Perth Glory youth are eager to bounce back and secure their spot in the top three as they face the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on Saturday.
Perth Glory youth are eager to bounce back and secure their spot in the top three as they face the AIS in Canberra on Saturday.
After a disappointing 4-2 loss to the Mariners last weekend, the glory boys are hungry to register another win on the board and challenge Gold Coast and Brisbane for a spot in the top two.
The last time the two teams met, the AIS had the better of the visitors and walked away with a 3-0 win. However, that was the first time Glory had been beaten by the Canberra youngsters, having won all three of their matches against them in the previous season.
The AIS boasts a squad with two promising West Australians in Jesse Makarounas and Ryan Edwards, both of whom have spent time at Perth Glory during the pre-season.
Makarounas made appearances for Perth Glory-s senior team in their pre-season campaign in Rockingham and Newman. The 15-year-old scored three times in two matches, including a brace in the club-s 8-0 win over Rockingham City.
Edwards, the younger brother of Perth Glory youth midfielder Cameron Edwards and son of former Perth Glory star Alistair Edwards, had a stint for the youth team as an injury replacement player in the 2009/10 season. Edwards also went on glory youth-s pre-season Weifang Cup tournament in China this year and made an impressive contribution to the squad.
The AIS will have an Edwards of their own to deal with, as glory-s Cameron Edwards is in red hot form at the minute. The home side will have to stop a brilliant midfield featuring Edwards and glory captain Dean Evans if they want to secure the points.
Alex Pearson-s promotion to the senior team following ‘keeper Aleks Vrteski-s move to Indonesian club Solo FC, means that Tim Doyle has made the step up to the number one goal keeper for the youth squad.
Doyle-s reserve will be the National Training Centre-s promising young custodian Francis Soale who has made appearances for Perth earlier in the season.
National Youth League Week 14
Saturday, December 18
AIS Athletics Track, Canberra
Kick-off: 11am (AEST)
Perth Glory squad: Tim DOYLE, Cameron EDWARDS, Dean EVANS, Luke JOHNSTONE, Sam MITCHINSON, Sahr MUSA, Harry O-BRIEN, Brandon O-NEILL, Sebit OYET, Ryan PEARSON, Billy QUINNCROFT, Storm ROUX, Francis SOALE, Stephen WALMSLEY.
*one to be added
