Report by Melinda Fawcett

Top of the table Bayswater City came away with the three points at Inglewood Stadium on Saturday but not without a strong challenge from a youthful Perth Glory team.

Todd Howarth’s 35th-minute header was the difference in the 1-0 win as Bayswater stayed ahead of Floreat Athena on goal difference.

John Gibson’s Perth Glory team, with an average of 18, did well to absorb Bayswater’s constant pressure.

“One of our subs who came on at half time, Michael McDougall, is only 16,” Gibson said. “Full credit to the boys. We were punching so far above ourselves. They were just tremendous.”

Bayswater City’s assistant coach Travis Dodd also had praise for Perth Glory.

“Even though they are a young side they’re not a team that can be pushed over easily,” he said.

Bayswater dominated the first half through Bor Bor Sam out wide and link-up play with strikers Danny Dixon and David Heagney.

“It was frustrating to create that many opportunities and not be able to put it away,” Dodd said of his team’s multiple chances in front of goals.  

Glory had a good chance in the first half when Gian Albano set up Slobodan Vulin but his shot was off target.

Heagney, Bayswater’s top scorer, got away from his defender in the 16th minute but his shot was tipped over the crossbar by Jordan Franken.

Despite scoring the crucial goal, Howarth was disappointed with his team’s inability to take their chances in the first half.

“It’s important to get goals early against them because they’re young and fit and will run the game out,” he said.

Bayswater and Floreat will meet in a top-of-the-table clash at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday.

Perth Glory 0
Bayswater City 1 (Howarth 34min)
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Inglewood Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Shuo Chen
Assistant referees: Anastasios Paraskevas; Alex Kim.

Perth Glory: 20. Jordan FRANKEN (gk),2. Gian ALBANO, 3. Jacob COLLARD (c), 4. Nathan COSTELLO, 5. Ali GHOLAMI, 6. Calvin WHITNEY, 7. Sam MACKEARNAN (13. Waliedin ISMAIL 77), 8. Dejan SPASESKI, 9. Stefan VALENTINI (15. Michael McDOUGALL HT), 10. Slobodan VULIN, 11. Sean TROUP (12. Tom KING 58).
Substitutes not used: 1. Jordan YOUNG, 14. Matthew NTOUMENOPOULOS
Yellow cards: 8. Dejan SPASESKI 45
Red cards: nil

Bayswater City: 1. Devon SPENCE (gk), 2. Declan HARGREAVES, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 8. Paul McCARTHY, 13. Trent Kay (c), 14. Danny Dixon (19.  Phil ARNOLD 64), 16. Jamie COYNE, 17. Bor Bor SAM (24. Vid AMIDZIC 71), 20. Sam MITCHINSON, 21. David HEAGNEY (9. Gustavo GIRON MARULANDA 91), 23. Christopher SALDARIS.
Substitutes not used: 3. Aaron DELANEY, 25. Jason SALDARIS
Yellow cards: 16. Jamie COYNE 55
Red cards: nil