A fourth-minute strike from young midfielder and WAIS scholarship holder Jaymee Gibbons has sent Perth Glory fourth on the W-League table after a dominant 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets at 6PR Stadium.
Perth had the better of the play for the majority of the match and was unlucky not to score a few more goals after hitting the crossbar twice and having one effort cleared off the goal line.
The goal that mattered in the end came from Gibbons after great work down the right wing from WAIS-AIS athlete Sam Kerr.
Matildas striker Kerr put in a dangerous cross into the box which saw Newcastle goalkeeper Allison Lipsher palm away the ball into the path of Gibbons to finish with a strong left-foot effort inside the penalty area.
As both teams began to settle into the match after the early goal, it took some time before the Jets troubled Tine Cederkvist at the other end of the park.
Amber Neilson’s delightful free-kick somehow failed to find a teammate in the crowded box, allowing the Perth faithful to breathe a sigh of relief.
Kerr and AFC Women’s Player of the Year Kate Gill (WAIS-AIS) then began to link up well in the final third to give the Newcastle defence a few headaches.
Perth thought they had a penalty after dashing defender Alex Singer found her way inside the 18-yard box and appeared to be fouled, but referee Stacey Sasopoulos waived away the Glory’s appeals.
As the end of the first half approached, John Gibson’s side continued to press and when Gill’s masterful through-ball for Elisa D’Ovidio was latched onto by the midfielder, she should have done better after rushing her effort.
WAIS athlete Shannon May then let loose a 25-yard screamer after great work from Kerr down the left, but that ended proceedings at the interval.
Perth continued its dominance into the second half and Carys Hawkins’ dangerous ball intended for Gill was well cleared by the Newcastle defence.
The Glory then found the woodwork again after WAIS-AIS athlete Collette McCallum’s inch-perfect cross towards the back post was headed into the upright by leading scorer Gill.
May’s recent history of finding the crossbar continued when she smashed another shot into the frame, before D’Ovidio’s follow-up shot was well saved by a diving Lipsher.
Kerr had another great chance to double her side’s lead but she shot right at Lipsher after being sent through on goal from a fantastic through-ball from Gibbons.
The last real chance of the match came through another McCallum special as her set piece travelled inches wide of the right goal post.
Gibbons was understandably thrilled with her first W-League goal.
“It’s great to get on the score sheet, I don’t really score a lot of goals,” she said.
“The important thing is the result after dropping a point against Brisbane last week, so the girls played really well and it was a deserved win.
“We now head to Sydney and it’s going to be another tough match but we’ll be looking for another strong performance.
“(My confidence) is great at the moment, I’ve been playing a lot more than I have in the past and hopefully it continues in the future.”
Perth now takes on Sydney FC in Round 6 of the W-League on Saturday 11 December.
– Football West
