Perth Glory striker Nikola Talimdzioski scored a double to give the youngsters a great second half fight back, but it was in vain as Armadale scored ten minutes from time to win 3-2 in Tuesday nights, week 16 PS4 NPLWA catch up game at Alfred Skeet.
The home side raced to a 2-0 goal lead early with goals to Michael Domfeh and Ellis Healing, but after half time Glory dominated with an outstanding performance from Mitch Oxborrow and Talimdzioski’s brace put them in control and there only looked one winner, but Glory got hit by a late sucker punch and Domfeh raced clear to score.
Glory Coach John Gibson said his side gave away some sloppy goals.
“We gifted them three goals tonight, and that doesn’t help, we’ve spoken about it over the season and have worked really hard at that aspect of the game, so it was disappointed to concede silly goals,” he said.
“The second half was fantastic and it was a good response from the players, but the message prior to the game was to come out firing, but it didn’t happen and we gave a way a penalty and a set-piece.
“Fair play to Mitch (Oxborrow) and Kosta (Petratos) both put in good shifts tonight for us, and both lead from the front.”
Gibson said they knew what Armadale were going to bring to the table and planned for it, but the lads didn’t deliver early, but he said it was one that got away. “We worked extremely hard this week on our game plan, and the players needed to take this on board, and they have to stick to the process, and they know they have to be better,” he said.
It was a vital game, with only two points separating them at kick off, but it was Armadale who opened the brighter.
Domfeh’s long-range shot drifted wide, before Anthony Skorich headed over moments later. But on 11 minutes their dominance was rewarded with the lead. A cross from the right by Jesse Fuller was headed home powerfully by the unmarked Domfeh from eight meters.
Armadale continued to dominate, and nine minutes later they added a second. Healing fell under a challenge from Calvin Whitney, and after a little hesitation referee Tom Dowle pointed to the spot.
Healing picked himself up to score from the spot.
Glory needed a lift, and they hit back. The lively Talimdzioski’s long-range shot was saved by Alec Radonich, before Sam McKearnan was sent into the box by a clever chip from Whitney, the striker’s shot beat Radonich, but crashed off the crossbar and away to safety.
Ross Millard and Daniel Stynes were causing Armadale problems down the left and on 35 minutes they combined to set up McKearnan again, this time he side footed wide.
Armadale were on the back foot, with Petratos and Whitney a constant threat, but the Glory couldn’t find a way past a tight defence and on the stroke of half time Armadale almost added a third.
A long clearance sent Domfeh clear, his shot beat keeper Riley Stephenson, but the ball hit the post and bounced away to safety.
Glory opened brightly with Oxborrow bossing the middle of the park, and the midfielder was the supplier as the Glory pulled one back on 66 minutes.
His free kick from the middle of the park was turned home by Talimdzioski.
It was game on and Glory started to get on top and six minutes later their pressure was rewarded with the equaliser. Millard’s pin-point cross, picked out Talimdzioski, who lost his marker and headed past Radonich, for his eighth goal of the season.
Glory went in search of the winner. Petratos’ shot was well saved by Radonich, before the Armadale custodian again denied Oxborrow.
There only looked to be one winner as the Glory laid siege to the Armadale goal, but against the run of play Armadale won it.
A long clearance wasn’t dealt with by the Glory defence and Domfeh raced clear, he beat Stephenson to the ball and rolled it into an empty net, to win it.
In the next round the Glory youngsters host Floreat Athena at Ashfield Arena on Saturday 13th August.
Kick-off is at 3pm and entry is free to Perth Glory members.
Match Details
Perth Glory 2 (Talimdzioski 66 Mins, 72’)
Armadale 3 (Domfeh 11 Mins, 80’, Healing 20’ pen)
Tuesday August 9th 2016
Alfred Skeet Reserve
Referee: Tom Dowle
Assistants: Nico Hoyle, Arvin Shanmuganathan
Perth Glory: GK Riley STEPHENSON, 2 Jackson MORGAN, 3 Jack IREDALE (4 Scott ROBERTSON 46’), 5 Ross MILLARD, 6 Cal WHITNEY, 8 Mitch OXBORROW (C), 9 Kosta PETRATOS, 10 Sam MCKEARNAN (15 Yacoub MUSTAFA 57’) (13 Dejan SPASESKI 86’), 11 Daniel STYNES, 12 Luke BODNAR, 14 Nikola TALIMDZIOSKI
Subs not used: 15 Sean TROUP, 20 Stef KING
Yellow Cards: Whitney 19’, Oxborrow 53’
Armadale: GK Alec RADONICH, 2 Alex CASTIELLO, 3 Jake SARDELIC, 4 Jesse FULLER (C), 6. Michael DOMFEH, 10 Anthony SKORICH (5 David ANNALL 81’), 12 Dannie RICHMAN (9 Darren FRANCIS 70’), 13 Jackson BEALEY, 14 Dylan WHITE, 11 Ellis HEALING, 15 Nathan SMITH
Subs not used: RGK Michael CRAGGS, 8 Ismael BANGURA
Yellow Cards: Bealey 79’
