Perth Glory led twice, but had to settle for a point at Percy Doyle Reserve, after a hard fought 2-2 draw against Sorrento FC in Round 10 of the PS4 National Premier League on Saturday.
Gian Abano gave the Glory youngsters the lead on the half hour, before English striker Sean Canham levelled for Sorrento mid-way through the second half.
Nikola Talimdzioski regained the lead for Glory, but a goal five minutes from time from Jack Salter gave both sides a share of the spoils.
Glory assistant Coach Jacob Burns who held the coaching reins this week, said he was delighted the way his troops applied themselves.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the guys we had in there today.We had something like 12 players from our first team squad out, so we had some 16-year-olds out there today who were incredible for me”.
“I thought they more than held their own and had a great performance all round, they were all immense and should have won it.”
Glory keeper Jordan Franken echoed Burns’ comments and said it was a good point but it could have been all three.
“We had a very young squad for the game and the boys stood up to the challenge really well,” he said.
“Sorrento are always tough, have a strong aerial presence and we were under the pump for long periods of the second half. But we dug in and played some decent football along the way, and deserved to get a result, but it was disappointing to concede the late goal.”
Glory was forced into making three changes to the side that was pipped at the post by Balcatta last week, with skipper Jacob Collard, Calvin Whitney and Slobodan Vulin all out.
Burns brought in Tom King and under 20’s players Michael McDougal and Daniel Stynes for their starting NPL debuts, while reserves players Alex Taneski, Thomas Pope and Ciaran Salinger sat on the bench.
McDougall was delighted to make his first start.
“I was extremely pleased to be given the opportunity to represent the NPL Perth Glory senior side,” the 17-year old said.
“I was really pleased with my performance and have to thank all the coaching staff that has helped my development and I hope I gave them a little back with my performance on Saturday.”
It was an even opening to the game, but it was the Glory youngsters who hit the front on 26 minutes, with two debutants involved.
Stynes played the ball into the path of McDougal, who was brought down by Sorrento’s keeper leaving referee Steve Gregory no option but to point to the spot.
Albano stepped up and scored the resulting penalty.
The home side pressed early in the second half, and Tom King and stand-in skipper Nathan Costello worked overtime to thwart their raids.
But Sorrento’s pressure was rewarded with the equaliser on 70 minutes. The lively Jason Mirco made space down the flank, and crossed to Canham who headed past Franken.
Sorrento was on top but Glory held firm, and played some neat football.
On a quick counter attack they regained the lead five minutes later after some good lead up play ended with Talimdzioski racing clear, cutting inside his marker and finishing with aplomb.
It looked like the Glory youngsters would take all three points, but Sorrento pressed and on 85 minutes levelled.
Salter found space in the area and finished low past Franken.
Meantime in other results, Glory U-18s continued thier successful run, winning 4-2 against Sorrento, while the Reserves also ran out 2-1 winners over the Gulls.
Glory will play at home for the next three weeks, and will face off against Cockburn City this weekend.
Kick-off is 3pm.
MATCH DETAILS
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Sorrento FC 2 (Canham 70’, Salter 80’)
Perth Glory Youth 2 (Albano 26’, Talimdzioski 75’)
Percy Doyle Reserve
Referee: Steve Gregory
Assistant referees: Tim Mihevc and Amit Hosany
Sorrento FC: GK James MORGAN, 5 Adam LUCA (20 Brad MACDONALD 70’), 6 Daryl PLATTEN (C), 10 Jason MIRCO, 11 Thomas BOSS (21 Jordan DODD 85’), 12 Jack EADES, 13 Steven MACDONALD, 18 Sean CANHAM, 19 Jack SALTER, 22 Lewis HALL, 24 Scott HOYLE
Substitutes not used: RGK Jordan BLANK, 2 Danny CAIN, 4 Shaun KILLKELLY
Yellow cards: Nil.
Perth Glory: GK Jordan FRANKEN, 2 Gian ALBANO, 3 Dejan SPASESKI, 4 Nathan COSTELLO (C), 5 Tom KING (12 Ali GHOLAMI 57’), 6 Matthew NTOUMENOPOULOS (15 Thomas POPE 80’), 7 Michael MCDOUGAL, 8 Waliedin ISMAIL, 9 Nic TALIMDZIOSKI, 10 Sam MACKEARNAN (14 Alex TANESKI 60’) 11 Daniel STYNES
Substitutes not used: RGK Jordan YOUNG, 13 Ciaran SALINGER
Yellow cards: King 55’
