Perth Glory Women have rebounded to produce a significantly better performance than last week but were unable to make the most of their chances to narrowly go down 2-1 to an in-form Central Coast Mariners side at Clipsal Stadium.
Perth Glory Women have rebounded to produce a significantly better performance than last week but were unable to make the most of their chances to narrowly go down 2-1 to an in-form Central Coast Mariners side at Clipsal Stadium.
Goals from Lydia Vanderbergh and Michelle Heyman put the visitors 2-0 up before Glory starlet Marianna Tabain pulled one back in the final half hour to set up a rousing end to the match.
Perth coach John Gibson was enthusiastic about the performance, especially the response from the squad after last weekend-s disappointing effort against the Roar.
“We were certainly looking for a good reaction from last week-s disappointing performance,” Gibson said.
“In the second half we came out and had a real crack but then again conceded two really soft goals. You are always going to get punished at this level when you make silly mistakes.
“I-m more than proud of the girls- response from last week-s efforts.”
The match began with simple passing errors costing Perth, as the home side gave away possession too easy.
A cheeky shot over the shoulder from Ashleigh Connor in the opening stages gave the home fans a fright, before Glory ‘keeper Emma Wirkus read the ball and saved the danger.
It didn-t take long for the Mariners presence up front to be felt as the second-best scoring team in the league grabbed the opener.
Michelle Heyman-s cross for Lydia Vanderbergh was enough to separate both sides, as the latter broke between two defenders to finish her shot into the roof of the net.
Perth came back using several long-balls forward and Katarina Jukic gave Mariners ‘keeper Jillian Loyden a scare. The Glory forward nearly pounced on the loose ball that was fumbled by Loyden but fortunately for the visitors she recovered in time to rescue her side.
The Mariners continued to press forward and a long-range effort from Connor curled just wide of the far post as Wirkus trailed back to block her goal.
Heyman continued to be lively for the visitors and nearly doubled her side-s lead before the break with a glancing header at the near post following an inch-perfect cross from Samantha Spackman.
The introduction of Matildas striker Lisa De Vanna sparked a Glory revival and early in the second half the the talismanic striker nearly equalised. As she broke away from the Mariners defence, she opened up her body to try and finish in the bottom left corner, but she miscued her kick and skewed it wide of goal.
A poor back pass resulted in the Mariners- second goal as Heyman pounced on the ball and powered it into the back of the net, despite Wirkus getting a hand to it and pushing it onto the upright.
Perth responded in a matter of minutes through Marianna Tabain, as the young forward coolly slotted past Loyden to make the final 30 minutes an intriguing contest but the scores remained locked at 2-1.
Gibson said he was satisfied with the new strategy employed in the first half which saw stars De Vanna and Ella Mastrantonio on the bench.
“We had a bit of a game plan as well and the girls certainly know how that game plan was going to unfold,” Gibson said.
“It actually worked pretty well.
“Again when you are starting to get down to your bare bones you have to be creative with what you are doing.”
After losing Matildas midfielder Collette McCallum last week the Perth side could also be without the services of Elisa D-Ovidio who required a stretcher in the final minutes of the match.
Perth will now travel to McKellar Park to take on Canberra United, while Central Coast Mariners will take on Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Westfield W-League 2009 – Rd 6
Perth Glory 1 (Marianna TABAIN 63-)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (Lydia VANDENBERGH 20-, 11 Michelle HEYMAN 57-)
Saturday, 7 November 2009 at Clipsal Stadium, Inglewood
Local kick-off: 3.00pm (6.00pm AEDT)
Referee: Lee Corey
Referee assistants: Josh Mihevc and Trent Fleskens
Fourth official: Tim Mihevc
Perth Glory: 1. Emma WIRKUS (gk), 3 Carys HAWKINS, 5 Shannon MAY, 8 Tanya OXTOBY (c), 9 Danielle CALAUTTI, 10 Ciara CONWAY (6 Ella MASTRANTONIO 33-), 13 Elisa D-OVIDIO (21 Jaymee GIBBONS 90-), 15 Alexandra SINGER, 16 Sadie LAWRENCE, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 19 Katarina JUKIC (11 Lisa DE VANNA 41-)
Substitutes not used: 20. Zoe PALANDRI (gk)
Yellow Cards: Alexandra SINGER 31-, Ella MASTRANTONIO 77-, Lisa DE VANNA 83-
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Jillian LOYDEN (gk), 2 Caitlin COOPER (c), 3 Lyndsay GLOHE, 4 Rachael DOYLE, 8 Kelly GOLEBIOWSKI, 9 Renee ROLLASON (13 Trudy CAMILLERI 76-), 10 Kendall FLETCHER, 11 Michelle HEYMAN (16 Jenna KINGSLEY 90-), 12 Samantha SPACKMAN, 14 Ashleigh CONNOR (5 Jessica SEAMAN 90+2-), 19 Lydia VANDENBERGH
Substitutes not used: 20. Rachel COOPER (gk)
Yellow Cards: Kendall FLETCHER 16-, Kelly GOLEBIOWSKI 56-, Ashleigh CONNOR 63-
Red Cards: Nil
