Perth Glory men’s and women’s teams continued the preparations for their respective A-League seasons with victories in the two Gold Fields Challenge Cup fixtures on Sunday.
First, Glory’s women defeated the Gold Fields WA Women’s State Team 4-0.
Then the Glory men overcame the Gold Fields WA Men’s State Team 3-0.
In the day’s first encounter at the State Football Centre, Glory women had the game in the bag by half-time with all four goals coming in the opening period.
They went in front on 13 minutes when Sofia Sakalis curled a brilliant free-kick which beat Rebecca Bennett and went in via the post.
The State Team keeper was then left exposed as Millie Farrow made it 2-0 on debut, before Bennett’s Perth SC teammate Judy Connolly hit the post for the State Team.
Glory quickly regained control and Farrow added her second from a Georgia Cassidy through ball, before the English recruit completed a hat-trick after receiving Susan Phonsongkham’s pass.
Perth RedStar’s Reina Kagami brought out a good save from Glory keeper Morgan Aquino after the interval, but Glory had the game won by then and Chloe Lincoln almost added a fifth.
While Grace Johnston sat out the game with an injured toe, Georgia Cassidy, Lilly Bailey and Tanika Lala - the three other Football West Hyundai NTC players who have joined Glory - all figured for the A-League team, as well as another NTC player, Mischa Anderson.
Glory kick off their 2023/24 A-Leagues Women's season at home to Western United on Saturday 14 October.
In the second Challenge Cup clash, the WA Men’s State Team gave a fine account of themselves before succumbing late on to Glory.
There was little in the game for large parts, with former Glory duo Mitch Oxborrow (Olympic Kingsway) and Neil Kilkenny assured in possession for the State Team.
The WA side almost took a first-half lead when Oxborrow sprayed the ball wide to Chok Dau (RedStar) and his cross was met by Inglewood United’s Michael Domfeh, whose near post flick went just the wrong side of the upright.
Glory went close in the opening minutes of the second half. Daniel Bennie dispossessed Kilkenny, slipped the ball to David Williams and his deflected strike brought an acrobatic save from RedStar’s Liam Reddy against his former side.
Stefan Colakovski then shot straight at Reddy, while at the other end, Joshua Anasmo brilliantly turned his defender before closing in on goal and forcing Oli Sail into an excellent one-handed save.
Then with 10 minutes to play Glory went ahead. The State Team’s attempt to play out from the back proved costly when Jayden Gorman pinched possession and squared for Williams to round substitute keeper Rocco Liberti (Perth SC) and score.
Glory’s pressed home their advantage minutes later when Bruce Kamau was slipped in and he pulled the ball across to Antonis Martis to rifle home the second from the edge of the area. And it was soon three as Gorman crossed to the unmarked Williams, who had time to take the ball down and shoot beyond Liberti.
Glory's 2023/24 A-Leagues Men's season begins at home against Newcastle Jets on Sunday 22 October.
