Perth Glory have gone down fighting, after a narrow 1-0 loss against Floreat Athena at E&D Litis Stadium, in Week 15 of the PS4 National Premier League WA on Saturday. The only goal of the game came just before the hour, with defender Chris Saldaris heading home from a corner.
The Glory youngsters fought the game out and created some good chances, but it wasn’t to be, but Glory Head Coach John Gibson said they performed well.
“We can’t fault the group at all today, they gave absolutely everything, the only disappointing thing is we conceded a very soft goal – which is tough to take,” Gibson said.
“We did create some good chances late in the game, and defended very well, but we gave away a cheap goal which gave them the points in the end.”
It was a very young side that Gibson selected this week, and he said they fought out the game well and could have levelled late.
“We showed some great endeavour after going behind, and we lifted positively and stepped up our game, and had them on the back foot for the backend of the game,” he said.
“We were really pleased with the group today, it was the youngest starting eleven we’ve ever had in the NPL – we had a 14-year-old and 15-year-old as our centre backs – and they showed great determination and resilience against a strong, physical, experienced Floreat side, and we tested them the whole 90+ minutes today.
“Next week is another tough assignment at Joondalup United, but the group are ready for any challenge, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Glory midfielder Callum Timmins said they gave it their all but came away empty handed.
“It was a very disappointing result, especially after how hard we fought,” he said.
“But it was good to see the boys’ reaction after the goal, to be more aggressive and push forward with our play, but it was unlucky that we couldn’t find our final product.”
It was an even opening to the game the first real chance fell to the home side on the half-hour, Kris Gate picking out Jon Stynes, whose shot beat Jackson Lee, but the post came to the rescue of the Glory custodian.
Stynes, the brother of Glory skipper Daniel, was in again five minutes later, but Lee was alert to produce an important reaction save.
The Glory ended the half well and went close to the opener five minutes before the break. A through ball from Timmins sent Michael Domfeh one-on-one with Floreat custodian Jason Saldaris, who stood tall to deny the big striker.
Jon Stynes went close again in the shadows of half-time, this time he got on the end of Phil Arnold’s deep cross, but his header flashed over the top.
Floreat went close in the opening minute of the second half, former Glory midfielder Dean Evans firing over when well placed.
But on 57 minutes the home side made the break through. Chris Saldaris rising highest to head home Ludovic Boi’s corner.
The Glory went in search of a quick equaliser and Timmins snap shot stung the palms of Jason Saldaris on the hour.
It was end-to-end football and the Glory were threatening and Daniel Stynes eased past his marker to the bye-line and crossed to Bayley Brown-Montgomery, whose glancing header whistled just wide of the target
The Glory pressed late looking for the equaliser, and after a great team move it fell to Daniel Stynes, but his effort from the edge of the penalty area was blocked.
Then in the final minute Daniel Stynes raced down the flank again and whipped in a teasing cross, but there was no one on the end of it, and it was Floreat celebrating the win at the final whistle.
Match Details:
Floreat Athena 1 (Chris Saldaris 56’)
Saturday June 3, 2017
E&D Litis Stadium
Referee: Anthony Walsh
Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 3 Clayton ARNEZ, 6 Jesse FULLER, 8 Jonathan STYNES, 10 Kris GATE, 11 Declan HUDSON (4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO 46’), 12 Jackson MORGAN, 14 Ludovic BOI (13 Zelfy NAZARY 59’), 15 Chris SALDARIS, 17 Dean EVANS, 18 Phil ARNOLD (5 Bobby WILSON 73’) – Subs not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 20 Joe TWEATS, 33 Mark PRITCHARD – Yellow Cards – Wilson 88’
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Walter SCOTT (14 Joseph MARINO 83’), 3 Luca BODNAR, 4 Riley WARLAND, 5 Cameron MURRAY, 6 Jack LEECH, 7 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY, 8 Callum TIMMINS, 9 Michael DOMFEH (13 Gomo DUKULY 56’), 11 Michael MCDOUGALL (12 Yacoub MUSTAFA 63’), 16 Daniel STYNES – Subs not used: RGK Kyle MCDONALD, 15 Harry QUIGLEY – Yellow Cards: nil
