Perth Glory’s trio of Australian internationals, lead by Collette McCallum, has inspired the side to secure a valuable win over Newcastle Jets at ME Bank Stadium on Saturday.
Perth Glory-s trio of Australian internationals, lead by Collette McCallum, has inspired the side to secure a valuable win over Newcastle Jets at ME Bank Stadium on Saturday.
The 1-0 victory ensured Perth took the points but the margin could have been even greater for the home side with the Glory creating plenty of chances in front of goal much to the delight of Coach John Gibson.
“We wanted to come home and put on a good performance, which we did today,” Gibson said.
The Glory began strongly with Elisa D-Ovidio combining well with Lisa De Vanna in the final third, creating several chances early on to keep the pressure on the Newcastle defence.
De Vanna-s pass to D-Ovidio on the edge of the area saw the latter shoot low at the bottom-right of the goal but her effort travelled just wide of the upright.
The same combination had another close call with the back of the net when D-Ovidio-s effort was bound for the top corner however Newcastle keeper Alison Logue saved the visitors- blushes by getting a fingertip to the rocket-shot.
McCallum stepped up to take the resultant corner and her great curling effort entered the six-yard box as Logie and De Vanna tussled for position. The ball flying between the pair to ricochet off the Glory striker-s back and into the net, with McCallum award the goal.
Newcastle-s Leia Smith and Kate Hensman worked well inside the area and somehow failed to find the target after a goalmouth scramble moments after the Glory-s opener.
Perth could have increased its lead on the half hour mark, but Danielle Calautti couldn-t cleanly hit her shot after great lead-up play from De Vanna.
The lightning pace of Caitlin Jarvie nearly brought Perth-s dominance undone, but Matildas ‘keeper Emma Wirkus was able to save the danger, as she did all afternoon in a commanding display between the sticks.
Newcastle bounced back in the second half and managed to hit the goalpost early on, with Sadie Lawrence clearing the loose ball. The frustration soon told on the visitors as Smith blasted a shot off the side of her boot on the edge of the area, when she should have done better.
Hensman tried to inspire the Jets with a fantastic shot on goal, with only Wirkus- athleticism denying an equalizer.
As the match drew to a close McCallum nearly doubled her side-s lead but her set-piece could only find the side netting.
Referee Lee Corey brought the match to a close following a nervous three minutes of injury-time for the Glory, but the team-s first victory of the season was a great result following last weekend-s loss to Melbourne.
Gibson had praise for all three of his Matildas but singled out Wirkus for her match winning contribution.
“We needed a really good goalkeeper (this season) and she-s a wonderful character,” he said.
“She-s been a fantastic addition to the squad and had a very strong performance for us today,” said Gibson.
Perth are looking to back up that win with another match at home, this time against Canberra United at Clipsal Stadium on Saturday afternoon (kick-off at 3.00pm).
Westfield W-League 2009 – rd 2
Perth Glory 1 (Collette McCallum 10-)
Newcastle Jets 0
Saturday, 10 October 2009 at ME Bank Stadium, Perth
Referee: Lee Corey
Assistant Referees: Josh Mihevc and Tim Mihevc
Fourth Official: Trent Fleskens
Perth Glory: 1. Emma WIRKUS (gk), 3. Carys HAWKINS, 5. Shannon MAY, 8. Tanya OXTOBY, 9. Danielle CALAUTTI, 11. Lisa DE VANNA (18. Ellis GLANFIELD 90-), 13. Elisa D-OVIDIO (6. Ella MASTRANTONIO 90-+3), 14. Collette MCCALLUM (c), 15. Alexandra SINGER, 16. Sadie LAWRENCE, 17. Marianna TABAIN (7. Elissia CANHAM 87-)
Substitutes not used: 20. Katarina JUKIC (gk)
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Newcastle Jets line-up: 1. Alison LOGUE (gk), 4 Loren MAHONEY (3 Pelay INGLES 88-), 5 Stacey DAY, 6 Amber NEILSON, 7 Gema SIMON, 9 Kate HENSMAN (17 Madeline SEARL 75-), 10 Hayley CRAWFORD (c), 11 Carlie IKONOMOU, 13 Caitlin JARVIE, 16 Kirstyn PEARCE, 18 Leia SMITH (12 Emma STEWART 75-)
Substitutes not used: 20. Emma-Kate DEWHURST (gk)
Yellow Cards: Carlie IKONOMOU 72-, Hayley CRAWFORD 78-
Red Cards: Nil
