Report by Kelechi Osunwa

Perth Glory recorded their first win of the National Premier Leagues WA season after battling from a goal down to beat Subiaco 2-1 at the WA Athletics Stadium last night.

Subiaco had taken the lead nine minutes into the game from the penalty spot when Jordan Rhodes sent Fraser Greenwood the wrong way after Hanafi Ghazali’s handball.

The young Glory squad grew into the physical encounter as the half went on and took the lead on the back of two well-worked team goals that saw Harry O’Brien (28th minute) and Riley Woodcock (39th minute) tap into empty nets.

A delighted Glory coach Scott Miller believed it was a testament to the players making the step up to play against men.

“I was really, really happy with the boys’ character (having) been beaten up the last couple of weeks,” Miller said.

“They were up and at us straight away which we thought they would be, (but) the boys really took control of the game at the end of the first half to get up 2-1.”

The Glory were pinned back for much of the second half and were limited to counter-attacks while having to count on last-ditch defending and goal line clearances along with poor finishing from Subiaco.

Ian McMurray fired straight at Greenwood from 10 yards out with the goal at this mercy while Greenwood was at his best to deny a far post header from substitute Ger Fitzgerald.

With a minute to go Subiaco appeared to have snatched a draw at the death when the ball was bobbled into the net by Guy McDonald, but Subiaco were left incensed when referee Matthew Southern had deemed an overhead kick in the build-up to have been dangerous play.

Although disappointed with the final result, Subiaco coach Gerry McEwan was happy with what he saw from his side.

“I think we deserved a point,” he said.

“I just thought it was a strange decision in the last minute that denied us a draw. I saw the ball go in the back of the net I never saw an offence but apparently the referee told some of my players it was dangerous play.

“I’m quite happy with how we’re playing.  We’re playing our hearts out and playing some good football but we’re not getting any results. I think we just need to be patient and the results will come.”

Perth captain Blamo Qua Qua was pleased to register his side’s first win of the season and spoke of a change in attitude among the young Glory players.

“It’s a man’s game now,” Qua Qua said.

“The boys worked hard and really gave everything we’ve got.

“We came here wanting to win, our attitude and work rate had to be great. We’ve lost a couple of games and we couldn’t keep going like that.”

Subiaco AFC 1 ( Jordan Rhodes 9’ PEN)
Perth Glory 2 (Harry O’Brien 28’ Riley Woodcock 39’)
Sunday 30th, March, 2014
WA Athletics Stadium
Kick off: 6pm
Referee: Matthew Southern
Assistant Referees: Stuart Muldoon, Alex Novatsis
Crowd: Approx. 150

Subiaco: 1. (GK) Jack HOWARD, 8. Nathan DIAZ, 15. Laurence GAUGHAN, 4. Alex RANDELL, 19. George TCHAMI, 8. Guy McDONALD, 9. Brad McDONALD (9. Brad MCDONALD 73’),13. Rowdy YATES, 36. Ian McMURRAY (7. Ger FITZGERALD 73’), 6. Jordan RHODES, 11. Matt AKEHURST

Substitutes not used: 18. Jonas DORLING, 12. Brynn LAKEY, 21. Sam STONE
Yellow cards: 9. Brad McDONALD 41’

Perth Glory: 1. (GK) Fraser GREENWOOD, 16. Hanafi GHAZALI (18. Josh TUCKER 69’), 3. Rocco PIZZATA, 5. Scott ROBERTSON, 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 2. Matthew DAVIES, 6. Blamo QUA QUA, 17. Harry O’BRIEN, 11. Slobodan VULIN (10. Lawrence SHURUMA 73’), 7. Riley WOODCOCK, 9. Joe KNOWLES (19. Borbor SAMBINDI 90’)

Substitutes not used: 15. Mo BEYAN, 20. Ryan BARKER
Yellow cards: 16. Hanafi GHAZALI 54’, 18. Josh TUCKER 69’