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

17.07.2010

 

Report by Michael Bate

First-half goals from James Robinson and Matt Barlow led Armadale to an upset 2-0 victory over Floreat Athena at E&D Litis Stadium.

The game was an open display of attacking football, with the two sides looking evenly matched despite five places separating them on the APB State Premier League ladder prior to kick-off.

Floreat thought they had got off to a dream start when Branimir Mikulic headed the ball home in the seventh minute, but referee Michal Jasinski had already blown for a foul.

Daniel Neiderberger had a decent chance for the home side in the 20th minute when he latched onto a loose pass but Cyril Sharrock easily saved his volley.

Two minutes late Armadale were ahead through Robinson.

The prolific striker picked the ball up outside the area and ran at the Floreat defence before lifting a sublime chip over goalkeeper Jakub Chudy from 20 yards.

Floreat immediately went in search of an equaliser; first Milorad Vujacic forcing Sharrock to palm away his corner before a flying block from Steve McDonald denied Mikulic.

The visitors doubled their advantage in the 42nd minute following a beautiful passing move down the left involving Robinson and Ali Paredes.

After a neat one-two with winger Paredes, Robinson pulled the ball back into the path of strike partner Barlow who calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Chudy.

Floreat were the first team out after the half time interval, and they looked determined to play their way back into the game.

Mikulic should have done better with a header that flew wide as Vujacic''s free kick from deep flew straight down the middle of the Armadale defence.

Sharrock pulled off a brave close range stop from Mikulic as he let fly from 10 yards after the ball had dropped to him from a corner.

Vujacic went close with a curing effort from the left hand side of the area, before an attempted interception allow Jarrad Smith to get in behind the visitor''s backline, but he blazed his effort well over.

Chudy was quick off his line to deny Robinson a clear chance at a second as Armadale looked to catch their hosts on the break.

Neiderberger forced another fine save from the impressive Sharrock with a 20-yard effort as Armadale started to defend with more and more desperation.

Barlow should have sealed the points for his team when he looked to get on the end of Robinson''s right wing cross but he completely missed the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The roles were reversed two minutes later with Robinson missing a much more difficult chance to make it three.

Floreat were literally handed a lifeline in the 91st minute when Jasinski awarded them a penalty for handball against McDonald.

Mikulic stepped up to take the spot kick but was against left frustrated by Sharrock who dived love to his left to gather the ball.

There was still time for the seemingly unbeatable Armadale goalkeeper to pull off another stunning save to deny substitute Adam Bachiller a late consolation.

TEAMS

FLOREAT ATHENA: GK. Jakub CHUDY, 2. Jarrad SMITH, 3. James ISAIA, 4. Julian MADASCHI, 6. Milorad VUJACIC (5. Mustafa ATAK 72''), 9. Daniel NEIDERBERGER, 10. Jason BARERRA (8. Adam BACHILLER 59''), 11. Johnny MIRCO, 12. Branimir MIKULIC, 13. John MIGAS, 17. Ante KOVACEVIC
SUBS NOT USED: RGK. VAS VUJACIC, 18. Curtis PRIOR

ARMADALE: GK. Cyril SHARROCK, 2. Andy BOWYER, 3. Matt BENNION, 5. John WATSON, 6. Marlon RAMIREZ, 8. Lewis FLATT, 9. Matt BARLOW, 10. James ROBINSON, 12. Ali PAREDES (11. Sean NICHOLLS 82''), 13. Steve MCDONALD, 14. Ben KELLY (4. Warren GRIEVE 89'')
SUBS NOT USED: RGK. Alex PREECE, 15. Jon HUNTER