Rearguard Action Secures Win for Perth

Perth SC retained top place on the APB State Premier League ladder after keeping out Stirling for a 2-0 win at Macedonia Park on Sunday.

The Lions controlled possession for much of the second half but were unable to break down Perth’s defence.

The visitors expertly defended a lead built on two classy first half goals to Andreas Oliveira.

Perth coach Graham Normanton rated it one of the most pleasing wins.

“Tactically, we wore them down and in the end they didn’t really have many ideas about how to break us down,” he said.

“To train the way we trained all week, and work out a system of play and get out and produce it like that, and get a 2-0 result is really pleasing from my point of view.

“From a spectator’s point of view, they might say we killed the game but we didn’t kill it, they just couldn’t open it up.”

Devon Spence is Perth’s third-string keeper, but he has made the most of his opportunities that have come from long-term injuries to Jason Saldaris and Luke Martino.

He has yet to concede a Premier League goal and made several excellent saves against Stirling, including a second-half penalty, in his second match.

“He’s come from nowhere really and shown he can keep, so we’re very happy with him,” Normanton said.

Stirling coach Paul Lincoln said his strikers were off their game but felt his side was unlucky.

“If we’d have got that penalty, that might have put a bit more pressure on but it wasn’t a poor performance by us,” he said.

“We didn’t really penetrate them, my front two that I started with today probably weren’t great, Mario (Marcinko) wasn’t great and Phil (Arnold), he’s had better days.

“When you don’t have quality up there, (Perth) are going to look good, we just struggled in that last third today.”

Perth led after 10 minutes thanks to a superb solo effort from Oliveira, who cut in from the left, turned two Stirling defenders inside out and expertly placed the ball in the far top corner.

The visitors appeared unhurried , biding their time for scoring opportunities but they were ready when chances arrived.

Just before half-time, quick thinking from Matt Danskin caught Stirling’s defence off guard and allowed Oliveira through for Perth’s second goal.

Stirling’s backs were pushing up when Danskin was awarded a free kick, which he took quickly and before the Lions could regroup, Oliveira had slotted the ball past Miller.

Danskin, Shaun Kilkelly, Trent Kay and Matt Beyer were under the pump almost immediately from the restart as Stirling appeared hellbent on evening up the contest.

Five minutes into the second half, Kilkelly bought Jason Gavin down in the box and Phil Arnold lined up to take the ensuing penalty.

But Spence made his most important save of the day, falling right to tip the kick away in a heart breaking blow for the home side.

While Stirling had plenty of the ball near the goal, Perth’s defence did not allow them too many clean shots and keep back-to-back clean sheets.

Report by Chris Leitch

TEAMS

STIRLING LIONS: GK Kevin MILLER, 2 Michael PUGLIESE, 4 Jason GAVIN, 6 Paul DICKSON, 7 Dean EVANS, 8 Bobby WILSON, 9 Mario MARCINKO (5 Roberto LUJAN 64′), 10 Tom INGRAM, 11 Stef FROST, 12 Ludovic BOI, 14 Phil ARNOLD (Remo VENDITTI 73′).

SUBS NOT USED: RGK James TURVILL, 3 Adriano DADAMO 16 Ben MERIDITH

PERTH SC: GK Devon SPENCE, 2 Trent KAY, 5 Hayden DOYLE, 6 Shaun KILKELLY, 7 Matt DANSKIN, 8 Robert PUCA, 10 Andreas OLIVIERA, 11 Robert SCIASCIA, 12 Matt BEYER, 15 Anthony NAGLIERI, 18 Dom DE FELICE SUBS NOT USED: RGK Massimo SALAMONE, 4 Craig SIMPSON, 9 David ONOFORO, 13 Simon WILSON, 16 Ian McMURRAY

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Match Details

Stirling Lions 0

Perth SC 2 (A Naglieri 10′ A Oliveria 42′)

Date: Sunday May 30

Ground: Macedonia Park

Attendance: @ 500

Match Time: 3pm

Official: M Cheeseman

Canning Break Drought at Ashfield

Canning City and Ashfield Soccer Club contested Round 9 of the State League First Division last Saturday in an open and very entertaining end to end match.

With Ashfield occupying the bottom position in the league, Canning was keen to get their first win in a month and after drawing last week with Dianella White Eagles.

However, Ashfield made the early running and were rewarded with an early goal when Canning’s defense allowed Ashfield’s Gareth Lloyd to run into space in front of goal.  Lloyd hit a dipping strike from 20 meters over Canning keeper Richard McCabe who was slightly too far off his line.

On the twenty minute mark Lloyd doubled Ashfield’s score when a long throw-in from the left inexplicably found it’s way across the Canning penalty area to an unmarked Lloyd who scored with a low drive from 18 meters.

Canning finally began to stir and a great run by Daniel Trevisiol and cross from the left flashed in front of Solomon Onjuku at the near postwithout him making any contact on the ball.

Ten minutes later Ashfield missed a similar opportunity from a corner kick where the ball somehow skidded across the Canning penalty area without anyone making contact with it.

Finally, Canning narrowed the margin in the 37^th minute when a Canning free kick was cleared off the Ashfield goal line by Lloyd. The clearance fell to Canning’s Andrew Keary who scored a low shot through a melee of players from the edge of the penalty area.

After pressure from a series of corner kicks in stoppage time Canning drew level when Solomon Onjuku heeded the ball back across the goal from the far post to Mark Donnelly who scored from close range.

Canning continued the pressure after the break and hit the lead eleven minutes into the second half when a cross from Daniel Trevisiol was scrambled home by Solomon Onjuku from close range.

The score remained at 3:2 in Canning’s favour but there were some nervous moments for both teams as the open end to end contest continued to the final whistle.

In truth Canning was the better team but there was not a great deal of difference between the two sides.

Ashfield belied there low position in the table with what was a very competitive performance. Hopefully the return match in September will be just as entertaining.

Earlier Canning’s Reserves won 3:0 against Ashfield Reserves.  Next week Canning City has a home match at Willetton Sports Club on Sunday against Waneroo.

Reporter and photographer: Philip Unsworth

Floreat Ease to Win Over Inglewood

Our match of the week yesterday at E&D Litis Stadium between home side Floreat and visitors Inglewood turned out to be little more than a training run for the home side.

Indeed it took Inglewood all of 66 minutes before they were able to mount their first real potent attack on the Floreat goal and even that effort went wide of the upright.

That opportunity followed by another ten minutes later was the sum total of the real threat that Inglewood posed in the full 90 minutes and coach Shane Pryce would surely now have to be considering how to bolster his young side to stave off a potential relegation dog fight in the second half of the season.

Floreat for all their quality and potential also looked a good deal below what will be required to challenge for this season’s title. They had a huge percentage of the possession but so often the final pass or the final run lacked any real precision or quality.

In fairness to the home side they never really had to get out of second gar to win this one and perhaps that blunted their play somewhat.

Inglewood cannot be faulted in their effort more in their application. They worked tirelessly for the cause but there was absolutely no guile, penetration or quality evident in this performance. The ‘wood, as so often before, rely heavily on Michael Baczynski in the middle of the park, however “Baza” lacks mobility at this point of the season and is simply not capable of carrying the whole load of actually creating something for this team.

Coach Shane Pryce brought himself on in the second half, however, inspirational as is his presence may be, he also lacks the mobility and sharpness to make much of a difference to a defence that you could drive a battleship through.

The goals were simple enough. Neiderberger and Mikulic with headers in the first half, both given so much time and space that they could have recited the rosary before scoring. The third, late in injury time at the end of the match, saw Barrera (a second half substitute) finish with skill from a tight angle also from a position that did not include an Inglewood defender within cooee.

The match to follow the first team game was a match between junior sides from Floreat and Stirling Lions. I couldn’t stay to watch but I bet you it was far more enjoyable and a damn sight more competitive that the first team game.

Floreat Opinion: Migas and Barrera came on as subs and maybe Floreat would have been a better side with both on for the full 90 minutes, however, on this performance, Floreat have a lot of work to do if they are to challenge Perth and the Knights for this season’s championship.

Inglewood Opinion: Time to get the cheque book out Ziggy. This side needs a bit more experience in the centre of the defence and the centre of the midfield if it is not to face a chilling fight for survival in the second half of the season. Shane Pryce needs to either coach or play because clearly doing both didn’t work yesterday.

Officials Opinion: Officious referees are one of my pet hates. ‘Nuff said !!! 5 ot ouf 10.

Man of the Match: Anyone who paid $8 to watch this “game” deserves that honour this week.

State League Results and Tables

Premier League

Stirling Lions 0 Perth SC 2 (Oliveira 9, 41), Floreat Athena 3 (Neiderberger 21, Mikulic 41, Barrera 92) Inglewood United 0; Armadale 0 Swan United 3 (Perich 45, Van Dongen 47, Boland 77); Sorrento 2 (Hayton 44, 90P) Mandurah City 1 (Zuvela 77P); Western Knights 4 (Trim 27, Van Dongen 54, Montgomery 67, Versaico 79) Cockburn City 2 (Tarka 70, Webster 88); Balcatta 1 (Italiano 55) ECU Joondalup 2 (Wylie 20, Watt 39)

Reserves

Stirling Lions 0 Perth SC 5, Floreat Athena 4 Inglewood United 3; Armadale 1 Swan United 5; Sorrento 4 Mandurah City 0; Western Knights 4 Cockburn City 2; Balcatta 3 ECU Joondalup 1

Under 18’s

Stirling Lions 2 Perth SC 5,Floreat Athena 0 Inglewood United 1; Armadale 2 Swan United 3; Sorrento 3 Mandurah City 1; Western Knights 2 Cockburn City 5; Balcatta 1 ECU Joondalup

Division 1

Wanneroo City 3 (Orme 34, Bowman 55, McDonald 77) Queens Park 2 (Chikombe 37, Anthony 48); Fremantle Spirit 1 (Carello 34P) Bayswater City 5 (Karpeh 18, 42, 90, Gonzalez 24, McStea 57); Morley-Windmills 0 Forrestfield United 3 (Melling 14, Hart 30, 73); Ashfield 2 (Lloyd 2, 12) Canning City 3 (Keary 36, Donnely 45, Onyuru 56); Dianella White Eagles 2 (Mayhew 3, Kuppasamy 83) Gosnells City 5 (Pomfret 5, Rothwell 20, Walters 10, Francis 58, 76); Rockingham City 0 Bunbury Forum Force 6 (OG 8, Rodgers 12, Kavanagh 29, Quinn 30, Chappell 68, Risdon 71)

Reserves

Wanneroo City 3 Queens Park 1; Fremantle Spirit 2 Bayswater City 3; Morley-Windmills 3 Forrestfield United 1; Ashfield 0 Canning City 3; Dianella White Eagles 5 Gosnells City 4; Rockingham City 0 Bunbury Forum Force 5

Under 18’s

Wanneroo City 5 Queens Park 3; Fremantle Spirit 1 Bayswater City 2; Morley-Windmills 2 Forrestfield United 3; Ashfield 0 Canning City 3; Dianella White Eagles 0 Gosnells City 2; Rockingham City 0 Bunbury Forum Force 4

Canning and Dianella Share the Points

Canning City and Dianelle White Eagles met for the first time in two years last Saturday.

Dianella are sitting comfortably in the top half of the table but in the last few weeks Canning has found success a hard comodity to come by.

Historically matches between the two clubs have been hard fought and close affairs. This match was no different.

In first half Dianella went close with a few shots on goal and seemed to pose a little more threat up front.

Canning in contrast lacked penetration in it’s attacking third.

The deadlock was broken eventually by Dianella who broke out of defence quickly along the right on the stroke of half time.  A neat passing interchange and a well weighted thoughball found Ravi Kuppusaky who outpaced the Canning defense and slotted the ball past the advancing Canning keeper Stuart Delgrano to send the visitors 1:0 up at the break.

The pattern of the second half comenced much the same as the first half. On 60 minutes a passback to Canning keeper Stuart Delgrano found him under pressure and he kicked the ball into an oncoming Dianella player.

Delgano fouled the player as he ran past with the ball. Being the last man the referee had no option but to issue a red card to Delgrano.

Canning managed the transition to a 10 man formation with Ross Diamond as lone striker very well and on 60 minutes Diamond put Solomon Onyuku through onto Dianella’s goal with an angled pass.

Dianella keeper Stevie Grant was off his line very quickly to smother Onyuku’s shot. It looked like Canning had levelled the scores on 80 minutes  when Daniel Trevisiol turned his defender and drove the ball past Stevie Grant but the goal was disallowed because Trevisiol was deemed to have fouled the defender.

With three minutes of normal time remaining keeper grant lashed out at Trevsiol after being challenged for the ball. The referee imeadiately issued a red card and awarded a penalty kick to Canning.

Ross Diamond stepped up to level the scores by slotting the ball past the substitute keeper from the spot kick.

Earlier Canning’s 18’s won 5:2 but their Reserves lost 4:1 against their respective Dianella counterparts. Next week Canning City is away to Ashfield.

Fixture: State League First Division. Canning City v Dianella White Eagles

Venue: Willetton Sports Club, Willetton

Reporter and Photographer: Philip Unsworth

Stirling Upset League Leaders

Stirling Lions confirmed its credentials as one of the sides to beat this season with an upset 2-1 victory over league leaders Western Knights at Nash Field on Saturday afternoon.

During a physical encounter, which produced four yellow and two red cards, Stirling controlled the tempo for much of the match and withstood a furious Knights assault in the dying minutes to record arguably their finest victory of the APB State League season.

After an early second half headed goal from a corner by Bobby Wilson in the 50th minute put the visitors two goals ahead, the contest appeared to be petering out as the home side could not penetrate Stirling’s miserly defence.

But a scrambled goal by Knights substitute Daniel Trim in the 90th minute breathed life into the contest and the dying minutes was filled with drama and controversy.

Star Stirling striker Shane Robinson was caught in a tangle with Garth Lecky and as the duo fell to the ground, the Knights player appeared to stomp on Robinson’s shoulder.

Robinson was deemed by the referee to kick Lecky in retaliation and both players were sent off with red cards.

The Knights pressed hard and had several opportunities to equalise but could not hit the back of the net as Stirling recorded a much deserved win and moved up to equal third place on the ladder.

Robinson combined superbly with dangerous striker Mario Marcinko, while Wilson helped nullify imposing Knights striker Anthony Campbell, who was barely sighted all day.

The Knights had the first opportunity of the match in the 10th minute when an open Stuart Montgomery rifled his shot into the crossbar.

But the visitors quickly found their groove and controlled the important midfielder battle and received important drive from defenders Michael Pugliese and Jason Gavin.

Stirling’s hard work finally was rewarded in the 25th minute, when Robinson slithered through the Knights’ defence and was brought down by goalkeeper Frazer Siddall.

Robinson made no mistake with his penalty and the contest lifted in its intensity and skill for the remainder of the half despite the wintry conditions.

A free kick awarded to the Lions in the 35th minute when Stef Frost was fouled was superbly taken by Robinson only to see his curling shot at goal cannon off the crossbar to the relief of the Knights defence.

Robinson, who experienced both the highs and the lows during the contest, rated his side as one of the best teams in the league.

“I think we are a top team and we showed that today,” he said.

“They played a physical brand of football but I believe we out skilled them and were the better team.”

The Stirling Lions Reserves went to the top of the ladder with a solid 5-3 win while the 18’s lost 2-0.

This week’s blockbuster game at Macedonia Park is on Sunday when the Lions meet new league leaders Perth Soccer Club kick off 3pm.

Match Details:

Stirling Lions 2 (Robinson ’25, Wilson ’50)

Western Knights 1 (Trim ’90)

Nash Field (crowd approx 300)

Referee: M. Tolmie

Match Report by Tristan Lavalette

APB Stateleague Results and Tables

PREMIER DIVISION

First Team

Perth SC 2 (Doyle 34, Puca pen 66) Armadale 0, ECU Joondalup 2 (Johnson 20, O’Callaghan 65) Floreat Athena 2 (OG 3, Mirco 24); Western Knights 1 (Trim 90) Stirling Lions 2 (Robinson pen 23, Wilson 50); Inglewood United 4 (Geddes 6, 24, Carr 30, Clarke 92) Sorrento FC 5 (Quinncroft 45, Foster 55, pen 85, Love pen 78, pen 90); Balcatta 0 Swan United 1 (Boland 51); Mandurah City 3 (Young 33, Platt 68, OG 85) Cockburn City 2 (Dos Santos 59, Dugdale 70)

Reserves

Perth SC 6 Armadale 0, ECU Joondalup 1 Floreat Athena 0; Western Knights 3 Stirling Lions 5; Inglewood United 1 Sorrento FC 1; Balcatta 1 Swan United 3; Mandurah City Cockburn City

Under 18’s

Perth SC 6 Armadale 1, ECU Joondalup 0 Floreat Athena 0; Western Knights 2 Stirling Lions 0; Inglewood United 8 Sorrento FC 2; Balcatta 4 Swan United 2; Mandurah City 0 Cockburn City 0

Division 1

Rockingham City 0 Fremantle Spirit 3 (Canzurlo 9, 21, Monaghan 62), Bayswater City 4 (Gonzales 15, Aguire 30, Catalano 33, Jorquera 42) Morley-Windmills 1 (Griffiths 17); Queens Park 4 (Conte 27, Chikocombe 30, Hugala 32, Anthony 34) Ashfield 3 (Harman 3, Castrili 37, Culverwell 70); Forrestfield United 1 (Burns 23) Wanneroo City 4 (McGahern 8, Booysen 45, OG 53, Cairney 69); Canning City 1 (Diamond 90) Dianella White Eagles 1 (Kuppusamy 46); Bunbury Forum Force 1 (Ravenhill 7) Gosnells City 0; Rockingham City Fremantle Spirit (5.00pm)

Reserves

Rockingham City 0 Fremantle Spirit 8, Bayswater City 1 Morley-Windmills 3; Queens Park 4 Ashfield 9; Forrestfield United 1 Wanneroo City 0; Canning City 1 Dianella White Eagles 4; Bunbury Forum Force 9 Gosnells City 1; Rockingham City Fremantle Spirit

Under 18’s

Rockingham City 1 Fremantle Spirit 4, Bayswater City 8 Morley-Windmills 0; Queens Park 3 Ashfield 0; Forrestfield United 2 Wanneroo City 0; Canning City 5 Dianella White Eagles 2; Bunbury Forum Force 5 Gosnells City 0; Rockingham City 1 Fremantle Spirit 4

Gulls fly away with the points in a nine goal thriller

Sorrento defeated Inglewood United 5-4 in an amazing game at the 6PR Stadium in round 10 of the APB Premier Division. The Gulls trailed 0-3 after 30 minutes but a goal just before half time from Billy Quinncroft gave Trevor Morgan’s side hope and double’s from David Foster and Jared Love gave them the points, although a late goal from Ryan clarke set up a tense finish, but the Gulls hung on.

The Gulls came into the game unchanged from the side that were beaten 3-5 at home by ECU Joondalup last week, while the home side made two changes to the side that beat Cockburn City last week, with Jake Geddes given his first start for the club, after his move from Stirling Lions, replacing the omitted Alex Stamatiadis, while Daniel Stoitis came in for Danny Richman who dropped to the bench.

It was a great start for the home side and they were ahead on six minutes. Sandi Loncar found Matt Wardle on the left and his cross picked out the unmarked Geddes at the back post, and the 18-year-old fired home from four-yards.

Inglewood were well on top and two minutes later Clarke sent Lee Carr clear, but Sorrento keeper Tom Woodhead was out quick to block. The movement of Inglewood was sharp and they carved open the Sorrento defence again on 17 minutes, Michael Baczynski skipping away from Danny Cain on the right and crossing to Geddes, whose flick was just wide of the far post.

Sorrento began to get into the game and they went close on 20 minutes, Glen Thomas’ corner from the left was flicked on by Foster and Jason Mirco’s shot was cleared off the line by Aaron Colli.

Inglewood doubled their lead four minutes later, a long ball was flicked on by Aaron Colli and it found Geddes 25-yards out, and the youngsters low shot flashed past Woodhead into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

It got worse for the Gulls on the half hour when the home side made it 3-0. Wardle’s corner from the right fell to Carr who fired home from close-range.

Gulls coach Trevor Morgan had seen enough and he made two changes to try and get his side back in the game, Adam Hayton and Ryan Jeans were replaced by Daryl Platten and Love. But disaster struck Platten, who has just returned from a knee injury, five minutes later, when he re-injured his knee and was carried from the field, to be replaced by Quinncroft.

In first half stoppage time the Gulls got a lifeline, when they reduced the margin. Foster played Mirco in down the left and his cross into the penalty area found Quinncroft who scored from five-yards, to make it 3-1 to Inglewood at the break.

The Gulls arrived out early for the second half with coach Trevor Morgan’s half time address still ringing in their ears, but it had the desired effect as they scored ten minutes in. Thomas’ free kick from long-range was flicked past Oliver Taseki by Foster from six-yards.

It was game on, and both sides went close in wet conditions, first Wardle’s cross from the left was headed just over the crossbar by Carr, and Gulls midfielder Mirco’s long-range shot flashed just wide.

Then on 70 minutes Geddes went close to his hat trick, he was played in by Richman but as the youngster was about to pull the trigger, Cameron Yorke’s last ditch tackle saved the day for sorrento.

Sorrento’s remarkable comeback was completed on 78 minutes, Glen Morgan’s cross from the right struck the arm of Wardle and referee Steven Gregory had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, and Love kept his nerve to score.

That goal seemed to lift the home side and Clarke’s cross shot was tipped over by Woodhead and Carr’s long-range shot was just over the top, but their hard work was undone five minutes from time.

A long ball into the penalty area found Love and he was brought down by Taseski and again the referee pointed to the spot. Love was injured in the incident so Foster took the responsibility of the spot kick and he sent the keeper the wrong way to give the Gulls the lead.

It was a case of déjà five minutes later, this time Foster was in on goal and he was brought down by Taseski and Gregory again pointed to the spot. The striker was left rolling around in agony and he was carried off on a stretcher with a suspected broken ankle. Love this time stepped up to score from the spot to make it 5-3.

Game over, I don’t think so!! Two minutes later Richman sent Clarke clear and he lobbed the on-coming Woodhead to make it 4-5.

With Foster off and Love with an injured shoulder the Gulls were effectively down to nine men and the home side sniffed a chance and in the fifth minute of injury time they almost levelled. Wardle’s corner from the right fell to Clarke his shot beat Woodhead but James Morgan cleared the ball off the line and moments later the whistle blew to end an amazing game.

After the game Trevor Morgan was happy with the win but not the first half performance. “To be 3-1 down at half time and to come back to win 5-4, we were like two different teams. We changed it when we were 3-0 down, and sometimes it works and sometimes it don’t, but it worked today,” Morgan said.

The victory was soured with the injury to Foster but Morgan believes the lads showed what they could do in the second half. “The players were told in no uncertain terms at half time my thoughts of the performance and to their credit, they came out in the second half and played well. The injury to David doesn’t look good at the moment and it takes a bit of the shine off the victory, and we will have to wait and see with Daryl’s knee and Jared ‘s Shoulder,” Morgan said.

APB Premier Division – Round 10

Inglewood United 4 (Geddes 6, 24, Carr 30, Clarke 92)

Sorrento FC 5 (Quinncroft 45, Foster 55, 85P, Love 78P, 90P);

Referee – Steven Gregory

Assistants – Josh Mihevic and Kevin Taylor

Att – 200

INGLEWOOD UNITED: GK Oliver TASESKI, 4 Rikki SMITH, 5 Sandi LONCAR (12 Dannie RICHMAN 62′), 6 Matt WARDLE, 7 Michael BACZYNSKI (9 Rory GRANT), 8 Ryan CLARKE, 10 Jake GEDDES (18 Jason COLLI 86′), 16 Aaron COLLI, 21 Daniel STOITIS, 22 Matt WORTON, 23 Lee CARR

SUBS NOT USED: RGK Lewis ITALIANO, 2 Shane PRYCE

Yellow Cards – Loncar 50′, Taseski 77′

SORRENTO: GK Tom WOODHEAD, 2 Danny CAIN, 4 Cameron YORKE, 5 Adam HAYTON (8 Daryl PLATTEN 34′)(22 Billy QUINNCROFT 39′), 7 James MORGAN, 9 Todd HARNWELL, 10 Ryan JEANS (17 Jared LOVE 34′), 11 Jason MIRCO, 15 Kris DENNIS, 18 Glyn THOMAS, 24 David FOSTER

SUBS NOT USED: RGK Todd ROSS, 16 Shane WEBB,

Yellow Cards – Morgan 65′

Glory duo on target for Matildis

Perth Glory duo Lisa De Vanna and Sam Kerr were on target for the Matildis as Australia booked a place in the Women’s Asian Cup football semi-finals with a 3-1 win over South Korea at Chengdu in China on Friday night.

A 15 minute flurry of goals in the second half ensured Australia took out the Group B match with Kim Carroll, De Vanna and Kerr all getting their names on the score sheet.

A late goal from Kang Sun Mi and some strong attacking raids from the South Koreans made for a tense finale but resolute defending saw the Matildas hold out.

Australia went into the break the stronger of the two sides having a host of chances in a scoreless first half.

That changed during a purple patch in the second period.

In the 51st minute Elise Kellond-Knight hit a long range shot that forced Jung Mi to tip the ball over the bar.

From the resulting corner Heather Garriock swung the ball into a dangerous area with Kim Carroll controlling her volley perfectly to score her first goal for the Matildas and open up a 1-0 lead.

In the 58th minute De Vanna had a classy shot saved by Jung Mi but couldn’t be stopped on the rebound as she calmly potted past the stranded keeper. With her first touch of the game youngster Kerr, on as a substitute for here Glory team mate De Vanna, put the result beyond doubt finding the net following a goalmouth scramble from a another Glory player,Collette McCallum’s, corner in the 64th minute.

Australia’s defence was finally breached in the 70th minute when So Hyun knocked in a looping free-kick into area with Kang Sun Mi rising highest to place a powerful header beyond the reach of a fully stretched Barbieri.

The Matildas had opened up their campaign with a 2-0 defeat of Vietnam on Wednesday.

The eight-team tournament doubles as a World Cup qualification event, with the top three teams earning a passage to Germany next year.

Geddes starts with a bang at Inglewood

Inglewood United new striker Jake Geddes began life at the club with a bang, scoring the equaliser after coming off the bench, in the Wood’s 2-1 win at Cockburn City last week.

The 18-year-old, who came through the ranks for Stirling Lions, was looking for first team football and he wasn’t getting the opportunity at Macedonia Park so the move was ideal. “In the end it was quite an easy decision for me. Even though I was enjoying playing with the 23’s at Stirling, you always want to push yourself into the first team, and when I heard Shane Pryce was interested in me I had to take it. Both Lions president Don Evans and 23’s coach Rob Micevski understood my decision and wished me well,” Geddes said.

Lions President Evans wished Geddes all the best with his football at Inglewood. “Jake has enjoyed a wonderful learning experience at The Lion’s Den, and has been a prolific goal scorer in the Reserves but wasn’t able to make an impact when opportunity knocked in the seniors. When an offer came along to get a starting role back at the club he came from at “The Wood” the coaching staff and club felt it was a positive step for his development considering he had Mario Marcinko, Phil Arnold, Ludo Boi, Stef Frost, Ndumba Makeche and Jamie DeAbreu ahead of him all trying to squeeze into the two main striker roles.” Evans said.

“On signing his release we wished him well and hoped he would make an immediate impact on his league debut, which he did and I am sure all at Inglewood are glad to have him back. Jake is another Phil Arnold style player who will trouble many defences in the future and all at the Stirling Lions wish the lad well, he has a great attitude and will to succeed.”

The Lions also said goodbye to defender Daniel Stoitis this week and Evans thanked him for his contribution to the club “Losing Daniel to Inglewood was also understandable as Dan is a former player and was offered a senior leadership role with a view to a future coaching style role at the Wood. He has been brilliant at Stirling passing on his knowledge and experience to many of the talented young lads in the seniors all the way down to our Under 13′s Premier team where he helped respected junior academy coach Alex Olejnik,” Evans said.

“We are saddened to lose his experience in a back line that is amongst the best in the league but support his request to help out his former club. Both players leave our club on good terms and we wish them well in helping Inglewood United’s 2010 football aspirations.”

Geddes, who began his junior career at Inglewood, became surplus to requirement at the Lions, when the club brought in new overseas players, but he believes these players will improve the standard of the league. “Whenever new players come into a team it’s always a good sign for the club as a whole. To have such high profile players come and play in the state league is such a boost for football in WA, and training with these boys you can tell they’ve played in high level leagues, so it always helps your own game to develop, “Geddes said, who has also been joined at the 6PR Stadium by Danny Stoitis

“On the other hand it is disappointing when you know you’re capable of performing in the first team, but the decision is out of your hands. You just have to keep performing week in week out and eventually the opportunities will come.”

It was a great start for Geddes at his new club, scoring on his debut, but it was the three points that was more important for him. “The boys really needed a win against Cockburn, and we deserved all three points. I hadn’t as yet started training with Inglewood so Coach Shane Pryce was a bit anxious starting me up front which I fully understood. I came on midway through the second half and got on the scoresheet, which I was delighted about,” he said.

“I’ve settled in very well at the club. I know quite a few boys down there so it hasn’t been too difficult getting to know all of them. Pryce’s been excellent as well; he’s such a great role model for all the boys to look up to.”

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