Andrews double helps the Glory stun the Roar

A first-half brace from Morgan Andrews helped Perth Glory put a dent in Brisbane Roar’s top four hopes as they delivered an upset 4-2 win on Sunday afternoon.

Bobby Despotovski’s side stunned their fifth-placed opponents at Dorrien Gardens – striking twice in the opening quarter hour as Andrews’ early opener was complemented by compatriot Crystal Thomas.

Andrews furthered the lead from the penalty spot in the 25^th minute before an own goal from goalkeeper Morgan Aquino let the visitors back into the contest before the break.

Westfield Matildas star Tameka Yallop pulled a further goal back early in the second stanza in what became a see-sawing shoot-out, before Ayesha Norrie landed the final blow for Perth in injury time.

The result sees the Roar remain three points shy of the Westfield W-League top four with just two rounds remaining in the regular season.

Winless just a month ago, the Glory have now won two on the bounce to move to seventh in the standings – and loom as further Finals Series spoilers when they close their season against Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers in coming weeks.

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Key moments

Fielding an unchanged eleven from their last start win over Newcastle Jets, the Glory made the best possible start when Andrews scored from a corner in just the second minute – the American’s strong headed finish marking the 250^th goal for the Glory in the Westfield W-League.

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The goal also marked the first time this season Perth had scored the opener in a home match and, despite Carson Pickett drawing a regulation save form Morgan Aquino, they remained composed to double their lead in the 12^th minute.

Capitalising on a high Roar defensive line, Celia released Thomas in behind before the American chipped the neither-here-nor-there Mackenzie Arnold to net her second goal of the campaign.

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The Glory were proving well in the mood and another quality release from Celia saw Thomas threaten again in the 18th minute, although this time Arnold made amends with by making a crucial one-on-one-stop.

However, Despotovski’s side sustained their attacking focus and found their third in the 25th minute from the penalty spot after Westfield Matildas defender Clare Polkinghorne uncharacteristically hand-balled in the box – Andrews calmly slotted her third penalty of the season to complete her brace.

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Needing to spark a resurgence, Brisbane benefitted from an error to make their first impression just after the half-hour as Aquino fumbled a cross-turned-shot from Pickett and failed to prevent it crossing the line trying to scramble it away.

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Both sides’ defences steadied as half-time neared, with only a speculative long-range effort from Pickett in injury time providing a further clear attempt on goal before the break.

Needing to spark a comeback, Roar coach Jake Goodship brought on Winonah Heatley for her Westfield W-League debut – and it nearly brought results as Tameka Yallop headed over the bar from her cross just a minute after the restart.

It sparked a to-and-fro as Taylor and Caitlin Doeglas drew a pair of saves from Arnold in quick time a minute later, before Pickett immediately responded with a wide strike for the Roar.

The teams continued to go shot-for-shot as Yallop drew a low stop from Aquino, while Andrews and Celia continued to threaten Arnold’s goal at the other end and the inevitable breakthrough game in the 58th minute through Yallop.

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The Westfield Matildas star saw her initial one-on-one effort denied by the onrushing Aquino, but benefitted from the deflection to tuck away the second chance for her third goal of the season.

The end-to-end continued as Leticia McKenna shot over the bar after the hour for the Glory, before Pickett was denied by a smothered stop from Aquino and Heatley blazed over distance in response.

Pickett again drew a save in the 72nd minute while the Glory showed they weren’t yet spent as a sharp counter send a chipped effort across the face of goal.

The Glory missed the chance to put the match to bed in the 80th minute when substitute Norrie failed to capitalise on an error from Arnold after she miscued a pass over the top of the Roar’s high line.

However, the Roar proved unable to capitalise further on their chances as Pickett missed the target with the visitors’ final chance in the 87th minute.

Before the Glory put paid to their hopes in injury time when Norrie slotted the final goal on the back of a Glory counter-attack.