A late brace from substitute Luke Salmon secured a hard fought, 2-2 draw for the PGFC Academy First Team in Saturday’s NPL clash with ECU Joondalup at the ECU Football Stadium.
An early goal from Jakub Sklenar and a second-half penalty from former Glory striker Joe Knowles had seemed set to hand ECU their first win of the season, but Salmon had other ideas, pulling one back from close-range with three minutes of normal time remaining and then volleying home an Ethan Brooks cross deep into stoppage time.
Off the back of their big win at Armadale in Round 3, Glory went into the game full of confidence, but they were on the back foot early and soon fell behind when Knowles got away down the right and his cross-shot was turned home by Czech striker Sklenar.
The youngsters looked to hit back immediately, with Walter Scott’s curling effort fizzing wide of the post and Brooks then seeing his shot well saved by home ‘keeper Scott Wallis.
Kristian Popovic was the next to try his luck, firing over from long-range, before the impressive Brooks cut inside from the right and picked out Jacob Italiano, whose goal- bound shot was well blocked by defender Cian Hirrell.
Glory continued to threaten in the latter stages of the first half, Brooks stinging the palms of Wallis and Gabriel Popovic heading over the bar after being picked out by Italiano.
Five minutes into the second half, however, Richard Garcia’s side somehow found themselves 2-0 down.
Sklenar played in strike partner Knowles and when he was brought down by Jackson Lee, referee Josh Mannella was left with no other option than to point to the spot.
Knowles took responsibility for the spot-kick himself and calmly found the net despite Lee going the right way.
Although Zayd Farah was then called upon to clear a Richard Howles effort off the line, it was Glory who continued to look the more dangerous going forward and in the 87th minute, they finally grabbed a lifeline.
Daniel Stynes played a ball over the top, substitute Gomo Dukuly delivered the cross and Salmon was on hand to force the ball home.
A frantic finale ensued and just as ECU seemed set to hold on for the win, Farah sent Brooks away down the right, he eased past his marker before delivering an inviting cross and Salmon popped up to slam an emphatic volley past Wallis with what proved to be almost the last kick of the game.
Earlier in the day, Glory’s Under-18s had run out 2-1 winners (Hobson and De Souza) and the Under-20s also claimed three points courtesy of a 4-2 victory (Bramwell 3, Gorman).
All three teams will return to NPL action next Saturday (13 April) when they face Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park.
Match Details
ECU Joondalup 2 (Sklenar 5’, Knowles 52’ pen) Perth Glory 2 (Salmon 87’, 90+4’)
Half time: 1-0
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistant referees: Thomas Robinson, Jamie West
ECU Joondalup: GK Scott WALLIS, 2 Cian HIRRELL, 3 Ronald RIXER, 4 Henry DURR, 6 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY (14 Kian MCGUIGAN 59’), 7 Joe KNOWLES, 9 Richard HOWLES (17 Ben HINSLEWOOD 71’), 10 Andy HIGGINS, 11 Jakub SKLENAR (12 Ryan MCDARBY 80’), 15 Tom HOUGH, 16 Ewen FAWCETT
Substitutes not used: RGK George JACKSON, 8 Harry EDWARDS
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Zayd FARAH, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Jacob MUIR , 5 Nick WALSH (13 Daniel WALSH 53’), 6 Kristian POPOVIC, 7 Ethan BROOKS, 8 Henry HORE, 9 Gabriel POPOVIC (14 Luke SALMON 53’), 10 Daniel STYNES, 11 Jacob ITALIANO (16 Gomo DUKULY 71’)
Substitutes not used: RGK Nicholas SPECCA, 12 Aiden EDWARDS, 13 Jack LEECH
Yellow Cards: Scott 15’, G.Popovic 45’, Lee 52’
Red Cards: Nil
#OneGlory
Picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy
