Armadale Soccer Club fans got a special treat on Tuesday evening when Perth Glory made the trek to Alfred Skeet Reserve in their first official pre-season friendly.
Around 1000 eager spectators got the chance to see Perth’s new-look team in action against Armadale’s finest. And several local juniors got the opportunity to escort their sporting heroes onto the pitch.
With a new owner, new head coach, and brand-new line-up, the match marked the beginning of a new era for Perth Glory, which finished bottom of the ladder last season.
Two weeks ago, the team unveiled former Socceroos striker David Zdrilic as their new A-League Men head coach.
The friendly against Armadale was his first test in the new role.
For Armadale, which has had a remarkable NPL season and has a real chance at making the play-offs, this was a chance to push themselves.
And the home side started strong, controlling the ball for the first 15 minutes.
But Glory quickly found their feet. And it was the visitors who got the first points on the board, with goals from Joel Risdon and Jarrod Carluccio.
In the second half, Glory extended their lead to 3-0, with a goal from David Williams, before Armadale made a come-back courtesy of a close-range header from crowd favourite and homegrown hero, striker Pieter Jacobsz.
The fans – some of the most loyal you’ll find – exploded into chants.
As the hour ticked over, newcomer Hiroki Aoyama found his feet, marking his Glory debut.
Armadale’s new recruit Josh Willis – fresh from the UK – returned fire shortly after.
It was a tight contest until full-time, with neither team managing to find any breakthroughs. The final score was 4:2.
Coach David Zdrilic commended the Armadale side for a tougher-than-anticipated match.
“The energy and intensity was a lot higher than I expected,” he said.
“It was a very tough game – exactly the game that we needed.”
Tributes have been flowing for the organisers on what was a magical evening for all in attendance.
The dedicated bunch of volunteers will now direct their energy to the club’s next big event – the ever-popular Armadale Cup which will kick off from August 31.
And with over 100 young hopefuls attending the club’s FUNdamentals sessions each weekend, the black and red look to be cementing their success well into the future.
Photographs – Richard Polden
