Report by Tristan Wheeler

Perth Glory missed a penalty and the chance to stay in touch with the top two after they were forced to settle for a point in an entertaining 1-1 draw against Armadale at Alfred Skeet Reserve.

Wednesday night’s Round 11 game was a physical encounter that could have gone either way, with Glory assistant coach Richard Garcia saying his players didn’t get the rub of the green.

He said: “I think the boys did extremely well ... they created a lot of chances but a lot of the time they didn’t get the decisions against a tough opponent that played in a different way and made it tough for the young boys.”

Opposition number John O’Reilly had a different take on the 90 minutes.

“I think if the game had finished at half-time, I’d walk out here saying we should have won it,” he said.

“We created more clear-cut chances in that first half and it’s unfortunate we didn’t get rewarded for that. At the end of the day you’re playing against one of the top teams in the league this season.”

Both sides had plenty of chances to snatch more goals but were denied by a combination of bad luck and some sharp work from both keepers. Armadale stopper Sam Hutchings put in a man-of-the-match performance, pulling off a number of great saves to keep his side level.

Neither side could find the net in the first half although there were enough exciting moments. Glory had their best moments when they used their pace to trouble the Armadale defence. They went very close in the 23rd minute after Yacoub Mustafa’s low shot was kept out by Hutchings.

Armadale's best chance came when Chris Jackson cut inside his man and narrowly curled his shot over the bar.

Glory started the brighter in the second half and Callum Timmins went close, hitting the left upright. Seven minutes later they did go ahead when Joe Knowles prodded the ball home from close range.

Armadale worked hard to get back into the game and were rewarded not long after following a lovely bit of interplay between Jackson and Charlie Kenna. Jackson flicked the ball to Kenna on the wing then got on the end of his pinpoint cross to head in the equaliser.

Both sides continued to press but Glory wasted the best opportunity after Billy Quinncroft conceded a penalty. However Jake Brimmer’s weak spot-kick was easily saved by Hutchings.

The result extends Armadale’s unbeaten run to five games run of a form, while Glory move to third but are now four points off the top.

Armadale 1 (Jackson 62min)
Perth Glory 1 (Knowles 56)
Wednesday, May 2
Alfred Skeet Reserve
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Matthew Southern 
Assistant referees: Arvin Shanmuganathan, Harry Bolan

Armadale: 1. Sam HUTCHINGS (GK), 2. Joshua KUSER, 3. Delan DE SILVA, 4. Nathan COSTELLO (c ), 7. Charlie KENNA,  9. Billy QUINNCROFT, 10. Chris JACKSON, 11. Michael RIZIDIS (17. James ATKINS 73), 12. Dannie RICHMAN, 15. Ali GHOLAMI (5. David ANNALL 77), 21. Beau RAHIM
Substitutes not used: 34. Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 14.Jonathon BOGONI, 16. Charlie SIMPSON
Yellow cards: De Silva 75, Kenna 80, Quinncroft 86
Red cards: Nil

Perth Glory: 1. Jackson LEE (GK), 2. Luca BODNAR, 3. Walter SCOTT, 4. Sam RIAK, 5. Ollie ANNIS, 6. Callum TIMMINS, 7. Yacoub MUSTAFA, 8. Henry HORE (15.Jacob ITALIANO 64), 9. Joseph KNOWLES, 10. Jake BRIMMER, 11. Chok DAU (12. Daniel STYNES 54)
Substitutes not used: 13. Zayd FARAH, 14. Jack LEECH, 20. Nicholas SPECA
Yellow cards: Knowles 41, Timmins 80
Red cards: Nil