An injury ravaged Perth Glory Youth side has had their three game streak without loss halted by a ruthless Gold Coast United outfit on Saturday afternoon.
An injury ravaged Perth Glory Youth side has had their three game streak without loss halted by a ruthless Gold Coast United outfit on Saturday afternoon.
The home side took little pity on a Glory side that had 11 of their 16 contracted players unavailable for the match and leapfrogged Perth into third place on the National Youth League with a 4-0 win.
Perth had their chances to hit the back of the net but was unable to apply any scoreboard pressure and it was Gold Coast who took a 1-0 lead into the half. The Queenslanders then added another three after the break against a tiring Glory side.
Glory replacement player Ryan Edwards troubled United’s defence on several occasions but lacked creative support from his team mates who were forced onto the back foot from a relentless opposition.
Perth skipper Steven Hesketh ran himself into the ground in defence, throwing everything into his efforts to repel wave after wave of Gold Coast attacks.
The home side claimed the ascendency early in the first half through a Golgol Mebrahtu slider. The striker finding himself on the end of a superb cross from James Brown and he made no mistake as he ran onto the ball and slotted home.
Perth were still in the match through the first half with Edwards and Ludovic Boi creating opportunities but their best chance came when awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area.
Howard Fondyke stepped up but his kick found the chest of United-s keeper in what was the story of the day for the visitors.
United-s forwards received exceptional service from Ben Halloran, the winger defending stoutly and continually fed his strikers good-balls, he capped off a great game with a goal of his own midway through the second-half.
Perth making the long trip back to WA with plenty to think about but as they have shown this season there is plenty of resolve within the group and will be keen to bounce back when they take on the AIS in Canberra next weekend.
National Youth League 2009/10 – Rd 6
Gold Coast United 4 (Mebrahtu 13, Barasic 57, Halloran 75, Anderson 85)
Perth Glory 0
Saturday, 17 October 2009 at Southport Tigers, Southport
