Perth Glory Youth made an impressive start to their new campaign but weren’t able to keep a classy Gold Coast side from taking the three points in the opening round of the National Youth League season.
Perth Glory Youth made an impressive start to their new campaign but weren-t able to keep a classy Gold Coast side from taking the three points in the opening round of the National Youth League season.
Perth opened the scoring in the first half with a great header from Ryan Edwards but were reduced to 10 men with 23 minutes and then conceded two goals to their opponents as Gold Coast came home strongly.
United equalised from the penalty spot in the 67th minute after Glory substitute Sebit Oylet brought down Chris Harold in the box and drew a straight red after being adjudged as the last defender.
Despite Glory-s best efforts they eventually succumbed to having a man down and the visitors took the lead with 10 minutes to play through a Ben Wearing header.
With several of Perth-s contracted youth team players unavailable through local club commitments Coach Gareth Naven drafted in bodies from the National Training Centre and they performed admirably.
Senior listed player Scott Bulloch also received valuable game time as he makes his comeback from injury while fellow Hyundai A-League team mates Andrija Jukic, Brent Griffiths and Howard Fondyke ensured they kept their sharpness with good performances.
While it was far from a dirty match there were two more expulsions as Glory-s Ryan Pearson and United-s Andrew Barisic picked up their second cautions in the 88th minute and will now be forced to serve a mandatory one match suspension.
National Youth League 2009/10 – Rd 1
Perth Glory 1 (Ryan EDWARDS 41-)
Gold Coast United 2 (Andrew BARISIC 67-, Ben WEARING 80-)
Sunday, 13 September 2009 at ME Bank Stadium, Perth
Referee: Steven Gregory
Assistant referees: Tim Mihevc and Trent Fleskins
Fourth official: David Costello
Perth Glory: 1.Alex PEARSON (gk), 3.Scott BULLOCH (OA) (4.Matthew IZZO 45-), 10.Million BUTSHIIRE, 11.Ryan EDWARDS (14.Sebit OYLET 58-), 5.Howard FONDYKE (7.Stephen WARMSLEY 58-), 6.Brent GRIFFITHS, 15.Andrija JUKIC (c) (OA), 9.Mario MARCINKO, 2.Ryan PEARSON, 8.David PRICE, 12.Reece VITTIGLIA
Substitutes not used: 20.Tim Doyle (GK)
Yellow Cards: Howard FONDYKE 58-, Ryan PEARSON 86-/88-
Red cards: Sebit OYLET 67-, Ryan PEARSON 88-
Gold Coast United: Robbie BAJIC (gk) (OA) (20. Tim ANDERSON (gk) 58-), 2.Steven TOPALOVIC, 5.Ben WEARING, 7.Zachary ANDERSON, 8.Steven LUSTICA (c), 9.Chris HAROLD, 10.Koh SATAKE, 14.Joshua BRILLANTE, 15.Reuban WAY (3.Richard GREER (OA) 58-), 18.James BROWN (OA) (13.Callum HARE 58-), Andrew BARISIC (OA)
Substitutes not used: Nil
Yellow Cards: Ben WEARING 57-, Steven TOPALOVIC 58-, Andrew BARISIC 70-/88-
Red cards: Andrew BARISIC 88-
