Perth Glory have lost their first PS4 National Premier League WA game of the season after a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to champions Bayswater City at the Finance 365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Glory youngster were outstanding in the first half and Nikola Talimdzioski and Gian Albano gave them a well-deserved 2-0 lead at the break. However, the sending off of Ross Millard gave Bayswater an opening and Colombian striker Gustavo Giron-Marulanda reduced the margin early in the second half.
Talimdzioski regained the two goal buffer, before Giron-Marulanda bagged another three to seal a dramatic comeback. The loss was further soured by the sending off of Glory’s Calvin Whitney.
“Today was very pleasing from the aspect of how far we’ve come as a group, and we take incredible confidence and self-belief from that 90 minutes,” coach John Gibson said.
“Our focus is always about us and what we do. We need to remain balanced when things go slightly off – stick to the shape and structure, the game plan and concentrate and control what we can control.”
Despite the loss, Gibson said the team showed again they will be very competitive this season.
“We’ve spoken about being seriously competitive this season, and we were definitely that today, however we always need to be better and the group are committed to this message,” he explained.
“Overall, super performance from a program that is constantly changing and evolving. The group has set a high standard from this 90 minutes and need to maintain this performance that now is expected.
“Our take home message is ‘consistency’. Throughout every game there are going to be situations, challenges and decisions that are made – that we need to be able to cope with as an individual and as a group. Our task is always about being better and we will always strive to do this.”
Talimdzioski again showed his eye for a goal, and he said the players were really disappointed not to have taken anything from the game. “We’re obviously very disappointed in how the defeat came along, it really doesn’t justify our performance,” Talimdzioski said.
“Leading 2-0 at the break we were in control, but we knew they would come out hard and press us in the second half and they did.”
The sending offs hurt the side and Talimdzioski said even with nine men they almost nicked a point in the end. “Losing Ross (Millard) and Calvin (Whitney) made it hard for us, but we continued to work hard and almost scored in stoppage-time,” he said.
“It turned out to be a courageous effort from the boys, but in the end it wasn’t enough, but we went stride for stride with the league champions, and that’s how far we’ve come.”
The Glory were on top early with Talimdzioski and Daniel Stynes pace causing problems, and it wasn’t a surprise when they hit the front on 11 minutes. Albano made space down the left and his cross picked out Talimdzioski who headed past Devon Spence.
It was almost two on the half hour, Stynes pinched the pocket of Bayswater skipper Trent Kay, but his shot sailed over the top.
But the second goal did arrive in first half stoppage time, Albano played a one-two with Talimdzioski before racing into the area and finishing low past Spence.
Bayswater needed a good start in the second half and they got it, pulling a goal back on 53 minutes. Millard was adjudged to have brought down Giron-Marulanda and referee Josh Mannella pointed to the spot.
Glory keeper Jordan Thurtell picked the right way to save Giron-Marulanda’s spot kick, but the Colombian striker was quickest to react to score from the rebound.
The Glory were then reduced to ten men when Millard received a second yellow card. It looked like it would be backs to the wall for the Glory youngsters but just after the hour they regained their two goal advantage, Talimdzioski showing clinical finishing to steer a through ball low past Spence.
Bayswater were now dominating and Hayden Doyle fired wide from six-yards, before they were rewarded another penalty when Thurtell brought down Alex Wild, and Giron-Marulanda converted to bring it back to 3-2.
Then three minutes later, Bayswater were rewarded a third penalty, Whitney bringing down Wild, and Giron-Marulanda levelled.
The home side hit the front for the first time moments later, Giron-Marulanda curling a free kick up and over the wall and it to bottom corner of the net.
Bayswater went in search of more goals but the Glory hung on and almost nicked a point late, with Stynes racing clear on swift counter attack and finishing well, but the linesman’s flag was up for offside.
The Glory are next in action next Saturday when they entertain former Perth Glory defender Scott Miller’s Cockburn City at Ashfield Reserve.
Match Details
Bayswater City 4 (Marulanda 55’, 74’, 77’, 80’)
Perth Glory 3 (Talimdzioski 11’, 66’, Albano 45+3’)
Saturday March 19, 2016
Finance 365 Stadium
Local kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistants: Julian Serra and Simon Hicks
Squads
Bayswater City: GK Devon Spence, 3 Jack ALLEN, 5 Andrew REALE, 7 Hayden DOYLE, 10 Jason MIRCO, 11 Devon GIBSON, 13 Trent KAY, 15 Brian FARRELL (9 Gustavo MARULANDA 35’), 20 Sam MITCHINSON, 21 David HEAGNEY, 23 Andrija JUKIC (19 Alex WILD 71’)
Subs not used: RGK Fraser GREENWOOD, 17 Taban MAKOII, 24 David STOKOE
Yellow cards: Kay 19’, Gibson 49’, Marulanda 80’
Red cards: Nil
Perth Glory: GK Jordan Thurtell, 2 Gian ALBANO, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Scott ROBERTSON (13 Cameron MURRAY 84’), 5 Jackson MORGAN, 6 Cal WHITNEY, 7 Sam MCKEARNAN, 8 Sean TROUP (12 Walieden ISMAIL 72’), 9 Daniel STYNES, 10 Hagi GLIGOR, 11 Nikola TALIMDZIOSKI.
Substitutes not used: RGK Riley STEVENSON 14 Jack LEECH, 15 Jacob MUSTAFA,
Yellow cards: Robertson 13’, Millard 54’, Albano 87’
Red cards: Millard 56’, Whitney 80’
