Perth Glory ramped up their preparations for the upcoming Hyundai A-League campaign with a comfortable 4-0 friendly victory over Cockburn City at Dalmatinac Park on Wednesday night.
The visitors never looked back after taking an early lead through Chris Harold, with Joel Chianese, Mitch Nichols and substitute Jacob Italiano all finding the net in the second half to add the gloss to a dominant display.
Several of Kenny Lowe’s side produced eye-catching displays, notably Jake Brimmer and Nichols who sparkled in midfield and clearly relished the immaculate playing surface.
The opening goal arrived with just two minutes on the clock as the home defence failed to deal with Shane Lowry’s deep cross from the left and Harold pounced to hook home the loose ball.
Andy Keogh then forced home goalkeeper Ben Radonich to make a save low to his left having been played in by Lowry, before Brimmer fizzed a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide of the post.
As Glory continued to press, another free-kick from Brimmer was batted away by Radonich and on 30 minutes, Nicholls failed to find the target from close range having been teed up by the overlapping Scott Neville.
And shortly before the break, the A-League side came agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Keogh rose highest to meet a Nichols cross only to see his firm header crash against the bar and rebound away to safety.
The second goal did arrive early in the second half, however, Chianese sweeping home after Radonich had parried Keogh’s shot into the midfielder’s path and soon after it was 3-0 as Nicholls was allowed too much time on the edge of the box and bent a shot into the bottom corner.
The final third of the game saw the bulk of the club’s PS4 NPLWA side introduced and the youngsters acquitted themselves well after surviving a scare when City substitute Daniel Robinson struck the post.
‘With 12 minutes left, Glory added a deserved fourth after Joseph Knowles capped a strong run down the right by cutting the ball back for Italiano who applied the simplest of finishes from six yards out.
Match Details
COCKBURN CITY 0 PERTH GLORY 4 (Chris Harold 2′, Joel Chianese 54′, Mitch Nicholls 62′, Jacob Italiano 78′)
(Half-time: 0-1)
COCKBURN CITY: 1. Ben RADONICH, 15. Daniel SANTICH, 17. Jesse LAZZANO, 4. Euen GRANT, 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 10. David ARRAYA, 11. Harry O’BRIEN, 2. Josh KUSER, 6. Reuben TRISTAO, 9. Gian ALBANO, 18. Aiden DA LUZ
PERTH GLORY: 13. Nick FEELY (33. Kyle MCDONALD 80”), 2. Alex GRANT (16. Hayden STEVENS 63′), 3. Marc WARREN (24. Riley WARLAND 63”), 4. Shane LOWRY (18. Ollie ANNIS 63”), 6. Mitch NICHOLS (8. Yacoub MUSTAFA 63′), 7. Joel CHIANESE (12. Jacob ITALIANO 63”, 28. Sam RIAK 28′), 9. Andy KEOGH (19. Joe KNOWLES 63′), 14. Chris HAROLD (10. Daniel STYNES 46”, 26. Gomo DUKULY 80′), 15. Brandon WILSON (27. Cam MURRAY 80”), 20. Jake BRIMMER (29. Callum TIMMINS 45′, 25. Jack LEECH 80′), 23. Scott NEVILLE (5. Luke BODNAR 63”)
SUBSTITUTES NOT USED: None
