Report by Adrian Klein

Photo courtesy Jonny Warrington

A goal from Jackson Morgan and Jake Sardelic was enough to keep the scores level between Armadale and Perth Glory at Alfred Skeet on Saturday.

Both sides were unable to finish in the first half, with a goal coming from Glory’s Morgan in the 61st minute and Armadale’s Sardelic in the 89th.  

Armadale coach Paul Price said that both of the goalkeepers were in great form.

“You could criticise the finishing, but both goalkeepers were excellent today,” he said.

The ball was at both ends with the first shot coming from Armadale’s Caleb Dixon, who forced goalkeeper Jordan Thurtell to make a save, which stalled the ball long enough for the Glory defence to make a headed goal-line clearance.

Controversy arose in 29th minute as Armadale’s Alex Salmon went down inside the box and their penalty claims were waved away by referee Michal Jasinski.

Just before the break Perth Glory’s Jacob Mustafa had a great one-on-one opportunity with goalkeeper Alfie Brincat slipping over, but the shot was fired straight at Brincat who made the save.

It took the Glory just 16 minutes into the second half to score, as Morgan found a gap in the middle of the Armadale defence, giving him enough room to edge it past Brincat.

Perth Glory coach John Gibson said that it was surprising that his only goal came from his fullback.

“We created a lot of really good opportunities and it took our fullback to score our only goal which was a bit odd,” he said.

“But we really need to capitalise on our opportunities if we want to win games.

“We’ve got to be able to go for 95 minutes even when the guys are hurting inside.”

For the third time this season the Glory conceded another late goal, this time in the 88th minute as Sardelic drove down the left wing, moved into the box and fired it low into the back of the net.

The 2015 Armadale young player of the year said the goal was a result of good team work.

“We all worked hard today and it was a good result to grind out,” Sardelic said

Perth Glory 1 (Morgan 64min)
Armadale 1 (Sardelic 88min)
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Alfred Skeet Oval
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistant Referees: Joshua Nixon, Oliver Allen

Perth Glory: GK. Jordan THURTELL(c), 2. Gian ALBANO, 3. Hayden STEVENS, 4. Jackson MORGAN, 5. Ross MILLARD, 6. Calvin WHITNEY, 7. Jacob MUSTAFA 8. Sean TROUP (15. Dejan SPASEKI 83’), 9. Joseph KNOWLES, 10. Sam MCKEARNEN, 11. Daniel STYNES
Substitutes not used: 12. Cam MURRAY, 13. Sasta NJEGIC, 14. Jack LEACH, 20. Riley STEPHENSON (RGK)
Yellow cards: Millard 77’, Spaseki 89’
Red cards: nil

Armadale: GK. Alfie BRINCAT, 2. Alex CASTIELLO(c), 3. Jake SARDELIC, 8. Caleb DIXON (5. Sam LOVELESS 67’), 9. Darren FRANCIS (13. Jackson BEALEY 67’),10. Alex SALMON, 11. Ellis HEALING, 12. Shaydon PASSALACQUA, Dylan WHITE, 15. Nathan SMITH, 16. Jordan CANDLISH (18. James ATKINS 80’)
Substitutes not used: RGK. Alec RADONICH,
Yellow cards: Salmon 90+3’
Red cards: nil