PGFC Academy First Team maintained their NPL WA title challenge with a dominant 3-0 win over Subiaco at Ashfield Arena on Saturday.
A first-half strike from Daniel Stynes set the hosts on their way, before Joe Knowles and substitute Michael Domfeh found the net to seal the victory late on.
The result kept Glory within four points of leaders Bayswater City and Head Coach John Gibson was particularly pleased with the mental strength shown by his young group.
“We’ve really struggled in the past against Subiaco,” he said, “so it was pleasing to produce a strong performance today.
“Once again we dominated possession and from that, created some good chances. Some of the patience with our approach work was super and it showed how much this group have matured.
“Another positive was keeping a clean sheet which was one of our main objectives.
“We continue to drive forward and although we’re well aware that there is still room for major improvement, we’re delighted by the way the group have performed in the first 13 rounds of the NPL.”
Knowles, meanwhile, who was a constant threat up front and claimed two assists in addition to his goal, was similarly satisfied by what was a solid team effort from the men in purple.
“It was a good win and I thought we absolutely dominated them and kept patient and it paid off,” he said.
“Results against Subiaco haven’t gone our way in the past, but I don’t think we have struggled against them in any fixture. We have just been unfortunate with previous results, but we made no mistake this time.
“Today I was just happy to contribute to the team and make sure we won, to be honest. The goals are a bonus.”
Glory opened brightly, with Brandon Wilson curling a 20-yard effort just wide of the post and Ollie Annis then forcing a fine reflex save from Subiaco ‘keeper, Ryan Montgomery.
But the deadlock was broken on 13 minutes, Knowles’ cross picking out Stynes at the back post and the in-form midfielder calmly lobbing Montgomery as he rushed from his line.
Having been outplayed for much of the opening half-hour, the visitors rallied shortly before the break and went close to restoring parity when David Perich’s searching ball into the box was headed just wide by player-coach Ian McMurray.
And although Glory regained the initiative after the break, with only a one-goal cushion, the game was still in the balance.
But that all changed four minutes from time when a superb through-ball from Walter Scott sent Knowles clear and the striker made no mistake, bagging his ninth goal of the season with an emphatic finish from the edge of the penalty area.
Gibson’s side then iced the cake right at the death and again Knowles was involved. This time Jake Brimmer put him away down the left and the striker unselfishly squared the ball to Domfeh who slotted clinically past Montgomery.
In Saturday’s other results, the Under-18s continued their scintillating form with a 5-1 win, while the Under-20s also claimed maximum points in a 5-4 goal-fest.
With no game next weekend, the Academy sides return to action on Saturday 26th May when they host Perth SC.
Match Details
Perth Glory 3 (Stynes 11’, Knowles 86’, Domfeh 90+5’) Subiaco AFC 0
Half time: 1-0
Referee: Julian Serra
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luca BODNAR, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Riley WARLAND, 5 Ollie ANNIS, 6 Callum TIMMINS (13 Henry HORE 64’), 7 Yacoub MUSTAFA (14 Michael DOMFEH 88), 8 Brandon WILSON, 9 Joe KNOWLES, 10 Jake BRIMMER, 11 Daniel STYNES (12 Chok DAU 75’)
Substitutes not used: RGK Nicolas SPECA, 15 Sam RIAK
Yellow cards: Wilson 71
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 3 Dean APELGREN (14 Ross JARMAN 75’), 5 Manase ABANDELWA (10 Asher NELSON 53’), 6 Jackson DONGRAY, 11 Joshua BOOYSEN, 12 Nathan SMITH, 13 Jonas DORLING, 16 Steve PURTON, 17 Alex CASTIELLO, 18 David PERICH, 19 Ian MCMURRAY (4 Robert HARDING 67’)
Substitutes not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 2 Jack ANDREWS
Yellow cards: Apelgren 57’, Dongray 72’, Jarman 90’
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