The PGFC Academy First Team reclaimed second spot on the Football West NPL table after recording an impressive 3-1 win over Inglewood United at E&D Litis Stadium on Saturday.
Richard Garcia’s side had to come from behind to earn the three points after former Glory striker Chok Dau opening the scoring for the visitors early in the piece.
But Ethan Brooks levelled things up before half time and the comeback was completed in the second half by goals from skipper Henry Hore and Gomo Dukuly.
“I’m really pleased with the performance today against a side who were in red hot form going into the game,” said Garcia.
“We came under pressure early on which hasn’t been the case in most games, were caught on the back foot and went behind early.
“But the lads stuck to our game plan and we slowly turned our pressure into a goal before half time.
“I thought it was a good first half, but I think we controlled the game very well after the half-time break and led by our skipper Henry Hore, we managed to take our chances and come away with the three points.”
Garcia went on to make special mention of Joshua Rawlings who was handed his First Team NPL debut on the day.
“Young Joshua showed a lot of composure in the game and was a bit naive in giving away the penalty,” he said, “but that’s part of his education and he was good on his NPL debut for us.
“Joshua is one of many talented players we have in our program and we were delighted for him. He now has to press on and cement his spot in the side; that’s his challenge.”
It was the visitors who opened the better and Glory were grateful to ‘keeper Nic Speca who was forced to make a string of saves.
First Dau’s shot was pushed around the post by the alert Glory custodian and moments later Woodall sent Sam Riak clear, but Speca stood tall to deny him.
On 19 minutes, however, Inglewood’s early pressure was rewarded with a penalty as referee Joshua Nixon pointed to the spot following a push on Anthony Bafobusha by Rawlings.
Speca continued his good start by saving Dau’s initial spot kick, only for the striker to react quickest and force home the rebound.
Glory eventually settled and went close to finding the equaliser on the half-hour as Trent Ostler fired over the top.
With Hore and Daniel Stynes continuing to pull the the strings in midfield, however, they were not to be denied eight minutes later.
Stynes eased past two Inglewood players and found the lively Brooks who cut inside his marker before finishing clinically past Alex Dunn.
The second half was a real arm-wrestle and it was Garcia’s side who finally edged their way in front 12 minutes from time when Hore stepped up and unleashed an unstoppable free-kick that flew past Dunn.
Inglewood duly pressed forward looking to restore parity only to be caught out on the counter-attack five minutes from time, Gabriel Popovic supplying the assist and Dukuly making no mistake to seal the three points.
In the day’s other games, meanwhile, Glory’s Under-18s enjoyed a 5-0 win and the Under-20s maintained their lead at the top of the table despite being held to a 3-3 draw.
Match Details
Perth Glory 3 (Brooks 38′, Hore 78′, Dukuly 85′) Inglewood United 1 (Dau 19′)
Half Time: 1-1
Referee: Joshua Nixon
Assistant Referees: Thomas Robinson, Adam Hicks
Perth Glory: GK Nic SPECA, 2. Zayd FARAH, 3. Ethan BROOKS, 4. Luca BODNAR, 5. Nicholas WALSH, 6. Henry HORE, 7. Joshua RAWLINS, 8. Jack LEECH (14. Josh SAMSON 46’), 9. Gomo DUKULY (12. Liam MURRAY 89’), 10. Daniel STYNES, 11. Trent OSTLER (16. Gabriel POPOVIC 59’)
Substitutes not used: 26. Jacob RANGE, 13. Alessandro CIRCATI
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 2. Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS, 3. David CYRUS (7. Hamza Hina 61’), 4. Scott BLACKMORE, 5. Samuel RIAK, 8. Jason BARRERA, 9. Chok DAU, 10. Anthony BAFOBUSHA, 15. Brian FARRELL (11. Harry EVANS 35’), 17. Mark BARNETT, 23 Brian WOODALL, (14. Steve SOKOL 79’)
Substitutes not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 6. Miki VUJACIC
Yellow cards: Riak 72′
Red cards: Nil
#OneGlory
Picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy
