The PGFC academy first-team maintained their top four spot in the Football West NPL after a crucial 2-0 win against Perth Soccer Club at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday afternoon.
In a game we dominated, the side struck late to take all three points, with Daniel Stynes’ thunderbolt giving us the lead on 76 minutes and Yacoub Mustafa making sure of the win four minutes later.
Head Coach John Gibson said it was another consistent performance from the group and was pleased with another clean sheet.
“It was a game – third vs fourth – another game where the opposition showed us plenty of respect by setting up in a certain way, but I was pleased for the group that they were rewarded for their efforts against a well-organized Perth side, who made it difficult to break down,” Gibson said.
“We dominated possession for long periods in both halves, but we rushed or forced it, and were too static or too impatient in the middle and front thirds – it was always going to be a tight game with key moments deciding the game.
“We are really pleased with another clean sheet, that’s four in 14 games – something that we as a collective pride ourselves on. Perth are strong side going forward but we restricted them to a few chances, which is another positive.”
Stynes said it was an important win and the goal just made it even better. “I was absolutely buzzing to score that goal and it was an important one too, but I was just happy that it got us the result in the end and it keeps us in the title race,” he said.
“It was a very good win against a good side, and it was hard as they were tough to break down as they came with a clear game plan to limit us at the front, but we were patient and it paid off.”
The conditions were tough at kick-off with rain and wind, but it didn’t phase Brandon Wilson on seven minutes, as the midfielder strode forward an unleashed a long-range shot, which flew over the top. Moments later Callum Timmins tried the same, this time Perth keeper Francis Soale was forced into a smart save.
Soale then had to be alert to save Joe Knowles’ shot as we pressed hard for the opener. Walter Scott was a constant menace down the left, and on 24 minutes his deep cross found Stynes, but the midfielder couldn’t find the target. Perth went close themselves on the half-hour Nicholas Ambrogio’s lob over Glory custodian Jackson Lee sailed over the top.
Knowles was lively up top, and moments later Stynes cut the ball back from the bye-line to him, but once again Soale again made an important save to deny him. Knowles was in again four minutes before half-time, he lobbed the on-coming keeper but the ball was cleared off the line.
Perth opened brightly after the break and Frank Furfaro’s long-range shot flashed wide, but the Glory faithful thought they had the lead just after the hour. Great build-up play from Knowles and substitute Henry Hore picked out Jake Brimmer at the back post who scored, but the flag was up for offside.
But 14 minutes from time we found the opener, and what a goal it was. Brimmer and Hore were involved in the lead-up, but the finish from Stynes was outstanding, volleying home from 25 meters, giving Soale no chance.
We doubled our lead four minutes later. Stynes sent Knowles in on goal, his shot was parried by Soale, but the rebound fell to Mustafa who finished into an empty net to seal all three points.
In Saturday’s other result, the under 18’s continued their good season with a 3-1 against Perth SC, while the under 20’s also claimed maximum points, beating league leaders Perth SC 4-2
Match Details
Perth Glory 2 (Stynes 76’, Mustafa 80’) Perth SC 0
Half-Time: 0-0
Referee: Josh Manella
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luca BODNAR, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Riley WARLAND, 5 Ollie ANNIS, 6 Callum TIMMINS (14 Yacoub MUSTAFA 63’) 7 Jacob ITALIANO (13 Henry HORE 63’) 8 Brandon WILSON, 9 Joseph KNOWLES, 10 Jake Brimmer (12 Chok DAU 78’) 11 Daniel STYNES
Substitutes not used: RGK Nicolas SPECA, 15 Sam RIAK
Yellow cards: Nil
Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE, 2 Alex SILLA, 6 Harley ORR, 10 Nicholas AMBROGIO (20 Paul ZIMARINO 79’) 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 14 Kristan SANTICH (9 Gustavo CATARCIONE 83’), 16 Kieran COLWELL, 17 Frank FURFARO, 18 Richard HOWLES, 21 George FESTA
Substitutes not used: RGK Malek KUC, 7 Aleks JOVIC, 19 Ali NAZARY
Yellow cards: Nil
