PGFC Academy First Team got back to winning ways in spectacular style on Saturday as they downed Sorrento 5-2 to retain the National Premier League WA Regional Cup at Busselton’s Barnard Park.
Gabriel Popovic gave the youngsters an early lead and although Steven McDonald levelled for the Gulls moments later, Henry Hore’s penalty sent Glory into the break 2-1 up.
Cameron Teece drew Sorrento level again midway through the second half, only for Richard Garcia’s side to run away with it courtesy of three goals in six minutes from Gomo Dukuly (2) and Daniel Stynes.
And Garcia was understandably pleased to see his charges respond strongly to last week’s defeat at the hands of Perth SC.
“It’s good for us to bounce back,” he said.
“The guys played well and it was a good win against a strong Sorrento side.
“We controlled the game for large periods and to regain the lead late in the first half showed great character. I feel that gave us the momentum in the second half and the boys, to their credit, produced some very good football and we took our chances very well to run out winners.
“We need to continue to improve and grow and need another strong performance next week against a Rockingham City side who have impressed in their first season in the NPL.
“So we will enjoy this win and focus on next Sunday afternoon’s game at E&D Litis Stadium.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Stynes who was a key influence for Glory in midfield.
“It was an excellent all-round performance in my opinion and we were really happy to bounce back from last week,” he said.
“We had a 15-minute period in the second half when they were on top and they subsequently scored, but apart from that, I felt we dominated the game.
“We created a lot of chances and probably should’ve scored more, but from the back to front I felt we produced a very good performance.”
After a tight opening to the game, Glory hit the front on 20 minutes when Stynes and debutant Ciaran Bramwell combined to send Gabriel Popovic through and his shot took a slight deflection to beat James Morgan in the Sorrento goal.
The Gulls were level within four minutes as Teece headed home Jordan Roberts’ corner, but Glory hit back on the stroke of half time after Popovic was brought down in the area by Morgan and Hore scored from the spot.
Nic Speca was forced to save well from Sorrento’s Roberts early in the second half, however the Glory ‘keeper could do nothing to keep out Teece’s low shot which made it 2-2 with 20 minutes left.
The game was then turned on its head by Glory’s three-goal blitz, which was started by a long-range effort from Dukuly.
Stynes was next to get on the scoresheet, firing home the loose ball after Morgan had parried Popovic’s shot and direct from the restart, Dukuly pounced on a wayward pass to bag his second and Glory’s fifth.
#OneGlory
