Daniel Bennie grabbed an impressive hat-trick as the PGFC Academy First Team returned to winning ways by downing Sorrento FC 5-3 in another pulsating NPL WA clash at Lark Hill on Saturday.
John Walmsley’s side have enjoyed a licence to thrill all season and turned on the attacking style once again to complete a league double over the visitors and climb to seventh in the table, just one point behind fourth-placed Armadale SC.
A goalless opening half-hour gave little indication of the drama to come, but once Dean Cummings pounced upon a defensive error to give the Gulls the lead, the game exploded into life.
Bennie restored parity in the 41st minute, forcing his way into the box and getting off a low shot which was deflected past Patrick Hughes in the Sorrento goal and then in first-half stoppage-time, some delightful trickery from Joel Anasmo teed up Matthew George to make it 2-1.
Shortly after the restart, Bennie claimed his second and Glory’s third with a pinpoint finish into the bottom corner, only for the Gulls to force their way back into the contest via a neat finish from Shay Natalotto.
The home side’s nerves were temporarily settled when Bennie strode through to make it 4-2, this time finding the net with his right foot, only for Natalotto to again reduce the arrears three minutes from time.
A potentially tense finale was averted, however, when Bennie turned provider by sending a low cross to the far post where substitute Khoa Ngo slid home Glory’s fifth.
PGFC Academy First Team Line-Up: 1.Robert COOK (GK), 2.Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI, 3.Shade STEWART, 5.Judd MACDOUGALL, 6.Laat MATHIANG, 7.Daniel BENNIE, 8.Jaylan PEARMAN (18.Corey SUTHERLAND 45′), 9.Jayden GORMAN (17.Khoa NGO 81′), 10.Matthew GEORGE (14.Aiki TSUKAMOTO 71′), 11.Joel ANASMO (12.James OVERY 64′)
Substitutes not used: 16.Julian KELLY, 20.Giovanni DE ABREU, 50.Liam Coyne (GK)
In the day’s other games, meanwhile, a late Santiago Flores goal secured a 1-1 draw for the Under-20s and the Under-18s came from behind to win 4-1, courtesy of efforts from Santiago Flores, Maxim Uvarov and Alex Bolton, along with an own-goal.
All three teams return to NPL WA action on Saturday (15th July) when Olympic Kingsway will provide the opposition at Lark Hill.
The First Team game kicks off at 3pm, with the Under-18s starting the day’s action at 11am ,followed by the Under-20s at 1pm.
#ONEGlory
