Sun 21st Jan 2007

Perth coach Ron Smith will immediately turn his attention to bolstering Glory’s squad for next season after the final whistle blew on the club’s disappointing season.

The Glory stepped onto the pitch for the last time in the 2006/07 Hyundai A-League season and were immediately put under the pump by a resurgent New Zealand side determined to end their year with a win in front of home fans at North Harbour Stadium.

Two first half goals securing the points for the Knights as Perth struggled to find their groove, especially in the opening stanza. While the second half was a more even affair the damage had been done and the Glory was left to lament another lacklustre effort away from home.

Perth have won just one of 11 games on the road this season (also drawn one game) which will sure to be high on the list of priorities for Smith to address during the off-season.

Again skipper Jamie Harnwell worked tirelessly up front but a lack of opportunities curtailed his influence while at the other end of the park Perth’s defence was being worked overtime as the pace of the home side created several good scoring opportunities.

However it was New Zealand’s tenacity in midfield that was of most concern for the Glory as they struggled to retain control of the ball and set-up any meaningful attacking moves.

New Zealand’s goals coming within eight minutes of each other, the first to Neil Emblen with 32 minutes gone and a short time later Malik Buari doubled the Knights lead with an opportunist strike during a goal mouth scramble.

Perth were unable to create any real scoring opportunities in the opening half, the best of their chances coming after youngster David Micevski working his way into the New Zealand penalty area but his low ball into the box was turned wide by Josip Magdic.

The intensity lifted following the main break, three yellow cards dished out in just eight minutes after the restart with the home side receiving two, Perth the other.

Looking for a spark the Glory turned to their New Zealand international Leo Bertos and as he has done all season was able to provide team mates with chances to score. A delightful cross from the winger finding Jamie Harnwell in the box, the big man getting good purchase on his header but unable to direct the shot on target and could only watch as it rolled wide of the upright.

The frustration of a fruitless evening evident on the faces of the Glory players as they left the pitch while Smith is sure to make some tough decisions in the coming weeks as his directs his attention to preparing for the club’s 2007/08 campaign.

New Zealand Knights 2 (Neil Emblen 32’, Malik Buari 40’)
Perth Glory 0
Sunday 21 January 2007
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland

Beau Crompton & Mark White, perthglory.com.au