Report by Paul J Laverty

 

Bayswater moved into the top four on the PS4 NPLWA ladder after a 2-1 home victory against a young Perth Glory side on Saturday.

In near perfect playing conditions the game flickered to life in the 17th minute when a Declan Hargreaves corner saw David Stokoe outjump the Glory defence and execute a powerful downward header which the outstretched hand of Jordan Thurtell in goal could do little to stop.

Bayswater were applying the pressure and it was some desperate defending which was keeping Glory in it, along with a dash of luck as home marksmen Gustavo Giron Marulanda looped a header just centimetres wide. 

But Perth, in their gold away strip, got themselves back into it on 37 minutes when a piece of magic from forward Kosta Petratos saw him turn and unleash an unstoppable curler into the back of the net.

They were unlucky not to go into the break ahead with Bayswater goalie Devon Spence at his best to pull off fine blocks from Jamal Reiners and Joseph Knowles.

Bayswater almost made a dream start to the second-period when a chipped free-kick by sub Todd Howarth was brought down expertly by Devon Gibson, only to see his effort come off the outside of the upright.

But they were not to be denied moments later when striker Jason Mirco beat the offside-trap and finished neatly past Thurtell.

Perth rang the changes but Howarth’s dead-ball prowess almost made it three with Thurtell again doing well to push out his 25-metre swerver.

Bayswater’s Luka Ninkovic scraped the post after a surging run down the left. Bor Bor Sam then had a shot well-blocked but in the end Bayswater had done just enough to edge the three points.

Bayswater boss Chris Coyne was happy with the outcome but is demanding more from his players.

“Pleased with the win but not too pleased with the performance,” he said.

“But considering we’ve not hit top form and have a game in hand I’ve got to be happy with where we’re at but we haven’t hit top gear,” Coyne said.

Glory coach John Gibson believed his side were unlucky to leave empty-handed.

“Guaranteed. We had some really good opportunities and dominated play but we’ve got to be better, more ruthless and cutting-edge in the front-third.”

 

Bayswater City 2 (Stokoe 17mins, Mirco 55)

Perth Glory 1 (Petratos 38)

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Finance 365 Arena

Kick-off: 3.00pm

Referee: Stuart Muldoon

Assistant Referees: John Taran, Jatin Lodhia

Bayswater City: 1. Devon SPENCE, 2. Declan HARGREAVES, 3. Jack ALLEN (6. Todd HOWARTH 28), 9. Gustavo GIRON MARULANDA, 10. Jason MICRO, 11. Devon GIBSON, 12. David STOKOE (23. Andrija JUKIC 50), 13. Trent KAY (C), 17. Bor Bor SAM, 19. Luka NINKOVIC (16. Giordano COLLI 88), 20. Sam MITCHINSON,

Substitutes not used: 15. Ayden DRAGUN, 25. Michael COHEN (RGK)

Yellow Cards: Ninkovic, Sam

Red Cards: nil

 

Perth Glory: 1. Jordan THURTELL, 2. Riley WARLAND, 3. Luca BODNAR, 4. Jack IREDALE, 5. Cam MURRAY, 6. Jack LEECH, 7. Jamal REINERS (12. Michael MCDOUGALL 61), 8. Sam RIAK (13. Bayley MONTGOMERY-BROWN 77), 9. Joseph KNOWLES, 10. Daniel STYNES (C) (14. Callum TIMMINS 58), 11. Kosta PETRATOS

Substitutes not used: 15. Gomo DUKULY, 20. Stef KING (RGK)

Yellow Cards: nil

Red Cards: nil