touch and finished clinically from a tight angle.
It was one-way traffic and Glory added a second nine minutes later. A corner was only cleared as far as Timmins on the edge of the penalty area and the Young Socceroo fired home powerfully.
Then five minutes before half-time Perth added a third, and what a goal it was.
Bodnar picked the ball up in his own half and went on a super solo run racing past a number of Joondalup defenders before going one-on-one with Bosdet and slipped the ball under the keeper.
After the break it was more of the same and on 56 minutes Gibson’s side added a fourth. Chok Dau found space out wide and picked out Hore with the midfielders’ low shot beating Bosdet.
Dau went close himself on the hour, he lost his marker but his shot flashed wide of the target.
Joondalup were struggling to break down a Glory back-four, superbly led by Walter Scott, and in the final minute, the visitors put the icing on the cake by adding a fifth.
Timmins found Jack Leech, who played a great ball into Dukuly, who kept his composure and finished expertly past Bosdet to seal a comprehensive win.
“I feel like we dominated an experienced Joondalup United team and we carried on our momentum from previous games by sticking with the same mindset,” Timmins said.
“We really caused a problem for them in all areas of the pitch and we probably deserved a few more goals if we were a little bit more clinal in the final third.”
It was a successful day all-round for the PGFC Academy teams, the under 20’s winning 4-0 and the under 18’s 3-0.
Match Details
Joondalup United 0
Perth Glory 5 (Domfeh 22’, Timmins 31’, Bodnar 40’, Hore 56’, Dukuly 90’)
Half time: 0-3
Referee: Alexander Best
Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 2 Johnny CHALMERS, 3 Fraser GARNAUT (15 Callum STOCKS 3’), 4 Danny O’SHEA, 6 Sam WYNNE, 8 Jay MARSDEN, 10 Elliot TATTERSAL, 11 Anthony TAYLOR (C), 17 Matthew CHERRIE, 22 Jamie GIBSON, 25 Greg PELLOW
Substitutes not used: RGK Luke GREEN, 9 Lee JONES, 12 William KESSEL, 14 Liam MOONEY
Yellow cards: Taylor 65’
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luke BODNAR, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Daniel WALSH, 5 Harry QUIGLEY (15 Nic MCDONALD 84’), 6 Callum TIMMINS, 7 Chok DAU, 8 Henry HORE, 9 Michael DOMFEH (14 Gomo DUKULY 70’) 10 Michael MCDOUGALL (C) (12 Jack LEECH 70), 11 Yacoub MUSTAFA
Substitutes not used: 20. Nicholas SPECA 13. Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY
Yellow cards: Nil
