Charlie Leech helped himself to a first-half hat-trick as the PGFC Academy First Team eased to a 5-0 win in Saturday’s NPL WA clash with Rockingham City.
Richard Garcia’s side turned on the style in what was their first appearance at the club’s new NPL WA home at 1620 Capital Stadium, their dominance reinforced after the break by further goals from Jack Painter-Andrews and Bryce Bafford.
Keen to build on last weekend’s encouraging away draw at Balcatta, Glory came flying out of the blocks and took the lead after just seven minutes when Leech raced clear of the City defence and calmly beat ‘keeper Bradley Stout.
Stout then produced a fine save to prevent the impressive Bafford from doubling the home side’s lead, but sixty seconds later he was left helpless as Glory cut through once again.
This time Bafford provided the assist, driving in a low cross which Leech tapped in from close-range.
And 12 minutes before the break, the livewire forward grabbed his and Glory’s third, again showing great composure to find the net.
Any suggestions of a second-half Rockingham comeback were quickly quashed as Painter-Andrews added a fourth from inside the six-yard box five minutes after the restart and Bafford finally claimed the goal his influential display deserved when he clipped home Giordano Colli’s cross from the left with ten minutes remaining.
While Leech, Bafford, Edwards and Colli all shone in the attacking third, there were equally impressive displays at the back from Mason Tatafu, Aidan Coyne and Josh Rawlins, the latter making an encouraging return from injury.
In Saturday’s other games, meanwhile, the Under-18s made it two from two as they ran out 2-0 winners, while the Under-20s battled their way back from 3-1 to earn a share of the spoils in a thrilling 4-4 draw.
Next up for the three senior Academy teams is a trip to Gwelup Croatia on Saturday, with the games getting underway at the Croatian Sporting Complex at 11am, 1pm and 3pm respectively.
Match Details
Perth Glory 5 (Leech 7′, 17′, 32′, Painter-Andrews 50′, Bafford 79′) Rockingham City 0
Half-time: 3-0
Referee: Shane Skinner
Perth Glory: 1.Sam REILLY (GK), 2.Mason TATAFU, 3.Aidan COYNE, 5.Josh RAWLINS, 6.Aiki TSUKAMOTO (13.Jacob MUIR 65′), 7.Joseph FORDE (15.Tyler VECCHIO 70′), 8.Aiden EDWARDS (16.Hugo SNOWDEN 70′), 9.Bryce BAFFORD, 10.Giordano COLLI (c), 11.Charlie LEECH, 17.Jack PAINTER-ANDREWS
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Rockingham City: 1.Bradley STOUT, 2.Maxwell SNELSON, 3.Jarrad MORT, 6.Blake SOKOLOWSKI, 7.Jason POTTIER (19.Jethro YUMANGE 59′), 8.Dylan ROGERS, 9.Sam FOSTER, 10.Luke COLLINS, 14.Ryan KENNEDY, 15.Jacob AQUINO (12.Declan COLLINS 56′), 16.Nathan NG (20.Joseph MOSS 80′)
Yellow Cards: Mort, Snelson
Red Cards: None
(picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
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