Perth Glory’s Youth side has completed their season with a convincing 4-0 win against Newcastle at home on Saturday evening to secure a fourth place finish in the inaugural competition.
Perth Glory-s Youth side has completed their season with a convincing 4-0 win against Newcastle at home on Saturday evening to secure a fourth place finish in the inaugural competition.
A second half double from skipper Andrija Jukic and goals to Reece Vittiglia and Ludovic Boi gave coach Gareth Naven the attacking edge he had been looking for in the final match of the season.
“It was a great way to finish the season,” Coach Gareth Naven said.
“We controlled the tempo and made the most of our chances which was pleasing. It-s great for these young men who have put in so much effort throughout the season to be rewarded with a good win,” Naven added.
Glory started like a rocket and opened the scoring through Vittiglia in just the fourth minute and seemed destined to put several more past the Jets keeper with the lion-s share of possession however they could not turn their monopoly into scoreboard pressure.
Naven has lamented his side-s inability to turn positive set-ups into goals and with his side holding just a single goal lead Newcastle were still right in the match at the half.
The second period however was a different story, the Glory-s domination turning into goals.
Three minutes after the restart Boi capped off a great run to fired home and double Perth-s advantage before Jukic stepped up with two goals, and came within a whisker of nabbing his second hat trick of the season.
The talented midfielder-s double was enough to secure the Golden Boot award with six goals for the season, one more than team mate Anthony Skorich who missed the match with an ankle strain.
On an overcast and pleasant afternoon for football in Perth, Vittiglia ignited the contest in the fourth minute. There appeared little danger as he took the ball well into his own half, but he accelerated down the right before cutting inside and storming into goal, sending a low shot past Jets’ stopper Ben Kennedy.
Further chances to Vittiglia and Jukic came and went before Newcastle threatened for the first time with Brodie Mooy’s high cross getting caught in a swirling breeze making it difficult for Glory ‘keeper Dejan Aleksic. The youngster grabbed the ball but crashed into the upright, allowing it to spill in front of goal however defender Steve Hesketh was on hand to clear the danger.
Newcastle crafted a couple of further opportunities in their best spell of the match however Aleksic was more than up to the challenge of repelling their advances and it didn-t take long for Perth to once again take control of the contest.
Boi and Ryan Pearson both had good chances to add to Perth’s lead in the 28th minute as they found themselves through on goal, but Kennedy did well to smother their efforts. The Jets custodian was then forced to keep out several more attempts on target before the half time whistle gave the visitors some respite.
Newcastle-s resistance though was crushed when the tenacious play of Boi netted a much deserved goal after the restart to open the floodgates. Precise passing led to the Glory-s next goal with midfielder Hayden Doyle releasing Jukic on the left who then skilfully cut inside to finish with aplomb.
Jukic was put through again a short time later but was denied by a Kennedy smother however his forays forward were rewarded 12 minutes from time when he beat the keeper to slip the ball into the bottom of the net.
“We-ve seen the continued development of these players and it has been a terrific experience for everyone involved with Perth Glory-s National Youth League set-up,” Naven said.
“It is clear we have some outstanding talent coming through in Western Australia and to be able to expose them to the next step in their career has been a great opportunity. I-m looking forward to seeing them take these experiences and continue to develop into the future.”
National Youth League Rd 21
Perth Glory 4 (Reece VITTIGLIA 4-, Ludovic BOI 48-, Andrija JUKIC 60-/78-)
Newcastle Jets 0
Saturday 14 February at BGC Stadium – Dorrien Gardens
Referee: Steven Gregory
Assistant Referees: Josh Mannella, Josh Mihevc
Fourth Official: Troy Miller
Perth Glory: 1.Dejan ALEKSIC (gk) (40.Alex PEARSON (gk) 60-), 2.Ryan PEARSON, 3.Steven HESKETH, 5.Josh RISDON (4.Liam HARVEY 60-), 6.Dean EVANS, 8.Howard FONDYKE, 9.Hayden DOYLE, 11.Ludovic BOI, 12. Reece VITTIGLIA (10.Adam LUCA 60-), 13.Andrija JUKIC, 14.Cameron EDWARDS (7.Jack CLISBY 60-).
Substitutes not used: Nil.
Yellow cards: Nil.
Red Cards: Nil.
Newcastle Jets: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 3.Simon MOONEY, 4.Jon GRIFFITHS, 6.Taylor REGAN, 7.Jarrad ROSS, 8.Matt HARPER (13.Joel WITHERDIN 55-), 9.Brodie MOOY, 10.Jacob PEPPER, 11.James VIRGILI, 12.Matthew COMERFORD (5.Harry MAGUIRE 45-), 15.Ben MARTIN,
Substitutes not used: Nil.
Yellow cards: Brodie MOOY 89-, Jarrad ROSS 90+2-.
Red Cards: Nil.
