Perth Glory extended their winning start to the Westfield W-League to a record three matches with 3-1 victory over Adelaide United at Ashfield Sport Club today.
Elisa D’Ovidio gave Glory the lead on the stroke of half time, before Adelaide levelled in the first minute of the second with a stunning strike from Lisa-Marie Woods.
Matildas attacker Samantha Kerr capped off a superb Glory performance to put the home side back in front before fellow international striker Kate Gill added the third to give the home side their best ever start to a Westfield W-League season.
Despite setting a new benchmark for the club, coach Jamie Harnwell felt his side needed to be more ruthless in front of goal.
“It wasn’t an ideal performance but the weather didn’t help but we will take the three points,” he said.
“We defended well and we are always going to create goals and we put three away to today, but could have had a few more.”
The home side dominated the early exchanges with Kerr firing into the side netting early, hitting the woodwork on the half hour and also firing over from close-range.
Gill had the ball in the net on 34 minutes but the flag was up for offside.
Adelaide keeper Melissa Barbieri then denied Kerr’s header before she did even better to tip over a D’Ovidio shot on 44 minutes.
But from the resulting corner Glory hit the front when the ball was cleared only as far as D’Ovidio, whose long-range shot flew in.
Adelaide made a great start to the second half with Woods’ stunning long-range shot giving goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold no chance.
Hopes of Ross Aloisi’s side, winless in their first two games of the season, completing a fight back were dashed on 56 minutes when Sarah Carroll’s cross was turned home by Kerr.
The points were made safe for the home side on the hour when a cross from the left caused confusion in the Adelaide defence and Gill nipped in to lob the keeper from 8m.
Westfield W-League – Week 3
Perth Glory 3 (D’Ovidio 45’, Kerr 56’, Gill 59’)
Adelaide United (Woods 46’)
Saturday 27th September 2014
Venue: Ashfield Sports Club, Ashfield
Referee: Lara Smith
Assistants: Joanna Charaktis and Zac Picciacco
Fourth Official: Matthew Southern
Perth Glory: GK Mackenzie ARNOLD, 2 Sarah CARROLL, 4 Bronwyn STUDMAN (5 Shannon MAY 78’), 6 Alanna KENNEDY, 9 Caitlin FOORD, 12 Kathryn GILL, 13 Elisa D’OVIDIO, 14 Collette MCCALLUM (C) (8 Shawn BILLAM 81’), 15 Shelina ZADORSKY, 17 Marianna TABAIN (7 Gabrielle MARZANO 72’), 20 Samantha KERR
Subs not used: Gabrielle DAL BUSCO
Yellow Cards: Foord 90’
Adelaide United: GK Melissa BARBIERI, 4 Lauren STEER, 6 Dylan HOLMES, 7 Katrine PEDERSEN, 8 Emily CONDON (10 Alexandra CHIDIAC 64’), 9 Lisa-Marie WOODS, 11 Isabel HODGSON (17 Tiarn POWELL 64’), 12 Daila-Tais BORG (18 Georgia CAMPAGNALE 74’), 15 Jenna MCCORMICK, 16 Katie HOLTHAM, 23 Kristy MOORE (C)
Subs not used: RGK Sarah WILLACY
Yellow Cards: Moore 45+2’, Woods 90+2’
