16-year-old midfielder Hana Lowry marked her starting Westfield W-League debut by scoring a stunning header as Glory downed Newcastle Jets 4-2 at McDonald Jones Stadium to secure their first win of the campaign.
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The Perth local rose highest to nod home a Crystal Thomas corner midway through the first half, becoming the fifth-youngest player to score on debut in Westfield W-League history in the process.
Morgan Andrews then doubled Glory’s lead from the penalty spot just before the break and shortly after the hour-mark, Caitlin Doeglas grabbed her second goal in as many games to make it 3-0.
Tessa Tamplin’s long-range effort did briefly reduce the arrears, but Glory responded in kind almost immediately as Celia curled home her second of the season from outside the box and Lauren Allen’s subsequent strike came too late to be anything more than a consolation for the hosts.
The result lifted Glory above their opponents into seventh spot on the ladder and Despotovski was understandably thrilled that his charges’ efforts in testing conditions were rewarded.
“At the end of the day, I think we wanted this game more than the Jets,” he said.
“We played our style of football, scored good goals and deserved the win.
“Their players looked a bit sluggish after travelling back from Melbourne in their last game and our players took full advantage.
“I was absolutely delighted for Hana [Lowry]. She is a great young prospect and what a goal that was on her first start!
“The girls worked extra hard in the game in 40-plus degree-heat and they deserved everything they got from the game.
“Now we need to build on it.”
The opening exchanges were characterised by Glory dominating possession and territory without managing to seriously threaten the Newcastle goal.
Come the 22nd minute, however, that all changed in dramatic fashion as Thomas provided the pinpoint flat delivery from a corner and Lowry rose majestically to power an unstoppable header into the roof of the net.
Having deservedly taken the lead, the visitors continued to press and were rewarded again in first-half stoppage-time.
Tamplin was guilty of a needless nudge on Thomas in the box and Andrews calmly sent Claire Coelho the wrong way from the spot.
A lively opening to the second half saw Glory’s Doeglas fire just over having been released by Ari Romero, before Newcastle’s Allen sent in a looping effort which was tipped on to the bar by the alert Morgan Aquino.
That let-off appeared to spur on the women in white and they duly added a third goal in the 64th minute.
The impressive Andrews laid the groundwork, rifling in a superb shot which cannoned down off the underside of the bar and into the path of Doeglas who showed great composure and technique to hook the ball home from eight metres out.
Glory’s march to victory was briefly interrupted when Tamplin’s cross-shot sailed in from fully 35 metres out, but Spanish import Celia reasserted the visitors’ authority when she strode on to a loose ball just outside the box and found the roof of Coelho’s net.
Allan did manage to grab a well-taken second for the Jets eight minutes from time, but the WA side were not to be denied a deserved and very welcome victory.
Match Details
Newcastle Jets 2 (Tamplin 75′, Allan 82′) Perth Glory 4 (Lowry 22′, Andrews (pen) 45+1′, Doeglas 64′, Celia 78′)
Half-Time: 0-2
McDonald Jones Stadium
Referee: Georgia Ghirardello
Assistant Referee 1: Sarah Ho
Assistant Referee 2: Eleanor Hayes
Fourth Official: Kelly Jones
Newcastle Jets: 20.Claire COELHO (gk), 2.Hannah BREWER, 6.Cassidy DAVIS, 7.Gema SIMON, 9.Tara ANDREWS, 11.Pana PETRATOS (31.Paige KINGSTON-HOGG 46′), 12.Tessa TAMPLIN, 13.Lauren ALLAN, 17.Jenna KINGSLEY (8.Sophie NENADOVIC 86′), 18.Clare WHEELER, 25.Teigan COLLISTER (14.Renee POUNTNEY 70′)
Substitutes not used: 30.Nicole SIMONSEN (gk)
Yellow Cards: Brewer
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 21.Morgan AQUINO (gk), 3.Kim CARROLL, 5.Shannon MAY, 6.Arianna ROMERO, 7.CELIA, 8.Morgan ANDREWS, 9.Crystal THOMAS, 13.Jamie-Lee GALE, 14.Caitlin DOEGLAS (28.Katarina JUKIC 86′), 19.Hana LOWRY (11.Leticia McKENNA 57′), 24.Natasha RIGBY (c),
Substitutes not used: 16.Isabella WALLHEAD, 31.Ruby JONES (gk)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
#OneGlory
