Perth Glory has lost its first home game of the PS4 NPLWA season after a narrow 0-1 against top of the table Inglewood United at Ashfield Reserve.
The only goal of the game came early from Kenny Keogh, the younger brother of Glory’s A-League striker Andy.
The Glory youngsters pressed late looking for an equaliser but couldn’t find one, the best effort fell to Alex Tanevski, who then went off with a suspected broken arm.
“Unfortunately the injury to Alex upset us a little, however we quickly re-focused and pushed a strong Inglewood side all the way,” Glory Coach John Gibson said.
“Our key messages are always being better and being seriously competitive – we are definitely achieving these goals.
“The groups’ work ethic and attitude was at its normal high standard but we know we lacked quality and polish in the front third.”
Glory keeper Jordan Thurtell produced some good saves to thwart the visitors and said they were punished for not taking their chances.
“I thought we controlled possession for most of the game but unfortunately didn’t convert our possession into attacking opportunities enough,” he said
“Inglewood are a tough team to break down and were set up well defensively, but as a team we need to start to convert our opportunities because you don’t get many playing against senior teams.”
Joe Knowles came back into the starting line-up and his pace was causing problems early, and Glory should have hit the front on seven minutes.
Knowles put pressure on keeper Alex Dunn forcing an error, and Knowles squared the ball back to Tanevski in the penalty area, but the striker blazed over with the goal at his mercy.
That miss came back to haunt the Glory and Inglewood hit the front on the quarter hour.
A long throw by Adam Tong was flicked on by Brian Woodall and Keogh volleyed home past Thurtell.
It went from bad to worse for Tanevski after he was carried off with a broken arm moments later and was replaced by 17-year-old Lossene Dulleh.
Thurtell was busy after half time as Inglewood looked to double its advantage. The Glory custodian saved well to deny Mark Pritchard on the hour and was at it again two minutes later to thwart Jason Colli.
The Glory youngsters had plenty of the ball, but they continued to struggle in the final third, and the Inglewood defence, led by skipper and Grenadian international David Cyrus, repelled them.
Cyrus then went close at the other end. The defender’s shot was superbly saved by Thurtell, the Glory keeper pushing his shot around the post at full stretch.
The Glory youngsters are back in action next Saturday when they host former Glory defender Jamie Harnwell’s Sorrento FC at Ashfield Reserve – kick off 3pm
Match Details
Perth Glory 0
Inglewood United 1 (Keogh 15’)
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Ashfield Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Stuart Muldoon
Assistant Referees: Sorousha Moayer, Hayden Frost
Perth Glory : GK Jordan Thurtell, 2 Gian Albano, 3 Jackson Morgan, 4 Scott Robertson (15 Hayden Stevens 57’), 5 Ross Millard, 6 Sean Troup, 7 Sam Mckearnen, 8 Daniel Stynes, 9 Joe Knowles, 10 Hagi Gligor, 11 Alex Tanevski (14 Lossene Dulleh 19’)(12 Jacob Mustafa 62’)
Subs not used: RGK Riley Stephenson, 13 Jack Leach
Yellow Cards: Knowles 51’
Red Cards: nil
Inglewood United : GK Alex Dunn, 3 David Cyrus, 5 Adam Tong, 6 Calum O’Connell, 7 Kenny Keogh (2 Rikki Smith 87), 8 Jason Barrera (13 Josh Pereira 70), 9 Brian Woodall, 10 Ash Rosindale (17 Tim Robertson 82), 11 John Migas, 14 Mark Pritchard, 18 Jason Colli
Subs not used: RGK Mitchell Papas, 19 Ryan Sardi,
Yellow Cards : 13. Josh Pereira 90
Red Cards : nil
