DODD SCORES ON DEBUT

Prized recruit Travis Dodd has scored a stunning goal on his debut for Perth Glory this afternoon at Hay Park in Bunbury.

Dodd capped off a classy performance with his 54^th minute strike as Perth Glory defeated Football West First division side Bunbury Force 3-1 in a pre season practice match.

“We got what we wanted out of the game and that was obviously fitness in our first hit-out,” Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson said.

“I was happy with Bunbury, they gave us a very hard game which was good, so I was delighted with that.”

Adam Taggart and Tommy Amphlett also found the back of the net but it was Dodd’s second half bomb that thrilled the crowd of 1500.

With the game locked at 1-all, the former Socceroo unleashed a sweet shot, on his left foot from 25 yards that flew past the Force ‘keeper.

Dodd was also instrumental in the first half with his raids down the right side setting up numerous chances for Perth Glory.

Playing up front in the absence of Shane Smeltz, Taggart opened the scoring on 43 minutes when he neatly tucked away Dodd’s precise cross from close range.

Two minutes later, Taggart was unlucky not to have a second goal when he again got himself onto the end of a Dodd cross, only to see his header crash onto the cross bar.

In total, Ferguson made 8 changes in the second half, as the Glory coach got a glimpse of the future with a handful of teenagers from the National Training Centre getting a chance to impress.

Tommy Amphlett capped of the win for Perth in the 90^th minute when he coolly finished a through ball.

Adam Hughes also impressed on debut in the centre of midfield alongside Jacob Burns while new goal keeper Danny Vukovic was barely tested.

Perth Glory 3                (TAGGART 43’, DODD 54’ AMPHLETT 90’)

Bunbury Force 1          (Fontanille 48’)

Perth Glory line up: 1.Danny Vukovic (James Oakey 82’), 2.Josh Mitchell (Sam Mitchinson 72’), 7.Jacob Burns (c) (Reece Vittiglia 63’), 8.Adam Hughes (Brandon O’Neil 63’), 13 Travis Dodd (Amphlett 58’), 14.Steven McGarry, 17.Todd Howarth (Hanafi Ghazali 72’), 18.Josh Risdon, 21.Mile Sterjovski (Blamo Quaqua 63’), 22.Adam Taggart (Scott Neville 58’), 24.Charlie Comyn-platt.