A busy period for the PGFC Academy First Team is set to continue on Saturday when they take on Sorrento at Centennial Stadium in Albany as part of Football West’s fourth Regional Festival of Football (kick-off at 3pm).
Glory will make the trip south looking for a return to winning ways having been downed 2-0 by second-placed Floreat Athena on Wednesday evening.
An unfortunate Fraser Dunlop own-goal and a fine finish from former Glory man Liam Murray put Floreat two up at the break and although Giordano Colli, Bryce Bafford and Charlie Leech subsequently all went close for the visitors, they were unable to claw their way back into the game in the second half.
While naturally disappointed by the result, Glory Head Coach Richard Garcia was heartened by the workrate his young charges displayed right up to the final whistle.
“It was a little bit of a flat performance if I’m totally honest; the boys looked a bit fatigued,” he said.
“But for me it was impressive that they kept going, kept pushing themselves throughout the 90 minutes even though their bodies were at the edge of their limit.
“I tried to share the minutes in the game and we’ll have to see how everyone has pulled up to figure out who is going to be the freshest to play in Albany.
“That bus ride [to Albany] isn’t going to do anyone any favours, but it’s a great insight for them into the life of a professional footballer and something that they’ll have to deal with once they make the grade.
“So it’s a great experience and a great learning tool for them.”
Following Glory’s game against Sorrento, fans at Centennial Stadium will be able to enjoy a Women’s NPL clash between Football West Hyundai NTC and Perth SC and Garcia is delighted that the club is set to continue its traditional association with what is one of the highlights of the WA football calendar.
“It’s always great when we go out to regional WA to promote the game,” he said, “and hopefully our young guns can inspire some young players down there to push themselves to be footballers.
“We always have a good game against Sorrento and I’m expecting a high-action 90 minutes.
“Our boys will be looking to put Wednesday’s result right and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Match Details
Floreat Athena 2 (Dunlop o.g. 27′ , Murray 36′) Perth Glory 0
Half-time: 2-0
Floreat Athena: 1.Jason SALDARIS (GK), 2.Marco SANTALUCIA, 9.Bala Noah SHAMAKI (4.Ben STEELE 90+2′), 10.Nicholas AMBROGIO (32.Robert HARDING 53′), 11.Dennis GALAN, 13.Goerge FESTA, 15.Chris SALDARIS (22.Nelson TSHONGO 46′), 17.Dean EVANS (C), 18.Phil ARNOLD (36.Andrew MARANTA 83′), 19.Liam MURRAY, 20.Andrew PALMER
Substitutes not used: 23.Jordan BARBAS
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Perth Glory: 1.Sam REILLY, 2.Mason TATAFU, 5.Jacob MUIR, 6.Nick WALSH (18.Jack PAINTER-ANDREWS 61′), 7.Fraser DUNLOP (15.Charlie LEECH 70′), 8.Jayden LEADER (13.Lewis TUCKER 46′), 9.Ciaran BRAMWELL (16.Alessandro CIRCATI 61′) (C), 10.Giordano COLLI, 11.Bryce BAFFORD, 17.Tyler VECCHIO, 22.Joshua RAWLINS
Substitutes not used: 20.Kade WHITE
Yellow Cards: Muir
Red Cards: None
(picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
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