The Perth Glory Women’s side has dealt Sydney FC’s Westfield W-League finals ambitions a blow with a morale boosting 1-0 win at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Perth Glory Women-s side has dealt Sydney FC’s Westfield W-League finals ambitions a blow with a morale boosting 1-0 win at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Marianna Tabain grabbed the winner on 65 minutes for Perth who were without the services of dynamic striker Lisa De Vanna but were still able to cause the Sydneysiders plenty of difficulties as the match opened up in the latter stages.
The opening stanza saw Sydney create numerous half chances in scorching conditions with Leena Khamis and Danielle Small both seeing their efforts saved by Luisa Marzotto. Another shot slid narrowly wide while Kylie Ledbrook hit the side netting as Sydney continued the one-way traffic.
Perth battled gamely but struggled for fluency going forward with its only notable moment of the first half coming from Collette McCallum firing wide from distance.
The second half followed a similar pattern however Perth-s perseverance paid off when Tabain pounced on a Sydney defensive error to grab the winner.
The Glory had claims for a penalty when Sam Kerr burst into the area but the referee deemed the challenge of Alesha Clifford to be fair. McCallum then set up Kerr again soon after but the midfielder could get any purchase on the ball.
Perth thought they might be left to rue another late lapse however the goal was disallowed as the whistle blow for an earlier infringement.
Glory was not to be denied in claiming their second win of the season and getting some payback after their opening round defeat at the hands for the NSW women.
“It was a very competitive game, we managed to hang in there at the end after taking the lead,” said Glory coach Nicola Williams.
“The game was very even. We played really well, but it was just a matter of grinding it out at the end to hold onto the points.
“The team are very happy, the spirit and bond between the girls is very strong at the moment and the win has drawn them together even closer. They had the carrot dangled in front of them today and they took it which was very pleasing,” Williams said.
Westfield W-League Rd 8
Sydney FC 0
Perth Glory 1 (Marianna Tabain 65′)
Saturday, 13 December 2008 at Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Sara Hodson
Attendance: 300
Sydney FC: Nikola DEITER (gk), Danielle BROGAN, Alesha CLIFFORD, Lisa GILBERT (c), Servet UZUNLAR (Joanne Burgess 61-), Kylie LEDBROOK, Danielle SMALL, Nicola BOLGER (Linda O-Neill 55-), Leena KHAMIS, Jordan MARSH, Kelly GOLEBOWSKI
Substitutes not used: Rachel Cooper (gk), Loren Mahoney
Yellow cards: O’Neill 70′
Perth Glory: Luisa MARZOTTO (gk), Stacey LEARMONT, Carys HAWKINS (Katy Coghlan 74-), Ciara CONWAY (Shannon May 26-), Tanya OXTOBY (c), Ella MASTRANTONIO, Dani CALAUTTI, Elisa D-OVIDIO (Katarina Juric 80-), Collette McCALLUM, Marianna TABAIN
Yellow cards: McCallum 92′
