Report by Ryan Borrett

Joshua Cortes congratulates Ryan Haslett on his opener for Armadale. Photo by Tom McCarthy

Armadale and Perth Glory played out a 1-1 draw at E&D Litis Stadium on Saturday in Round 14 of the NPL WA.

Armadale took the lead early in the first half through Ryan Haslett and held off Glory until the 72nd minute, when Liam Murray found a much-needed equaliser for the home side.

The point on the road for Armadale, off the back of their 5-0 loss to Rockingham City last week, was extra important in their push to stay in the top tier, especially as the sides that started the day in the bottom three - Stirling, ECU Joondalup and Rockingham - all won.

Perth Glory are now winless in their last three matches, but this point saw them climb to fourth place after Floreat Athena and Bayswater City lost.

Haslett gave Armadale the lead in the fifth minute after winger Joshua Cortes intercepted the ball in midfield and found Haslett’s run and he fired in a low shot to the far post to make it 1-0.

Glory were without creative midfielders Henry Hore and Daniel Stynes and struggled to create many chances in the first half against an organised Armadale side.

Armadale were impressive after taking the early lead and showed good intensity and composure to keep the hosts out for most of the match, with Nathan Costello particularly solid at the back.

But eventually the breakthrough did come for the young Glory side. Ethan Brooks made a great run down the right before cutting back a low cross that found Murray, who finished from close range to level it at 1-1.

Glory almost came from behind to take the lead in the 80th minute after Joshua Rawlin’s attempted cross missed the head of Gomo Dukuly and hit the post.

Armadale had a half-chance to grab a late winner in stoppage time after Cortes found space for a shot on the break but Glory keeper Jackson Lee made a good low save to keep the scores level.

Gory have a tough test to end their winless run next week as they travel to league leaders Perth SC, while Armadale will hope to back up their good performance when they host Bayswater.

Star player: Joshua Cortes (Armadale)

Perth Glory 1 (Murray 72min)
Armadale 1 (Haslett 5)
Saturday, June 29
E & D Litis Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Julian Serra
Assistant referees: Jess Byrd, Liam Barclay

Perth Glory: 1. Jackson LEE, 2. Zayd FARAH, 3. Joshua RAWLINS, 4. Luca BODNAR, 5. Alessandro CIRCALI, 6. Josh SAMSON, 7. Ethan BROOKS, 8. Jack LEECH, 9. Ciaran BRAMWELL (24. Gomo DUKULY 54), 10. Liam MURRAY, 11. Abius BUKULU (21. Trent OSTLER 79)
Substitutes not used: 12. Jordan ABRAHAMS, 23. Nicholas WALSH, 26. Nicolas SPECA
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Armadale: 1. Sam HUTCHINGS, 2. Josh KUSER, 4. Nathan COSTELLO, 5. Ali NAZARY, 7. Joshua CORTES, 8. Michael LAWSON, 9. Uriel MACIAS (11. Chad NILSON 84), 10. Sam GARCES, 12. Dannie RICHMAN, 13. Blake ADAMS, 22. Ryan HASLETT (21. Abdul OSMAN 90+3)
Substitutes not used: 15. Shannon HO, 16. Brad GREIPL, 34. Blake HENSHALL
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil