Glory’s search for a first win of the Westfield W-League season goes on after Newcastle Jets claimed a 4-0 victory at Dorrien Gardens on Monday evening.
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Rhianna Pollicina had a hand in both of the visitors’ first-half goals, firing home the first herself and then laying on the second for Sunny Franco.
Franco’s header increased Newcastle’s lead immediately after the break and the influential Lauren Allen added the fourth late in the piece.
Glory Head Coach Alex Epakis could not fault his young side’s commitment, but felt that the Jets were clinical in punishing the mistakes they made.
“We keep putting in the best effort we possibly can, but we’re an inexperienced team and we’re still making some individual errors in key moments that are costing us goals,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we were made to pay for every error we made and when you don’t have much luck, other areas just build and build and they put more pressure on.
“We need to find a way to limit those errors and do a bit more.
“I thought we showed some good character to stay in the game in terms of we kept trying to go forward despite the scoreline, but it’s the inexperience and little errors that we’re being made to pay for.”
After a cagey opening, the first chance of the night fell the way of the Jets as Allan was foiled by a brave, point-blank save from Lily Alfeld having been sent clear through on goal by a perfectly-timed pass from Tiana Jaber.
Glory responded in kind moments later, Caitlin Doeglas showing great pace to get in behind the Jets defence and fire in an angled shot which Claire Coelho did well to block at the near post.
As the half wore on, the chances began to flow and it was the visitors who came within centimetres of hitting the front in the 24th minute when a thunderous effort from Cassidy Davis crashed against the underside of the bar and bounced back out.
But Ashley Wilson’s side were not to be denied just short of the half-hour mark, Allen capitalising upon a defensive error and picking out Pollicina whose emphatic finish gave Alfeld no chance.
Within seven minutes Newcastle had doubled their lead, Pollicina turning provider with a slide-rule through-ball for Franco who calmly picked out the bottom corner.
And only a fingertip save from Alfeld prevented Tara Andrews’ header from making it 3-0 just before the break.
The respite proved short-lived for the home side, however, as two minutes after the restart a loose ball fell kindly for Franco who nodded home her second and the Jets’ third goal of the night.
To their credit, Glory came close to hitting back immediately, the lively Doeglas surging away down the left and cutting the ball back for half-time substitute Malia Steinmetz whose well-struck shot drew a good save from Coelho diving to her left.
Jamie-Lee Gale also threatened with a header as the women in purple tried desperately to force their way back into the contest, but instead it was the Jets who had the last word as Allan was teed up by substitute Sophie Harding and applied a composed finish to complete the scoring seven minutes from time.
Match Details
Perth Glory 0 Newcastle Jets 4 (Pollicina 29′, Franco 36′, 47′, Allan 83′)
Half-time: 0-2
Dorrien Gardens, Perth
Referee: Rachel Mitchenson
Perth Glory: 1.Lily ALFELD (gk), 2.Sarah CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 5.Deborah-Anne DE LA HARPE, 6.Tijan MCKENNA (9.Malia STEINMETZ 46′), 7.Elizabeth ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 10.Alexia MORENO (11.Patricia CHARALAMBOUS 57′), 14.Caitlin DOEGLAS, 17.Marianna TABAIN (12.Sarah MORGAN 65′), 18.Taneesha BAKER (13.Jamie-Lee GALE 46′)
Substitutes not used: 20.Rebecca BENNETT (gk)
Yellow Cards: Anton, Moreno, Rigby
Red Cards: None
Newcastle Jets: 20.Claire COELHO (gk), 2.Hannah BREWER, 4.Chloe O’BRIEN, 6.Cassidy DAVIS (c), 9.Tara ANDREWS (15.Sophie HARDING 65′), 11.Rhianna POLLICINA (10.Pana PETRATOS 74′), 12.Tessa TAMPLIN, 13.Lauren ALLAN, 14.Tiana JABER, 16.Sunny FRANCO (5.Alisha BASS 76′), 18.Taren KING
Substitutes not used: 30.Nicole SIMONSEN (gk)
Yellow Cards: Brewer
Red Cards: None
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