Wanderers shake off plucky Glory to return to winners list

Western Sydney Wanderers responded to their shock loss to Brisbane Roar in Round 9 with a hard-earned 3-1 victory over Perth Glory at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Wanderers struck early and late in the game to shake off a hard-working Glory outfit, regaining second spot on the Westfield W-League table in the process.

The Wanderers wasted no time in taking control of the contest when Caitlin Cooper opened the scoring on three minutes, arriving at the back post to head home a cross from Courtney Nevin which the Glory failed to clear.

Courtnee Vine came close to doubling the lead when Amy Harrison whipped a dangerous ball in behind Glory’s defence but Eliza Campbell was off her line quickly to snuff out the danger, picking up a heavy head knock for her efforts as she collided with Vine to send the ball wide of the post.

Campbell was withdrawn from the contest at half time with concussion and Morgan Aquino came off the bench to replace her in between the sticks for the visitors as the Glory willed themselves into the contest.

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Caitlin Doeglas levelled the scores after starting and finishing a brilliant counter attack, almost tackling the ball into the net after a goal-mouth scramble with Alex Huynh.

But Glory’s foothold in the game lasted only three minutes when Vine put the hosts back in front, capitalising on a weak clearance from Tash Rigby to pass the ball into the bottom corner with ease.

With time running out the Wanderers put the result beyond doubt when a deflection off Glory substitute Isabella Wallhead from Nevin’s long-range strike deceived Aquino in Glory’s goal and made its way into the back of the net.

Perth thought they had a second late in the tie but Ari Romero was chalked offside, leaving the Wanderers to pick up all three points to bounce back from their horrific loss to the Roar and regain second spot on the Westfield W-League table.

Key Moments

Cooper gets the Wanderers rolling

Perth knew the enormity of their task when they arrived at Bankwest Stadium, but didn’t make it any easier on themselves with their failure to clear the ball on multiple occasions in the buildup to Cooper’s opening goal.

The ball pin-balled around the box before falling to Nevin who whipped a cross toward Vine, but the ball bounced inside the six-yard box and over to Cooper at the back post who headed home the opener with ease.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124699326001

Campbell keeps Glory in the contest

After succumbing to concussion from a collision with Vine earlier in the half Campbell was substituted at half time, but not before pulling off a stunning save to deny Harrison a goal from long range.

Harrison curled an attempt off her left foot toward the top left corner but Campbell was across quickly to stretch out a glove and palm the strike around the post.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124700603001

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Doeglas levels the scores

Picking up the ball in her defensive half Doeglas drove forward to spark a swift Glory counter attack which ended in a goalmouth scrap, with Doeglas ultimately managing to guide the ball into the back of the net.

Doeglas initially breezed past Sam Staab to play Crystal Thomas in on goal, whose shot caused the ensuing carnage in the six-yard box where Doeglas arrived to eventually finish off the job.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124705154001

Vine puts Wanderers back in the driving seat

They had only just restored parity in the game but Glory’s defensive mishaps came to the fore once again when Vine arrived in the box to tap home the Wanderers second of the game.

Kristen Hamilton drove into the box and dispatched a shot on goal which Rigby poked away from danger, but her clearance fell directly to Vine who prodded the ball into the back of an unguarded net.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124703874001

Wallhead own goal compounds Glory’s pain

Perth were valiant right to the end of the contest and received a decent dose of bad luck when Wallhead poked Nevin’s strike from distance around Aquino and into her own net.

The strike from Nevin never looked like testing Glory’s goalkeeper but the touch from Wallhead disrupted her movement, leaving the ball to drift easily into the back of the net.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6124707478001