A young Perth Glory PS4 National Premier League WA side have been beaten 4-2 by Joondalup United at Ashfield Arena on Saturday afternoon, in their Round Three catch up game.
With a number of experienced players missing the Glory youngster went toe to toe with the visitors in the first-half, but after the break, Joondalup striker Richard Howles took control bagging for goals.
Despite the scoreline, the Glory hit back with late goals from skipper Daniel Stynes and Joe Knowles, but the damage had already been done.
Skipper Stynes said they had early chances but they didn’t convert, but he said the young side battled to the end and were rewarded with two late goals.
“The first half wasn’t our best attacking performance we were just a little off I thought, and we need to be better in the final third,” he said.
“I was happy to get my sixth goal of the season, as well as Joe (Knowles) scoring, but overall that was unacceptable what we displayed out there today.
“As a collective, we underperformed massively and credit to Joondalup they took advantage of that.”
With Glory Head Coach John Gibson away, Jacob Burns took charge and made three changes to the side that beat Cockburn City last week.
In came Walter Scott, Luca Bodnar and Michael McDougall, with Brandon Wilson, Kosta Petratos and Hayden Stevens missing.
The visitors were on the front foot early and Howles shot was well saved by Jackson Lee, before the Glory custodian was alert to deny him again moments later after he got on the end of a Matt Sparrow free kick.
Despite the early onslaught the Glory settled and went close themselves on 10 minutes. Knowles won possession and laid the ball in the path of Stynes, who shot flashed inches wide of the upright.
Knowles then created a turnover and fired at goal, but Joondalup keeper James Bosdet saved. It was a tight game and chances continued at both ends.
Jay Marsden headed straight at Lee, after being picked out by Sparrow’s free kick on 20 minutes, before Knowles’ long-range shot was deflected wide.
The Glory went close to the opener in the shadows of half-time. Knowles was brought down on the edge of the penalty area, and Stynes stepped up to take the resulting free-kick, but it is well saved by Bosdet.
It was a good start to the second half for the Glory and on 52 minutes Stynes played a perfect through ball to send Bayley Brown-Montgomery one-on-one with Bosdet, but the Joondalup keeper stood tall to deny him.
But two minutes later the visitors opened the scoring. Rowdy Yates’ free kick from the right picked out Howles who lost his marker and headed past Lee.
They doubled their lead on 68 minutes, Cameron Murray left his back pass short, and Howles nipped in, rounded Lee and rolled the ball into an empty net from a tight angle.
Two minutes later it was 3-0, Arran Maplestone’s shot was parried by Lee, but Howles was quickest to react to pounce on the rebound and complete his hat-trick. Howles added his, and Joondalup fourth on 78 minutes, rising highest to head home substitute Joe Stocker’s cross.
To the Glory youngsters credit they continued to play their football and were rewarded with a goal on 84 minutes. Knowles found room on the edge of the penalty area and finished well.
Knowles went close again moments later, his free kick flashing inches past the post, and the Glory were ending the game well and added a second in the final minute. Knowles’ long-range shot beat Bosdet, but the crossbar came to the rescue of the Joondalup custodian, but Stynes was quickest to react scoring from close-range.
They was a few nerves on the Joondalup bench when the Glory won a free kick close to the penalty area, and Knowles set-piece forced Bosdet to produce a stunning save to deny him, but the damage had been done earlier.
Match Details:
Perth Glory FC 2 (Knowles 84’, Stynes 89’)
Joondalup United 4 (Howles 54’, 68’, 70, 78)
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Ashfield Arena
Referee: Stuart Holden
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Walter SCOTT (15 Joseph MARINO 76’), 3 Luca BODNAR, 4 Riley WARLAND, 5 Cameron MURRAY, 6 Jack LEECH, 7 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY (12 Yacoub MUSTAFA 66’), 8 Callum TIMMINS, 9 Joe KNOWLES, 10 Daniel STYNES (C), 11 Michael MCDOUGALL
Subs not used: RGK Kyle MCDONALD, 13 Daniel WALSH
Yellow Cards: Leech 36’, Knowles 86’
Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 2 Joel LEDSHAM, 3 Rowdy YATES, 4 Arran MAPLESTONE (C), 7 Matthew SPARROW, 8 Josh WHITMORE, 9 Richard HOWLES, 10 Alex WILD (19 Mike KENNY 74’), 16 Ross EDWARDS, 18 Anthony TAYLOR (5 Joe STOCKER 42’), 23 Jay MARSDEN (6 Guy MCDONALD 77’)
Subs not used: RGK Jack DUNN, 14 Jess COMPTON
Yellow Cards: Nil
