The regular NPL WA 2023 season drew to a close in sunny conditions at E&D Litis Stadium on Saturday, with the PGFC Academy First Team battling out a 2-2 draw and the the Under-18s and Under-20s both securing victories before being presented with their respective league title trophies.
A very youthful First Team raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 18 minutes as Andriano Lebib bundled home from close-range ahead of an emphatic finish from Aiki Tsukamoto.
Requiring a point to safeguard their place in the top flight, however, the home side predictably rallied in the second half and pulled one back ten minutes after the restart via Robert Petkov’s header.
Floreat duly drew level 12 minutes from time, Kyle Murray nervelessly converting a pressure penalty after Lebib was adjudged to have impeded Bayley Brown-Montgomery.
And with a draw suiting both sides, the final moments were largely incident-free.
PGFC Academy First Team Line-Up: 1.Robert COOK (GK), 2.Gert PRINSLOO, 3.Shade STEWART, 4.Andriano LEBIB, 5.Judd MACDOUGALL, 6.Laat MATHIANG (8.Royie RAHAMIM 76′), 7.James OVERY, 9.Aiki TSUKAMOTO, 10.Sebastian DESPOTOVSKI, 17.Khoa NGO (14.Samuel BARRY 85′), 21.Giovanni DE ABREU
Substitutes not used: 25.Sam REILLY (GK), 11.Aston MONTGOMERY, 13.Daniel JANKULOSKI, 16.Manolo VENERACION, 18.Tadiwanashe KUZAMBA
Earlier in the day, the 18s had chalked up a remarkable 21st win of the season, with Alfie Knight bagging a hat-trick and Noah Ieraci and Louis Sollitt also finding the net in a 5-2 triumph.
Once the younger group had received their league trophy, the 20s took centre-stage and also secured three points as goals from Santiago Flores, Louis Hewings and Damon Karasavidis saw them home 3-1.
And more celebrations then ensued as they too were presented with the league trophy having lost just twice all year.
Ivan Zuvela’s side could clinch a league and cup double this coming weekend if they manage to get the better of Armadale SC in the NPL WA Reserves State Cup Final which will take place at the State Football Centre on Saturday, with a 1.15pm start.
One piece of silverware already safely tucked away is the Junior Boys Under-16s Cup which the Glory youngsters secured on Saturday courtesy of a 2-1 win over Perth RedStar at Dorrien Gardens.
(U18 and U20 pictures courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
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