Report by Chris Andrawes

A very strong Perth Glory side beat Inglewood United 4-2 at Intiga Stadium in the NPL on Saturday, in a game that was largely about building for the future for both teams.

The start of the game saw a drastically different Glory side from last week, much to the frustrations of Inglewood fans, with the side featuring Glory first team players, Daniel De Silva, Brandon O’Neil, Jamie McLaren, Cameron Edwards, Jack Duncan and Chris Harold.

Pictured: Glory on the attack. Photo: Chris Andrawes

Inglewood coach Goran Stajic felt his team performed well against a tough side.

“I thought we were unlucky to not at least get a point out of it,” he said. “When they walked out with the players they walked out with, I thought it was going to be a tough day at the office.”

Glory coach Jon Gibson felt that having access to the players helped to keep his side competitive throughout the season.

“When we’ve had players drop down its made a difference to the squad, but pay credit to the young boys this year who’ve stuck with it, they’ve learnt some big lessons this year,” he said.

“Its difficult, obviously we’re playing within the regulations, its interesting, because when the score is the other way we’re not good enough.

“But we’ve got to find a balance within the rules, as long as we’re competitive in this competition thats really important,” he said. “The group is a really young group, they’re all 96’s, so that’s been really interesting, having boys play in a mens competition, which is very foreign to them.

“You see one or two of them splattered amongst senior players at other clubs, but here it’s slightly different and they have to be totally accountable on the pitch,” he added.

Glory got the game underway in stunning fashion as McLaren’s work down the left caused Inglewood to put the ball into their own net.

The Glory lead was tripled as McLaren’s driven shot found the bottom corner before, a pass from De Silva found McLaren again who chipped the keeper.

Andrija Jukic pulled one back with a header on the goal line following a goal mouth scramble, but Brandon O’Neil’s second half free-kick put the game beyond doubt for Glory.

Second half substitute Emmanuel Mansaray squeezed home a consolation goal to keep the game interesting, but ultimately Glory were too strong for an Inglewood side who have had a turbulent season, which Stajic thinks will be different next year.

“Overall its no secret that we’ve underachieved, we’re a team that still has a lot to offer next year, with a new senior head coach coming in, I think he’s got a lot to work with,” Stajic said.

“The final interview is on Monday, and then the announcement will be made next week or the week after.”

Stajic believes his spell as coach has acted as an extended preseason for the club and feels many of the players who have played at the end of this season will be influential next season.

“Sean Browne has shown he can match it up at the NPL level, Jarod McNally really impressed me with his running from out the back also Josh DeMarte and Marc Eldridge, just to name a couple,” he said.

For Glory, the season continues with Gibson preparing his side for the next challenges.

“We’ve got a week off and then its straight into trials and the NYL (National Youth League) season, so the majority of the same group will stick together and move forward.”

Perth Glory 4 (OG 7’, Mclaren 10’, 15’, O’Neil 68’)
Inglewood 2 (Jukic 34’, Mansaray 76’)
Saturday 23rd August 2014
Intiga Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tim Mihevc
Assistant referees: Daniel Cole, Simon Hicks
Attendance: 100 Approx.

Perth Glory: 1. Jack DUNCAN, 2. Josh TUCKER (17. Bor Bor SAMBINI 58’), 3. Jacob COLLARD, 4. Mark BARNETT, 5. Gian ALBANO (19. Slob VULIN 37’), 6. Brandon O’NEIL, 7. Harry O’BRIEN, 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 9. Jamie McLAREN, 10. Daniel DE SILVA, 11. Chris HAROLD
Substitutes not used: 16. Jack OLDHAM 14. Matt NTOUMENOPOULOS, 20. Luke RANDANOVICH
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil

Inglewood United: 1. Luke MARTINO, 2. Joe PUELLA (6. Ryan FRANCIS 25’), 4. Shane PICKERING, 5. Scott BLACKMORE, 7. Matt DANSKIN, 9. Ryan CLARKE, 10. Greg SHARLAND, 11. Jordan D’SOUZA (8. Emmanuel MANSARAY 45’), 16. Sean BROWNE (21. Marc ELDRIDGE 81’), 23. Andrija JUKIC
Substitutes not used: 12. Cameron SUTTON, 23. Jake LUKI
Yellow cards: Clarke 66’, Browne 67’
Red cards: nil