The PGFC Academy First Team twice came from behind to secure a well-deserved point in what was an entertaining 2-2 draw with Bayswater City at Crazy Domains Stadium at Hartfield Park on Tuesday evening.
The visitors came into the game buoyed by an impressive 6-1 demolition of Floreat Athena last weekend and after Jon Stynes was denied by the woodwork, former Glory man Ndumba Makeche clipped home Jason Mirco’s low cross to earn them a half-time lead.
City twice came close to doubling their advantage early in the second half, Mirco’s audacious long-range lob striking the bar and Keegan Grant pulling off a superb save to keep out Thomas Southgate’s close-range header.
Having weathered that storm, however, Glory hit back just after the hour-mark, Matt George teeing up Andrew Maranta who capped another industrious performance in midfield by firing home.
A powerful finish from Mirco duly restored the visitors’ lead nine minutes from time, only for Joe Hobson to equalise almost immediately, latching on to a half-cleared cross from fellow-substitute Christian Belladonna and drilling a shot into the bottom corner.
The result sees the Academy First Team remain in fifth place in the table, just two points behind Bayswater who occupy top spot and in good shape ahead of Saturday’s Regional Round fixture against Sorrento FC in Busselton.
The PGFC Academy Under-18s and Under-20s, meanwhile, face Bayswater City at Crazy Domains Stadium at 7pm this evening (Wednesday).
Match Details
PGFC Academy First Team 2 (Maranta 63′, Hobson 84′) Bayswater City 2 (Makeche 38′, Mirco 81′)
Half-time: 0-1
Crazy Domains Stadium at Hartfield Park
Referee: Matthew Southern
PGFC Academy First Team: 25.Keegan GRANT (GK), 3.Daniel WALSH (2.Taiga MATOBA 44′), 4.Jacob YOUNG, 5.Judd MACDOUGALL, 7.Matt GEORGE, 8.Danny DOUGLAS, 9.Ciaran BRAMWELL (C) (18.Joe HOBSON 64′), 10.Andrew MARANTA, 11.Lucas ROSSI (17.Christian BELLADONNA 68′), 12.Will FORMSTON, 20.Lucas COOK
Substitutes not used: 1.Shade STEWART, 14.Jayden LEADER, 15.Aiki TSUKAMOTO
Yellow Cards: Maranta
Red Cards: None
Bayswater City: 1.Nic SPECA, 6.Declan HARGREAVES, 7.Jon STYNES (14.Jonty PEARSON 78′) 8.Gordon SMITH (11.Ryan PEARSON 67′), 9.Ndumba MKECHE (18.Fraser DUNLOP 46′), 10.Jason MIRCO, 12.Steven HESKETH (C) (3.Jack ALLEN 56′), 13.Jordan ABRAHAMS, 20.Sam MITCHINSON (26.Zayd FARAH 46′), 28.Kosta SPARTA, 30.Thomas SOUTHGATE
Substitutes not used: 25.Ben RATAJCZAK
Yellow Cards: Hesketh, Mirco, Sparta
Red Cards: None
(picture courtesy of Tom McCarthy)
#OneGlory
