Despite a spirited second-half performance, Glory were unable to upset high-flying Western Sydney Wanderers as they went down to a 3-1 defeat in Sunday’s Westfield W-League Round 10 clash at Bankwest Stadium.
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Trailing 1-0 at half-time to Caitlin Cooper’s early effort, Glory hit back right at the start of the second half through substitute Caitlin Doeglas.
Cortnee Vine fired Wanderers back in front almost immediately, however and Courtney Nevin’s deflected effort rounded off the scoring late in the piece.
The result leaves Glory still searching for their first win of the campaign and Head Coach Bobby Despotovski felt that his charges struggled to match the individual skill level and intensity of the home side.
“We gave an early goal aware due to pure pressure,” he said, “then we started playing some decent football, but couldn’t maintain enough possession in the first half because they had a higher intensity than us.
“In the second half we changed two positions, we needed an early goal and we got one.
“But again they were able to score due to us not being able to control possession.
“The individual skill shown by our players is what let us down today; nothing else.
“Those skills are not up to scratch at the moment and where we are in the league shows that.
“We gave it a good go, but it was not enough.”
Glory got off to the worst possible start as Wanderers hit the front with just four minutes on the clock.
Nevin’s’s cross from the left took a deflection off Ari Romero and eventually reached the far post where Cooper ghosted in to plant a firm header into the roof of the net.
And the home side came close to doubling their lead when Vine just failed to slide home a teasing ball from Kristen Hamilton.
As the half wore on, Glory forced themselves into the contest and created a decent opportunity of their own on 23 minutes when a sweeping, length-of-the-field move culminated in Jamie-Lee Gale firing narrowly over.
Wanderers continued to impress going forward, however and Eliza Campbell was duly called upon to produce a fine, one-handed save to block Amy Harrison’s curling effort from the edge of the box.
The start of the second half saw Campbell withdrawn as she was assessed for concussion following an earlier collision with Vine and Morgan Aquino took up the gloves to make her Westfield W-League debut.
Despotovski also introduced Isabella Wallhead and Doeglas as part of a triple substitution and the latter made an immediate impact by drawing the visitors level.
The tenacious Crystal Thomas drove in an angled strike which was parried by Courtney Newbon in the home goal and Doeglas was on hand to scramble the loose ball over the line.
But parity was to last for just three minutes as Glory were unable to fully clear Hamilton’s low cross and Vine pounced to find the bottom corner from close range.
Having seen her fellow-substitute make a major impact at the other end of the field, Aquino followed suit six minutes from time, pulling off an impressive double save to keep Cooper and then Vine at bay.
There was nothing the 18-year-old could do to prevent Western Sydney’s third goal, however, Nevin’s powerful shot taking a cruel deflection off Wallhead on its way into the net and sealing the three points for the red-and-blacks in the process.
Post-game, Despotovski confirmed that Campbell had indeed sustained concussion during her clash with Vine and will miss Thursday’s trip to Newcastle as a result.
The 24-year-old will remain on the east coast to recover with her family who were in attendance at Sunday’s game.
Match Details
Western Sydney Wanderers 3 (Cooper 4′, Vine 56′, Nevin 86′ ) Perth Glory 1 (Doeglas 53′)
Half-Time: 1-0
Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta
Referee: Isabella Libri
Assistant Referee 1: Sarah Ho
Assistant Referee 2: Lauren Hargrave
Fourth Official: Georgia Ghirardello
Western Sydney Wanderers: 30.Courtney NEWBON (GK), 3.Sam STAAB, 4.Caitlin COOPER, 5.Courtney NEVIN, 6.Denise O’SULLIVAN (19.Susan PHONSONGKHAM 80′), 7.Amy HARRISON, 10.Kyra COONEY-CROSS, 11.Cortnee VINE, 15.Alex HUYNH, 21.Ella MASTRANTONIO (16.Liana DANASKOS 89′), 23.Kristen HAMILTON
Substitutes not used: 2.Alix ROBERTS, 25.Sophie MAGUS (GK)
Yellow Cards: Mastrantonio
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Eliza CAMPBELL (GK), (21.Morgan AQUINO (GK) 46′) 3.Kim CARROLL, 5.Shannon MAY, 6.Arianna ROMERO, 8.Morgan ANDREWS, 9.Crystal THOMAS, 10.Julia SARDO (16.Isabella WALLHEAD 46′), 11.Leticia MCKENNA, 13.Jamie-Lee GALE, 24.Natasha RIGBY (c), 28.Katarina JUKIC (14.Caitlin DOEGLAS 46′)
Substitutes not used: 19.Hana LOWRY
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
#OneGlory
