Perth Glory has drawn their Week 14 PS4 National Premier League WA game against Armadale 0-0 in a hard fought encounter at Ashfield Arena.
Both sides had chances to take all three, but it was Glory keeper Jackson Lee, who was the hero saving a Billy Quinncroft penalty just before the half.
Lee thought they deserved more from the game. “I feel that we played really well for major periods of the game, and we were much better defensively this week as a whole team with our midfielders getting back and our forwards doing really well to shut down there defence when they had the ball,” he said.
“I do think that we need to be more clinical up front but overall, but there are a lot of positives we can take out of the game, and the clean sheet was well deserved and our good defensive performance was rewarded.”
Lee said he guessed the right way for the penalty and waited until the last minute to make the choice of what way to go. “Penalties are always hard to save no matter who you face, but the responsibility is all on the penalty taker,” he explained.
“I tried to give myself the best chance by not committing to one side too early, and I was happy to make a good save, but my focus is on the team’s performance and what we need to work on during the week before a big match against Floreat next week.”
Glory Coach John Gibson said it was a good performance from his young side but their profligacy in front of goal cost them again.
“Today was a terrific response to last week’s result against Joondalup United, and it was fantastic to keep our second clean sheet for the year. On the flip side we created numerous opportunities but didn’t capitalise on them,” he said.
“I would be more concerned if we weren’t creating them, but we need to start to convert them, and when we do we will get the rewards that we deserve.
“Yes we are young but we are greedy and we want and demand more from each other always – it is relentless. Armadale are a physical and tough team and have recruited well in the Roster Window.
“So again I’m delighted to keep a clean sheet, but we had some serious goal scoring opportunities. Our mentality was faultless today and it was pretty cool to see Jacko (Jackson Lee) save a penalty – that was a nice moment.”
Gibson isn’t one to pick out individuals for praise, but he said the performance of Joe Knowles was outstanding.
“Knowlesy was great for us today like he has been all year – the guy is possibly over-elaborating at times but he is leading a young group with his actions and attitude,” he said.
“Joe worked his backside off for the cause today, and he was outstanding, battling back to win tackles and pushing forward with pace to cause them problems.
“On another day he would have had a hat-trick, but his all-round effort gave the rest of the young group a lift and they responded.”
The Glory went close to the opener from the kickoff, Knowles shot on the run flashing wide of the target. He was nearly in again five minutes later, a cross from the left to the back post was only inches away from the outstretched leg of the striker.
The ball was in the net on 12 minutes, former Armadale striker Michael Domfeh heading home, but his celebrations were cut short with the flag up for offside. Then moments later Michael McDougall’s long-range shot stung the palms of Armadale keeper Michael Craggs.
Craggs was in the action again on 17 minutes, Daniel Stynes played a free kick short to McDougall, whose shot was well saved by the Armadale custodian, before he saved well to deny Knowles on the half hour.
But on 40 minutes, and against the run of play Armadale won a penalty, when former Glory defender Nathan Costello was brought down in the box by Walter Scott, and referee David Bruce pointed straight to the spot.
Quinncroft stepped up to take the resulting penalty, but Lee guessed the right way to save and send the teams into the break all-square.
The Glory should have taken the lead in the opening minute of the second half, Domfeh was sent one-on-one with Craggs, but the keeper stood tall and the striker fired wide.
Armadale started to get into the game and Quinncroft raced clear on 50 minutes, his shot was deflected off Cameron Murray, the ball rolling agonisingly wide of the post.
Lee had to be alert again on the hour, Papa Kpatar lost his marker from the corner, but his close-range shot was straight at the Glory custodian.
Knowles was a real handful for the Armadale defence, and it looked like he’d won a penalty when he was brought down in the box, but referee Bruce waved away their protests.
Both sides had late chances, but neither could take them and at the final whist, e the points were shared.
In other games Callum Salmon’s under 18’s were beaten 2-5 by Armadale, while Anthony Cochrane’s under 20’s were beaten 2-1 by Armadale.
Match Details
Perth Glory 0
Armadale 0
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Ashfield Arena
Referee: David Bruce
Assistants: Joshua Nixon and Sorousha Moayer
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Walter SCOTT (14 Joseph MARINO 63’), 3 Luca BODNAR, 4 Riley WARLAND, 5 Cameron MURRAY, 6 Jack LEECH, 7 Michael MCDOUGALL (12 Yacoub MUSTAFA 59’), 8 Cameron TIMMINS, 9 Joseph KNOWLES, 10 Daniel STYNES, 11 Michael DOMFEH (13 Gomo DUKULY 72) – Subs not used: RGK Cealan MILLER 15. Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY – Yellow cards: LEECH 81’, KNOWLES 93’
Armadale: GK Michael CRAGGS, 2 Dylan WHITE, 3 Jake SARDELIC, 4 Nathan COSTELLO, 7 Charlie KENNA, 10 Papa KPATAR (15 Jackson BEALEY 61’), 14 David ANNALL, 16 Billy QUINNCROFT, 18 Milan OGNJENOVIC, 19 Beau RAHIM, 20 Ali GHOLAMI, 25 Anthony SKORICH (17 James ATKINS 61’) – Subs not used: RGK Alec RADONICH, 21 Shaydon PASSALACQUA – Yellow cards: ANNALL 35’, SARDELIC 44’, RAHIM 65’, OGNJENOVIC 83’, QUINNCROFT 87’
