Perth Glory 1-0 Newcastle Jets
by Ben Gilby (22/10/23)
It was a victorious return to the club’s main HBF Park stadium for Perth Glory as the Western Australians continued their 100% winning run to start the A-League Women campaign with a 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets.
As pleasing as the victory was for head coach Alex Epakis, it was also a second consecutive clean sheet for Morgan Aquino with the Glory still to concede a goal this season.
This was Perth’s first A-League Women game at HBF Park for five years, and those that gathered saw yet more signs of the growth of the purples into a team that has local youngsters combining effortlessly with experienced campaigners within a squad that has strength in depth, nous in defence and the potential for a sparkling pack of attackers to tease opponents for 90 minutes.
It was Newcastle, who had also won their opening game, a local derby win at rivals Central Coast Mariners, that conjured the opening half chance as Melindaj Barbieri saw an effort go wide without troubling Glory keeper Aquino.
One of Perth’s local teen stars, Georgia Cassidy, playing just her second professional match and looking like she has been in the role for years, found her way through to supply Millie Farrow in the box, but the English striker could not quite reach the teasing ball.
The home side continued to probe, and after a Tash Rigby cross-shot flew wide, Jessika Cowart had an effort blocked by the massed Jets defence.
It was not all Perth though and Newcastle’s acquisition of Melina Ayres was an astute piece of business. The A-League Women champion is always a real handful for any defence, and seven minutes before the interval looked have created again, only to see her shot go wide.
After the break, Cassidy was involved with a piece of trademark play that always has those who have watched her development in the NPLW WA over the past two years licking their lips in anticipation. Give the 18-year-old the ball outside the box, and there’s only one thing she’ll do – fire in a long-range rocket. Whilst this one went over the top, more often than not they go into the top corner. It won’t be long before one gets there this season.
Just three minutes later, the home side finally hit the front. The growing understanding between Farrow and Grace Jale was in evidence once more as the latter played in the former WSL and NWSL attacker with a clever inside pass. Farrow then moved across the edge of the box to feed Phonsongkham who hit a first-time low shot into the net from 16 yards into the left-hand corner of the net.
The pair combined once more shortly afterwards, but this time it was roles reversed as Phonsonghkam supplied a tempter for Farrow who was denied at the cost of a corner.
Either side of the hour mark, there were a flurry of chances at either end. First for the hosts as Jale looked to create and fought her way through, but Isobel Nino gathered in the Jets goal.
Then came the Jets’ opportunities as Claudia Cicco’s ball in from the right came off the bar before being recycled back to Rebecca Burrows who was stationed centrally just outside the box and fired in an effort that Aquino managed to gather as Lauren Allan slid in.
It was the right-hand side that Newcastle were looking to exploit, directing a series of attacks along the flank, but they more than found their match in local teenager Grace Johnston who was standing up to the heat of battle in another strong showing in just her second match after coming in from Hyundai NTC in the NPLW WA.
Another busy performer for the hosts was Sofia Sakalis, looking to inject energy in a slightly freer role. There are already strong signs of a real understanding developing between herself and Farrow, with Sakalis looking to find the striker in the box with probing passes.
Farrow came close once more with just over 20 minutes to go as Lowry worked her magic in the middle of the park and found Phonsongkham who played in a superb low-angled pass into the mix from the right which Farrow got a touch on, but Nino saved.
The final 10 minutes saw Perth’s game management come to the fore as they looked to maintain possession and slow the game as much as possible. Whilst frustrating for the Jets, it was another example of the savviness and maturity that is increasingly in evidence amongst the Western Australian side this season.
There was still time for a final opportunity for the Jets as Lara Gooch lifted in a high ball from the right for Ayres who was in space at the back post but the former Melbourne Victory star headed wide.
Alex Epakis’ side have won their two opening games, despite, for me having yet to play to their full potential. When they eventually put everything together, big things are possible for the Glory.
Teams: PERTH GLORY (4-2-3-1): Aquino, Rigby, Mihocic, Cowart, Johnston, Jale, Cassidy, Lowry, Phonsongkham, Sakalis, Farrow. Substitutes: Quezada, Foletta, Green, James (GK), Lawrence.
Scorer: Phonsongkham 50′.
NEWCASTLE JETS (4-2-3-1): Nino, Cicco, Prior, Karipidis, Baumann, Davis, Burrows, Dundas, Barbieri, Allan, Ayres. Substitutes: Copus-Brown, Gooch, Hammond, Rochaix (GK), Wilson.
Referee: Rebecca Mackie.
Attendance: 1,450.
Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!
impetusfootball.org 