Report by Dennis Gedling

Perth Glory ran out 3-0 winners over a tenacious Subiaco at Ashfield Arena to stay third on the NPL WA table.

The visitors made the talented Glory squad earn the three points with a disciplined but ultimately fruitless performance.

An early chip from Daniel Stynes gave Glory an early lead before the game turned into an arm wrestle for long periods. Late goals from Joe Knowles and Michael Domfeh ensured Glory remained a point behind second-placed Cockburn.

On a hot May afternoon with temperatures above 30C, Glory were quickly on top with Jake Brimmer bossing the midfield. After only five minutes a series of passes ended with Knowles having a shot that went just wide while Brandon Wilson had a decent chance trundle past the upright.

On 14 minutes Glory deservedly scored. Knowles somehow kept the ball in on the right and sent a lovely pass to Stynes, who chipped the out-of-position Subi keeper Ryan Montgomery.

Subiaco changed their formation and got back in to the game, defending stoically and looking dangerous when behind the Glory back four. Steve Purton had a stinging shot go across the goal while player-coach Ian McMurray controlled a high ball well but his volley was off target.

In the second half Glory started to regain the ascendancy with Knowles and Brimmer very dangerous. Subiaco rang the changes in their search for an equaliser. Things got physical as they tried to get under the skin of the young Glory players and some push-and-shove between Wilson and Subiaco’s Jackson Dongray resulted in both players receiving bookings.

With five minutes to go Glory put the result beyond doubt and it was Knowles who finally got his goal. The striker controlled a lovely little pass from Walter Scott then planted home a powerful shot.

Deep into added time Knowles broke down to the left and outran his marker before sending over a fantastic cross to substitute Domfeh, who scored the third goal. That made it two assists and a goal for Knowles.

After the game Glory coach John Gibson was very happy his side got a win over a team he described as their "nemesis" over the past couple of years and that it "was a test to see if the team had grown up and were organised”.

McMurray, whose side are out of the bottom three on goal difference, was impressed with how his side responded to gifting Glory an early lead.

Next week Glory take on Perth SC while Subiaco will hope to turn it around at home to Cockburn City.

Perth Glory 3 (Stynes 11, Knowles 86, Domfeh 90+5)
Subiaco 0
Saturday, May 12
Ashfield Arena
Kick-off: 3pm

Perth Glory: 1. Jackson LEE 6. Callum TIMMINS (13. Henry HORE 64) 8. Brandon WILSON 11. Daniel STYNES (12. Chok DAU 75) 10. Jake BRIMMER 9. Joe KNOWLES 2. Luca BODNAR 5. Ollie ANNIS 4. Riley WARLAND 3. Walter SCOTT 7. Yacoub MUSTAFA (14. Michael DOMFEH 88)
Substitutes not used: 20. Nicolas SPECA 15. Sam RIAK
Yellow cards: Wilson 71
Red cards: Nil

Subiaco: 1 Ryan MONTGOMERY 17. Alex CASTIELLO 18. David PERISH 13. Jonas DORLING 11. Joshua BOOYSEN 3. Dean APELGREN (14. Ross JARMAN 75) 6. Jackson DONGRAY 12. Nathan SMITH 5. Manase ABANDELWA (10. Asher NELSON 53) 16. Steve PURTON 19. Ian McMURRAY (4. Robert HARDING 67)
Substitutes not used: 2. Jack ANDREWS 21. Josiah GODFREY
Yellow cards: Apelgren 57, Dongray 72, Jarman 90
Red cards: Nil