A first-half penalty from Caitlin Doeglas and a late strike from Renee Leota consigned Glory to a 2-0 defeat in Sunday’s traditional Challenge Cup clash with the WA State Team at Dorrien Gardens.
Stephen Peters’ side struck the woodwork twice in the first half and enjoyed the better of the chances throughout, with Susan Phonsongkham a constant threat and Ella Lincoln making a lively contribution off the bench.
But the State Team took the lead just before the break through Doeglas’ clinically dispatched spot-kick and then defended stoutly before Leota netted in stoppage-time to secure the representative side’s first win in this fixture since 2016.
Both teams were keen to get on the front foot in the early stages and it was Glory who came closest to opening the scoring when Rola Badawiya weaved her way into the box before unleashing a shot which was deflected onto the crossbar.
Wing-backs Julia Sardo and Grace Johnston were next to threaten for the women in purple, before Susan Phonsongkham became the second Glory player to be denied by the woodwork with a curling, left-foot strike 27 minutes in.
At that stage it looked only a matter of time before Glory took the lead, but instead it was WA who grabbed the first goal of the contest.
Jamie-Lee Gale’s willingness to run the channels paid dividends as she latched onto a through-ball and was brought down in the box by a combination of Jess Skinner and Mischa Anderson as they attempted to halt her progress.
Referee Jess Bird showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Doeglas was similarly decisive as she rifled the penalty into the bottom corner.
Glory continued to dominate in terms of both possession and territory after the break, but struggled to break down a resolute WA defence and home ‘keeper Bec Bennett was only required to make two regulation saves from Anderson and Olivia Wood.
At the other end, meanwhile, Skinner produced a superb, one-handed block to thwart Leota in a one-on-one situation, only for the Perth RedStar forward to slam in WA’s second from a tight angle seconds before the final whistle.
The game marked Glory Women’s one and only public hit-out before they get their 2025/26 ALW campaign underway by visiting Western Sydney Wanderers on October 31st.
Match Details
Challenge Cup 2025
WA State Team 2 (Doeglas (pen) 43′, Leota 90+2′) Perth Glory 0
Half-time: 1-0
Dorrien Gardens
Sunday 19 October 2025
Referee: Jess Bird
WA State Team: 12.Dayle SCHRODER (gk), 5.Alyssa VAN HERUCK (c), 6.Izzy FOLETTA, 7.Daisy MCALLISTER, 13.Abbey GREEN, 15.Caitlin DOEGLAS, 16.Jamie-Lee GALE, 19.Kim MCCARTNEY, 22.Alex POAD, 25.Matilda BOHEM, 27.Sofie OSBORNE
Substitutes: 1.Bec BENNETT (gk), 2.Harper COLLINSON, 11.Jessica FLANNERY, 14.Renee LEOTA, 23.Janice KIAMA, 24.Abbey MEAKINS, 26.Sam MATHERS
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 30.Jessica SKINNER (gk), 2.Mischa ANDERSON (22.Ischia BROOKING 65′), 5.Grace JOHNSTON (25.Ella LINCOLN 73′), 6.Tijan MCKENNA, 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (12.Bronte TREW 73′), 13.Naomi CHINNAMA, 17.Rola BADAWIYA (16.Olivia WOOD 73′), 19.Sarah O’DONOGHUE, 23.Isobel DALTON (c) (9.Gabby HOLLAR 65′), 24.Julia SARDO, 29.Onyinyechi ZOGG
Substitutes not used: 21.Meg PHILLIPS (gk), 26.Tanika LALA, 28.Clancy WESTAWAY
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
(photo courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
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Match Report: State Team claim Challenge Cup honours at Dorrien Gardens
