Perth Glory was left to ponder what could have been, after missing several opportunities and eventually going down 2-0 against Cockburn City in Round 11 of the PS4 National Premier League clash at Inglewood Stadium.
The Glory youngsters dominated the first 45 minutes, but Cockburn hit back with two late goals from Jonathan Corness and Liam Murray to take home the points.
Glory Coach Jacob Burns said the first half was outstanding, and was pleased with the performance.
“It was definitely a game of two halves, but I can’t fault the boys, their endeavour, attitude and work rate was second to none, as it has been all season,” he said.
“We still have a number of players missing, but again some of the younger guys stood up, against a good, well organised and strong Cockburn side.”
Burns said they created some great opportunities but failed to take them.
“We played good football in the first half and moved the ball around nicely,” he said.
“Even when we were two down we still looked dangerous and young Alex Taneski had a couple of chances, but they wouldn’t go in today for us.”
“We know each week, games bring new challenges for the youngsters, and we work ever so hard during the week to get better and improve, but again I can’t fault the lads today”.
“There is no greater complement when you hear fellow opposition and senior players from other clubs expressing their praise for the brand of football we play, and that’s the highest credit you can give to the lads.”
Cockburn coach Marc Anthony said he was impressed with the way the Glory played. “I’ve not seen the Glory play this season, and they really surprised me the way they played,” he said.
“I told the players to go out and try and intimidate them, but the opposite happened and I thought they were fantastic”.
“They were fighting and winning all the second balls, but I had a go at our lads at the break and I thought our lads were excellent in the second”.
Glory welcomed back skipper Jacob Collard, Slobodan Vulin and Calvin Whitney to the starting side, but it was the visitors who had the first opportunity on four minutes as Jordan Franken saved Rory Patterson’s low shot on the turn.
Glory hit back and Michael McDougal tested Cockburn keeper Curtis Aspden with a low shot on 20 minutes.
Moments later Daniel Stynes skipped past his marker on the left and rifled a low shot, which was well saved by Aspden at his near post.
Both sides had chances late in the half. Corness’ cross from the right was met by Julian Teles, but Franken made a good reflex save to deny him.
Then a free kick from Glory skipper Jacob Collard was palmed away by Aspden, but at the break it was scoreless.
Aspden was in the action again three minutes into the second half, saving low from Slobodan Vulin’s long-range shot.
Patterson was a real handful for the Glory defence, and moments later he held off his marker, but his curling shot drifted inches wide of the post.
It was Patterson again on the hour mark. The former Northern Ireland international striker, snap shot crashed off the crossbar and away to safety.
Cockburn were n top and former Glory Youth midfielder, Harry O’Brien saw his shot saved by Franken, before the Glory custodian produced one of the saves of the season.
Devon Gibson made space down the right, crossing into the area, for Patterson, who caught it sweetly on the volley, but a superb reaction save from Franken denied him.
But the visitors were rewarded on 78 minutes.
Patterson cut across the edge of the area and fed Corness on the right, who’s first time shot took a slight deflection off a Glory defender and hit the back of the net off the post.
The result was put to bed three minutes later, when Cockburn added a second.
A long clearance sent second half substitute Murray racing in on goal; he got to the ball just in front of Franken and finished into an empty net.
Glory still pressed and Aspden had to be alert to save from Gian Albano, but Cockburn held out to make it five games unbeaten.
In other results Callum Salmon’s under 18’s won 4-1 against Cockburn, with goals to Rhett de Silva, Abdis Bukuru and a brace from Bryce Bafford.
While Bobby Despotovski’s under 20’s also ran out winners, 2-1 against Cockburn City with Alex Taneski scoring a double.
Glory take on second placed Floreat Athena at Inglewood Stadium on June 28.
Kick-off is at 3pm.
MATCH DETAILS
Perth Glory 0
Cockburn City 2 (Corness 78 mins, Murray 82’)
Saturday 13 June 2015
Inglewood Stadium, Inglewood
Referee: Tom Glavovic
Assistants: Shane Skinner and Scott Cairns
Perth Glory: GK Jordan FRANKEN, 2 Gian ALBANO, 3 Jacob COLLARD (c), 4 Nathan COSTELLO, 5 Ali GHOLAMI, 6 Calvin WHITNEY (12 Matthew NTOUMENOPOULOS 83’), 7 Michael MCDOUGAL (14 Alex TANESKI 80’), 8 Dejan SPASESKI (13 Waliedin ISMAIL 83’), 9 Nic TALIMDZIOSKI, 10 Slobodan VULIN, 11 Daniel STYNES
Yellow Cards: Nil
Subs not used: RGK Jordan YOUNG, 15 Ciaran SALINGER
Cockburn City: GK Curtis ASPDEN, 3 Jonathan CORNESS, 5 Alan CARROLL, 8 David ARAYA (12 Feisal ZAW 60’), 10 Rory PATTERSON, 11 Devon GIBSON, 13 Blake ADAMS, 14 Conor KAVANAGH, 15 Harry O’BRIEN, 16 Julian TELES (19 Liam MURRAY 77’), 17 Eamon McNELIS
Subs not used: RGK Jack ADAMS, 2 Josh KUSER, 7 Daniel BRYANT
Yellow Cards: Nil
