An 80th minute strike from Mitch Nichols rescued a point for the Wanderers, who saw their 7 game winning streak broken but remain 3 points clear of Melbourne City in 1st place.
Andrew Redmayne gifted Perth a penalty just a minute into the game. Diego Castro ran onto a ball in the bottom corner of the 18 yard box, Redmayne inexplicably raced out to meet the ball, missed it completed, collecting the winger who went flying towards the advertising hoardings. Having won the penalty Castro stepped up to take it, firing it past Redmayne despite diving the right way.
Another set piece saw the Wanderers draw level in the 20th minute. A training ground move saw a short corner taken to Mitch Nichols on the byline, he played the ball back up the park to Scott Jamieson. The fullback fired a cross into Brendon Santalab, who had pulled out to the edge of the 6 yard box, stretched to get a foot to the ball and turned it past former Wanderer Ante Covic.
The second half was much like the first, with the Wanderers having the bulk of possession and Perth sitting with 11 men behind the ball. The home side took the lead once again through a 30 yard dead ball strike from Mitchell Oxborrow on the hour mark. After earning a foul, the youngster took aim from an audaciously long way out, his rocket of a shot curled around the wall, Redmayne managed to get a hand on the ball but couldn't keep it out. Between that and the penalty, with Liam Reddy having been signed to the Wanderers, it might be that Redmayne's Christmas gift is getting dropped.
With 10 minutes to play Mitch Nichols scored yet again, as Perth left their former player completely unmarked inside the box and was punished for it. Castelen's quick stepping inside the box saw him lay off to Nichols and under no pressure at all, he curled a side footed shot into the top corner giving Ante Covic no chance at all.
Had Perth been capable and/or willing to play with an attacking mindset this result could easily have gone the way of the Glory. Instead, their stubborn refusal to do anything in defence except stack all 11 men behind the ball, and their inability to do anything but launch it long at the first opportunity saw them throw away a golden chance to take points off the league leaders.
For the Wanderers, it was a game to forget, and at times, the bench, coaches and the players on the field looked disinterested and will be happy enough with a point that keeps them 3 clear of the chasing pack. Coming back home to play Newcastle on Christmas Eve, a much better performance will be expected.
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