Perth Glory finally put a win on the board after an entertaining 4-2 win over Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium on Thursday night.
The six-goal thriller ultimately ended in Glory’s favour after they crafted a three-goal lead in the second half, but the Jets refused to give in scoring two of the last three goals of the contest to eventually fall to a 4-2 defeat.
Despite the evening kick-off both sides struggled early in the searing heat and the tempo of the contest suffered as a result.
But Glory youngster Hana Lowry showed all of her youthful exuberance as she opened the scoring on her starting debut.
The 16-year-old leapt toward a driven corner kick from Crystal Thomas to connect with a towering header which rocketed into the top right corner of Newcastle’s goal.
Lowry’s first ever Westfield W-League goal put Glory ahead for the first time this season, and with their tails up the visitors began to assert their dominance on the contest.
With the first half winding down Jets defender Tessa Tamplin made matters worse for the hosts when she conceded a careless penalty with a push on Thomas in the box.
Morgan Andrews stepped forward to dispatch a strike coolly into the back of the net to give Glory a two-goal lead heading into half time.
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After soaking up pressure to start the second half Glory went back on the offensive and with an hour played they scored a third through Caitlin Deoglas.
The goal went to Glory’s number 14 but the plaudits belonged to Andrews, who unleashed a spectacular strike from outside the box which cannoned off the crossbar and fell directly to Doeglas to poke into the back of the net.
Trailing by three goals the Jets hit back through Tamplin who mis-hit a cross which incidentally flew into the top corner from incredible range; Tamplin had thrown her head back in frustration after missing her target only to see her strike sail over Aquino’s head and into the back of the net.
After watching Tamplin score in remarkable circumstances Glory midfielder Celia decided to go one better just minutes later with a first-time curling strike from outside the box.
Her looping, bending strike beat Claire Coelho in Newcastle’s goal and nestled into the top corner to make the score 4-1 in favour of the Glory.
The game descended into a goalscoring frenzy when Newcastle struck once more with ten minutes to play, this time through Lauren Allan.
Substitute Renee Pountney played Allan into the box with a terrific reverse pass, and Allan sized up the target before bombing a strike over Aquino’s head into the roof of the net to make it 4-2.
Seven minutes of added time ensued thanks to multiple drinks breaks but the score remained the same to the final whistle as Perth notched their first win of the season, leapfrogging Newcastle into seventh place on the Westfield W-League table.
Key Moments
Lowry heads Glory into the lead
There was nothing the Jets could do to stop Lowry’s thumping header travelling into the top right corner of goal.
The teenager had an unchallenged leap at the ball and connected perfectly with the header; you couldn’t wipe the smile off Lowry’s face as her teammates celebrated her first ever Westfield W-League goal.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6125796221001
Jets concede strange penalty and Glory capitalise
There was no need for Tamplin to foul Thomas in the box with the Glory striker dribbling away from danger, but that’s just what she did with a push in the American’s back with the clock winding down in the first half.
Andrews grabbed the ball, placed it on the spot and tucked the spot kick away with ease to extend Glory’s lead to two.
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Andrews rocket sets up Doeglas tap-in
The crossbar had just denied Andrews one of the goals of the season, but Doeglas capitalised on Andrews’ bad luck by tapping in an easy shot from the rebound to make it 3-0.
It was her second goal in as many games as Glory’s leading goalscorer bagged one of the easiest goals she’s likely to score this season.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6125810180001
Tamplin scores a long-range beauty
After conceding a penalty in the first half Tamplin was keen to atone for her mistake and more than made up for it with a ridiculous strike in the second half.
Tamplin was attempting to hit a target in the box but her cross was too heavy – or so she thought.
Instead of finding Jenna Kingsley in the box the ball found its way into the roof of the net, surprising everyone including Tamplin.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6125809471001
Celia curls long-range bomb into the top corner
Just three minutes after Tamplin scored her ridiculous attempt on goal, Glory midfielder Celia popped up to score a wonder strike of her own.
After Leticia McKenna bustled her way to the tip of the box Celia pounced on the loose ball, firing a first-time curler directly into the top left corner.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6125818100001
Jets refuse to give in and find a second through Allan
There was no telling Newcastle to give in as the hosts scored a second through Allan with ten minutes to play.
Allan made a smart run into the box and Pountney produced the pass to match, finding Allan with a perfect pass into the box, where she set herself to strike a cruel blow past Aquino into the back of the net.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6125824714001
