W-League: Tabain double helps Glory see off Jets

Perth Glory came from two goals down to beat the Newcastle Jets 3-2 in an entertaining Westfield W-League contest on Saturday.

Marianna Tabain helped herself to a brace, with Elisa D'Ovidio also getting on the score sheet, to cancel out goals from Tara Andrews and Sophie Nenadovic inside the opening 30 minutes.

The game started slowly with neither side creating many chances, though Cecille Sandvej did come close for the hosts with a left foot volley that went just over the bar.

The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes when Rhali Dobson broke from midfield and played in Tara Andrews who turned well in the area before finishing calmly past Chantel Jones.

Newcastle doubled their just before the half hour mark thanks to a well struck Sophie Nenadovic shot that beat Jones at her near post.

That goal appeared to spark life into Glory and they quickly reduced the deficit when Elisa D’Ovidio, playing in an unfamiliar role at right back, hit a speculative long range effort that beat everybody and ended up in the back of the net.

Glory continued to attack heading towards the break and Rosie Sutton had a header ruled out for offside.

However, she wasn’t to be denied again in the last minute of the half and was on hand to tap home from six yards after good work on the right hand side by Tabain.

Both D'Ovidio and Christine Julien came close to putting Glory into the lead for the first time before Tabain got her second of the evening on 67 minutes.

The winger was given too much space at the right corner off the box and she fired in a low shot across goal that gave Jets goalkeeper Eliza Campbell no chance.

To their credit, Newcastle's heads didn't drop and they pushed for an equaliser in the last quarter of the game as Dobson headed just wide and substitute Ashley Spina forced Jones into a strong save.

Julien, playing her last game for Glory as her guest stint comes to an end, could have put the result beyond doubt in the 83rd minute but a heavy touch allowed Campbell to claim the ball.

In the closing stages, Lauren Brown volleyed over for the Jets, while a sweetly struck 25 yard shot from Ella Mastrantonio flew just wide.

The win is Glory's third for the season and keeps alive their outside chance of making the finals for another week.

Newcastle are yet to claim a point this season after nine games but will take heart from the spirit shown throughout the contest.



Perth Glory: 1. Chantel JONES, 3. Cecille SANDVEJ, 4. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5. Shannon MAY, 9. Rosie SUTTON, 10. Kathryn GILL, 13. Elisa D’OVIDIO, 16. Thia EASTMAN, 17. Marian TABAIN, 19. Shawn BILLAM, 21. Christina JULIEN.

Subs: 8. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 15. Jessica DILLON, 18. Amy KNIGHTS, 28. Gabrielle DAL BUSCO.


Newcastle Jets: 1. Eliza CAMPBELL, 2. Hannah, BREWER, 4. Siahn BOZANIC, 5. Ciara MCCORMACK, 7. Gema SIMON, 9. Tara ANDREWS, 10. Rhali DOBSON, 12. Hannah BEARD, 14. Sophie NENADOVIC, 16. Cassidy DAVIS, 18. Clare WHEELER.

Subs: 6. Ashley SPINA, 17. Lauren BROWN, 20. Claire COELHO, 23. Stacey DAY.