Glory produce the goods in Newcastle - ABC Online

By Niav Owens

Posted November 12, 2012 18:06:24

Perth Glory welcomed back Lisa De Vanna and Aivi Luick with a 6-1 thrashing of the Newcastle Jets at Wanderers Oval on Saturday.

In a physical encounter on an overcast afternoon, there was nothing gloomy about Perth's football.

In their first game this season with their full squad on the park, the Glory attack terrorised the Jets defence.

Lisa De Vanna opened the scoring for Perth in the fourth minute, when she capitalised on the Jets failure to clear the ball in defence.

It was a great first-touch strike from the former Jet, in her first game back in Australia after playing a season in Sweden.

Glory won the midfield battle, with their attack continually peppering the Jets goal in the first half.

The Jets had a great chance 15 minutes in, with Alishia Foote putting Tori Huster through.

But the US import couldn't quite work the angle, and she pushed it across the face of goal.

And then 19 minutes in, Glory captain Collette McCallum used the breeze to her advantage, curling her corner into the back of the net.

It was not until the 60th minute when the Jets initially defused two corners that Glory bothered the scorer with Gill slotting in a ricochet off the crossbar to give Glory a 3-0 lead.

Five minutes later Glory really showed their class with De Vanna holding up the ball just outside the box, before sliding it through the Jets defence for Gill to beat Campbell one on one to score her second.

The Jets showed plenty of spirit, and were rewarded for their hard work in the 74th minute when substitute Tiffany Boshers did well to put Husters through for the Jets' first goal.

De Vanna continued to cause havoc in attack, playing a starring role in four of the Glory's goals.

Gill earned a hat-trick when Glory was awarded a penalty on full-time.

While Newcastle tried hard, they were too often forced to rely on the long, speculative ball forward.

Perth were just too good. If Jamie Harnwell can keep that team on the park for the remainder of the season, they are going to be very tough to beat.

While the few hundred fans who braved the cool and wet conditions in Newcastle might not have liked the score-line, they were treated to great attacking football and some classy goals.