The PGFC Academy First Team were edged out 2-1 by Olympic Kingsway in their latest NPLWA fixture on Saturday after losing defender Kaelen Majekodunmi to a second-half red card.
In a high-energy clash littered with goalmouth incident at both ends, John Walmsley’s side took the lead when home ‘keeper Dave Keenan failed to hold a speculative shot from Daniel Bennie and Jayden Gorman was on hand to force the loose ball over the line.
Glory’s lead was then preserved on the stroke of half-time when Robert Cook saved a penalty from Joe Hobson after Joseph Forde has been penalised for handball.
Shortly after the restart, Gorman came within centimetres of doubling the lead as his stunning free-kick crashed against the bar, but the tide of the contest started to turn in the 65th minute when Liam Murray crashed a shot past Cook through a crowded box.
Majekodunmi’s foul on Ciaran Byrne then left the visitors facing the final 15 minutes with ten men and their resistance was finally undone three minutes from time via Byrne’s neat finish.
Glory Line-Up: 1.Robert COOK (GK), 2.Aiki TSUKAMOTO, 3.Kaelen MAJEKODUNMI, 4.Andriano LEBIB, 5.Joseph FORDE, 6.Laat MATHIANG, 7.Trent OSTLER, 8.Corey SUTHERLAND, 9.Jayden GORMAN, 10.James OVERY, 11.Daniel BENNIE
Substitutes: 13.Shade STEWART, 14.Jaylan PEARMAN, 15.Josh ANASMO, 16.Manolo VENERACION, 17.Joel ANASMO, 18.Julian KELLY, 50.Luca IOVENE
In the day’s other games, the PGFC Academy Under-18s fought out a 2-2 draw (Uvarov, Flores), while the Under-20s secured a thumping, 5-0 win (Rahamim 3, Adesina 2).
The 18s remain top of their table and the 20s are currently sitting second in their competition, two points behind Perth SC.
All three teams return to NPL action on Saturday with a trip to Macedonia Park to take on Stirling Macedonia (U18s at 11am, U20s at 1pm, First Team at 3pm).
(picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
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