Kwinana United Wins Support from Perth Glory Friendly
As a pre-season warm up, coach Alistair Edwards made a trip down memory lane to host a scratch match against his childhood club Kwinana United. There was a strong crowd, littered around the edges of the ground and forming a close huddle around the pitch. A mini “shed” was also formed behind the Perth attacking goals (which changed sides at half time, a luxury at these pre-season friendlies).
Match overview* (according to Football Australia):
Kwinana United 0-3 Perth Glory (Half-time 0-1)
Kelly Park
Saturday 6th July 2013
Referee: Trent Fleskens
Assistant Referees: Joshua Nixon and Nico Hoyle
Attendance: Approximately 1200
Perth Glory: Neil Young, Josh Risdon, Jack Clisby, Brandon O’Neill, Matthew Davies, Jacob Burns, Cameron Edwards, Steven McGarry, Chris Harold, Sidnei Sciola Moraes, Shane Smeltz
Substitute used: Ryo Nagai
Scorers: Moraes 16′, McGarry 48′, Smeltz 75′
Kwinana United: Chad Freund, Chris Atkins, Dale Joy-Hacking, Colin Smyth, Daniel Sheaf, Cameron Harvey, Anthony Harris, David Smyth, Glen Smith, Thomas Walsh, Chris Smith
Substitutes: Paul Johnson, Luke Collins, Luke Rennie, Liam Harvey, Daniel Willars, Tim Smith
Overall, the team selection was a god mix of new and established players, with second choice keeper Young given a run in goals, and a collection of the new younger players including new signing Sciola Moraes and the coach’s son Cameron Edwards.
The first half was a fine display of Perth Glory’s passing game, with many of the Glory players using this friendly to obviously try out a few new passing drills. There were a few chances on goal coming mainly from wing attacks (a Perth Glory favourite). New signing Sciola Moraes was showing some good signs as his South American flair with the ball mixed with his lightning quick speed was no match for his opponent. The second half had a spike in momentum, with Glory’s stamina showing grace against Kwinana, with McGarry and Smeltz putting away two hard-fought goals.
Embarrassing moments included the first half’s first chance at goal, a penalty given to Sciola Moraes for a bad slide tackle in the box, in which Shane Smeltz (now infamous for his missed finals penalty in the 2012/13 finals season) was to convert. Smeltz lined up for the shot and went straight for the bottom right corner, only to be saved by Kwinana keeper and man of the match, Chad Freund. Another included an awkward back pass late in the second half from the young Glory back line which almost resulted in an easy goal for Kwinana.
The ultimate awkward highlight had to go to the enthusiastic crowd members who decided to let off a flare after Glory’s second goal. The game was briefly stopped as the flare was put out. Watch the moment here:
– Dylan Urquhart
Follow me on Twitter @DylanUrquhart