It was a Perth side with everything to play for who would run out winners on Friday night, defeating the Jets by two goals at McDonald Jones Stadium.
It was a promising start from the Ernie Merrick’s side, who were looking for an improved performance after a less-than-desirable fortnight.
Their trademark fluency in attack was starting to re-emerge, Ronald Vargas had some impressive touches early and looked dangerous going forward, while Riley McGree was also sharp on the ball.
Chris Beath was brought into the game early, as Riley McGree was deemed to have fouled Mills in the area. Diego Castro took his chance from the spot, burying his strike into the bottom corner, just out of reach of an outstretched Jack Duncan.
Roy O’Donovan was at his enterprising best, making his presence felt up front with some dangerous forward runs, but the Irish marksman just couldn’t get the service required to land a killer blow.
The Jets defence was left reeling before the half hour mark as Castro put Chianese through. The winger was able to draw Jack Duncan off his line with a menacing run toward goal, as he squared up to Taggart for the most simple of tap-ins.
The second stanza started without much fanfare, as the Jets looked to find their way back into the contest.
Things opened up for the Glory in the 52nd minute as Castro played a ball in which found Taggart, a diving Duncan and a desperate Topor-Stanley thwarted his effort on goal.
The Jets showed glimpses of the attacking prowess that has seen them net 49 goals across the regular season, with Ivan Vujica and Jason Hoffman creating some havoc on the flanks with some dangerous crosses into the area.
Perth would eventually sit back and look to control possession as the second half progressed, happy to take their time with the ball at their feet and wind down the clock.
Joey Champness added spark off the bench, but he couldn’t find a way past Liam Reddy in the Glory goal. Dimi Petratos did all he could to grab a goal back late, however it was to no avail.
It was the final pass that would cruel the home side, as the Glory sat back and picked off any attacking raid to ensure they would travel back west with all three points.
With the Jets now losing their third match on the spin, they will be looking to regroup as they take face the Mariners in an F3 Derby next week.
The moments:
1’ | 0-0 | Referee Chris Beath gets us underway in our final home match of the regular season! #NEWvPER
7′ | 0-0 | All class from Ronny with some neat early touches in the attacking third. #NEWvPER
8′ | 0-0 | Chris Beath points to the spot after Mills in clipped by McGree in the box.
9′ | 0-1 | Castro converts, and Perth have the lead. #NEWvPER
21′ | 0-1 | Enterprising play from O’Donovan and McGree down the right edge, which ends in a Jets corner. #NEWvPER
24′ | 0-1 | Duncan does well to deny Taggart who was threaded in on goal. #NEWvPER
27′ | 0-2 | A Taggart tap in doubles Perth’s lead. #NEWvPER
45+1′ | 0-2 | Vujica whips in a dangerous ball, and Petratos just scoops it over the bar. #NEWvPER
72′ | 0-2 | Vujica curls in another dangerous ball from the right, and the Glory are able to scramble it clear. #NEWvPER
86′ | 0-2 | TWO CHANCES! Petratos swivels and bends a ball in from the left which Champness just can’t get onto the end of, and seconds later Vujica squares to Champness who strikes straight at Reddy in the Glory goal. #NEWvPER
Newcastle Jets: 1.Jack DUNCAN (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimitri PETRATOS, 8.Ronald VARGAS, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 16. Nick COWBURN, 27.Riley McGREE 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY
Subs: 10.Wayne BROWN, 11.Pato RODRIGUEZ, 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 24.Joseph CHAMPNESS
Subs Not Used: 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON
Yellow Cards: 6.Steven UGARKOVIC (37’)
Red Cards:
Goals:
Perth Glory: 2.Alex GRANT, 4.Shane LOWRY, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 8.Xavi TORRES, 9.Andy KEOGH (c), 16.Joseph MILLS, 17.Diego CASTRO, 22.Adam TAGGART, 23.Scott NEVILLE, 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 88.Neil KILKENNY
Subs: 13.Nick FEELY (gk), 14.Chris HAROLD, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 66.Dino DJULBIC
Subs Not Used: 13.Nick FEELY (gk), 18.Andreu GUERAO
Yellow Cards: 17.Diego CASTRO (81’), 7.Joel CHIANESE (90+4’)
Red Cards:
Goals: 17.Diego CASTRO (9’ p), 22.Adam TAGGART (27’)
