18.07.2010

 

Perth Glory continued their Hyundai A-League build up with a hard fought 2-1 win against Football West APB Premier League side Armadale at Alfred Skeet Oval on Sunday.

The home side hit the front on 16 minutes through Jason Goodwin, but the Glory hit back with two second half goals to Branko Jelic and Jamie Harnwell to send the 1,500-strong crowd home happy, well the Glory fans amongst it.

Glory new recruits Josh Mitchell and Michael Baird started for David Mitchell's side, but star recruit Robbie Fowler was not included in the squad.

Glory 'keeper Aleks Vrteski made a surprise appearance for Armadale as their regular 'keeper Cyril Sharrock was unavailable.

The home side opened brightly and on 14 minutes a long clearance from Vrteski was flicked on by Goodwin and James Robinson‘s shot from 18 yards went just over the bar.

But four minutes later the home side hit the front.

Perth Glory Youth defender Ryan Pearson sent Goodwin clear down the right and he finished low past Tando Velaphi from six-yards, much to the delight of the Armadale faithful.

It was a wakeup call for the A-League side and they went close to the equaliser on 24 minutes.

Mile Sterjovski cross from the left found Jelic, whose header was saved low by Vrteski and Matt Bennion, cleared the rebound.

Moments later Josh Risdon pace took him clear down the right and his cross found Jelic on the edge of the box, but the Serbian striker's shot flicked off the top of the crossbar.

Vrteski was keeping Armadale in the game, and he did well to deny Baird on 36 minutes and was alert to save Jelic's header at the back post moments later.

The home side suffered a blow, when they lost English import John Watson through injury before the break; he was replaced by Ali Paredes.

Glory had one last chance to level in first half stoppage time, Adriano Pellegrino heading Naum Sekulovski's cross from the left wide of the far post.

Both sides made changes at the break and the first chance fell to Armadale; Tom Robinson's shot from 18-yards was saved low by Velaphi, but on 55 minutes the Glory equalised.

Sterjovski found Sekulovksi on the left, his pinpoint cross picked out Jelic, who headed powerfully past Vrteski from four yards.

Moments later an altercation between James Robinson and Glory skipper Jacob Burns saw referee Josh Mihevc intervene and Burns was immediately substituted by David Mitchell before the incident got out of hand.

The home side had the ball in the net on the hour, but James Robinson's low shot was ruled offside, but as the APB State League side began to tire the Glory took control.

Baird tried his luck from long-range on 74 minutes, but Vrteski saved low and moments later Jelic's close-range header flashed wide.

Their pressure finally paid off on 81 minutes when they hit the front. Sekulovski's free kick from the left was headed home at the back post by Jamie Harnwell.

With time ticking down the home side almost earned a late equaliser, John Hunter's cross from the right fell to Paredes, whose shot from six-yards flashed inches past the post.

A good work out for the Glory and Mitchell was pleased with his sides' performance.

"It was a good game today, played in the right spirit, and there was a good crowd as well," Mitchell said.

"There was good movement from the new guy's today, and in the first half we created a few chances.

They scored, which was a bit sloppy on our behalf, but at the end of the day I was happy with the game."

Armadale boss, former Perth Glory midfielder Brad Hassell, enjoyed the day and was happy to get three points in the league on Saturday at Floreat Athena.

"The 2-0 win at Floreat was a huge win for us, but today was a chance for the boys to relax and play a good Glory side," he said.

"We had a few squad players in today, and they did OK, it's difficult to play two games in two day's but I was pleased how the lads performed today."

The Glory's final pre-season hitout will be against the WA State team on Wednesday July 28 at E&D Litis Stadium for the Call To Arms Cup.

Kick-off will be at 7pm.

TEAMS

ARMADALE: GK Aleks VRTESKI, 3 Matt BENNION, 4 Ryan PEARSON, 5 John WATSON, 6 Marlon RAMIREZ, 7 Jason GOODWIN, 8 Lewis FLATT, 10 James ROBINSON, 11 Tom ROBINSON, 13 Steve MCDONALD, 14 Ben KELLY
SUBS: RGK Alex PREECE, 2 Andy BOWYER, 12 Ali PAREDES, 15 Shawn NICHOLS, 17 John HUNTER, 18 Warren GRIEVE

PERTH GLORY: GK Tando VELAPHI, 2 Josh MITCHELL, 3 Jamie COYNE, 7 Jacob BURNS, 10 Michael BAIRD, 11 Branko JELIC, 14 Steven MCGARRY, 16 Adrian PELLEGRINO, 19 Naum SEKULOVSKI, 21 Mile STERJOVSKI, 25 Josh RISDON
SUBS: 5 Jamie HARNWELL, 15 Howard FONDYKE, 17 Todd HOWARTH, 18 Brent GRIFFITHS, 22 Anthony SKORICH, 23 Andrija JUKIC, 26 Reece VITTIGLIA