W-League: Glory stay perfect with win over Lady Reds

Perth Glory maintained their 100% start to the Westfield W-League season with a convincing 3-1 win over Adelaide United.

A goal of the season contender from Elisa D'Ovidio set them on their way just before half time, with Matildas Sam Kerr and Kate Gill also finding the net and Lisa-Marie Woods scoring for the visitors.

It was an even opening to the game with the hosts looking to play out from the back through Alanna Kennedy and Shelina Zadorsky, while skipper Kristy Moore was her usual lively self for the Lady Reds.

The first real chance fell to Sam Kerr who cut in from the wing but her effort was wide of the near post.

Kerr was causing all sorts of problems down the left hand side before switching to the right where she latched on to a pass from Gill and rattled the post with a well struck shot.

Glory thought they had taken the lead in the 34th minute as Gill volleyed past Melissa Barbieri in the Adelaide goal, however she was deemed to be in an offside position.

Gill turned provider minutes later when she squared the ball to an unmarked Kerr six yards out but she somehow blazed over with the goal at her mercy.

At the other end, former Glory player Lisa-Marie Woods got her head up inside the penalty area and fired in a low shot that went wide of Mackenzie Arnold’s right hand post.

Right on half time, a strong one handed save from Barbieri denied D’Ovidio but from the resulting corner the Glory playmaker opened the scoring.

The ball was cleared just outside the area and D’Ovidio took one touch on her chest before unleashing a superb volley that flew into the top corner.

Within a minute of the restart, however, United drew level when Arnold was caught out by a long rang effort from Woods.

Whatever Ross Aloisi said to his players at half time seemed to work as the Lady Reds took the game to Glory in the opening stages of the second period.

However, they were rocked by another goal of real quality as Sarah Carroll whipped in a low cross from the right that was turned home by Kerr with a neat finish.

Glory's third goal arrived just before the hour mark in bizarre fashion as the ball struck Gill inside the six yard box and looped into the net, wrong footing Barbieri.

That moment of fortune took a lot of the sting out of the game and seemed to deflate the visitors, with Glory re-asserting their dominance and looking to add to their tally.

The attacking trio of Caitlin Foord, Gill and Kerr will cause problems for any defence in the W-League and it was Foord who almost added a fourth with a shot that was well parried by Barbieri.

A raking ball over the top of the Adelaide defence from Gill found the head of Kerr but Barbieri was equal to the effort.

United had a late chance to reduce their arrears, however Dylan Holmes' drive from outside the penalty area went harmlessly wide.

In the end, Glory were good value for the three points which keeps them level with Sydney FC at the top of the ladder.



Perth Glory: 1. Mackenzie ARNOLD, 2. Sarah CARROLL, 4. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 6. Alanna KENNEDY, 9. Caitlin FOORD, 12. Kathryn GILL, 13. Elisa D’OVIDIO, 14. Collette MCCALLUM, 15. Shelina ZADORSKY, 17. Marianna TABAIN, 20. Samantha KERR.


Subs: 5. Shannon MAY, 7. Gabrielle MARZANO, 8. Shawn BILLAM, 18. Gabrielle DAL BUSCO.

Adelaide United: 1. Melissa BARBIERI, 4. Lauren STEER, 6. Dylan HOLMES, 7. Katrine PEDERSEN, 8. Emily CONDON, 9. Lisa MARIE-WOODS, 11. Isabel HODGSON, 12. Daila-Tais BORG, 15. Jenna MCCORMICK, 16. Katie HOLTHAM, 23. Kristy MOORE.

Subs: 10. Alexandra CHIDIAC, 17. Tiarn POWELL, 18. Georgia CAMPAGNALE, 20. Sarah WILLACY.