W-League: Perth Glory 4-0 Adelaide United

This weeks’ televised game was Perth against Adelaide on a warm day in Perth. This was the bottom two teams competing against each other and one could probably tell - especially with the first touches for each team being long balls to “Nancy Nobody”, simply giving away possession.

Though Adelaide did start with some promise; initialing good attacks wide against the narrow midfield of Perth utilizing Ashleigh Gunning and Donna Cockayne. Unfortunately for Adelaide that was their best play with very little quality delivery of balls into the 18yd box. A lot of crosses and hope! And with Adelaide not having a lot of height up front it was a difficult tactic to understand.

On the stroke of the 20th minute, on the match of her return, Perth midfielder Collette McCallam strolled into the box for a shot close on goal setting the tempo for the rest of the first half. With Adelaide not playing good football, they unfortunately turn to playing a tough hard thuggery style of play which naturally only to led to conceding penalties.

The first penalty was awarded for a foul on Samantha Kerr for Kate Gill to convert in the 27th minute and another five minutes later again for a foul on Kerr. After the second offense Adelaide goalkeeper, Sian McLaren was lucky not to be sent walking - instead receiving just a yellow card. Gill again taking the biscuits, finding the back of the net with the resultant penalty.

In the 36th minute a shot on goal punched out by McLaren found Gill laying the ball back to Shannon May who was allowed a first touch without pressure to then shoot a nice controlled ball over heads into the net. 3-0 half time to Perth.

The second half was a drape affair with Kerr scoring in the 80th minute, ending with a comprehensive 4-0 win to Perth. Best players were Kerr, McCallam and Elisa D’ovidio. This is the Lady Red’s 19th loss in a row and it might be lucky for them the W-league is a short season! They have some new players but Adelaide will need much bigger changes at higher levels.

The other two results this week were another comprehensive win from Sydney FC 4-1 over Melbourne Victory to confirm the Sky Blues early season favoritism, and a 1-1 draw between the two perceived challengers; Canberra United and Brisbane Roar.

This leaves the top four of Sydney FC (6), Canberra United (4), Newcastle and Perth (3), with W-League powerhouse Brisbane in a rare position in 5th with a single point with Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United yet to open their accounts this season.