From Football West
Report by Peter Simcox

Perth Soccer Club has won the 2012 Football West State League Night Series Grand Final, after a 1-0 win in a fiercely fought Italian Derby against Bayswater City at BGC Stadium - Dorrien Gardens on Saturday evening.



The home side had to do it the hard way, after they had defender Shaun Kilkelly sent off just before half time, but a goal four minutes from time by winger Robert Sciascia gave Perth the win and their 20th Night Series crown.

Goal scorer Sciascia was happy with his sides battling performance. "It was hard out there tonight especially with 10 men, I was cramping up late in the game, but our experience in Finals showed through again which is pleasing," said Sciascia.

Both sides made changes to their Semi-Final line-up. Perth welcomed back Kilkelly from injury, he came in to replace Chris Saldaris. Bayswater City made two changes to the side that thrashed Bunbury last week, with Cesar Gonzalez and Thomas Gooding coming in to replace Nathan Diaz and Andy Reale, who both dropped to the bench.

With the main grandstand full at kick off it was Perth who started the brighter and on seven minutes Trent Kay's cross shot was tipped over the bar by Tom Dixon. Then two minutes later James Isaia's long-range shot was saved low by the Bayswater custodian.

The first opportunity for City came on 10 minutes, Cisco Jorquera was given far too much space on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was over the top. City went closer on 22 minutes, Gustavo Marulanda's 20-yard free kick crashed off the crossbar and away to safety.

Perth went close to the opener on 26 minutes. Josh Wilkins' cross from the left picked out Sciascia, and his goalbound shot deflected wide. From the resulting corner Kilkelly's header at the back post flicked off the crossbar

Referee Michal Jasinski was having his work cut out as the challenges flew in and he had to assert his authority by showing a number of yellow cards.

With half time approaching both sides had chances to break the deadlock. On 40 minutes Marulanda's free kick was saved low by Alex Dunn. Then two minutes before the break Perth skipper David Onoforo turned well in the penalty area, his shot beat Dixon, but the alert Ross Cosgrove cleared the ball off the line.

The game took a turn for the worse for Perth in first half stoppage time, when they were reduced to 10 men. An off the ball incident between Perth defender Kilkelly and City striker Marulanda ended with referee Jasinski having no hesitation in showing the Perth defender a red card.

Perth made a change at the break, with Matt Danskin coming on to replace the injured Craig Simpson. The ten men of Perth began the second half well and three minutes in Antonio Naglieri's free kick was blocked by City keeper Dixon, the rebound fell to Onoforo whose close-range shot was cleared off the line by John Kearney.

Bayswater, who were looking for their first silverware in the top flight in 25 years, went close two minutes later. A one-two between Marulanda and Gustavo Catarcione sent the Columbian striker in on goal, but his attempted lob drifted over the top.

Urged on by their supporters, City lifted and went close on 71 minutes. Patrick Quinn's through ball sent Catarcione down the right. He outpaced Kay but his shot from the edge of the penalty area flashed inches past the post.

Moments later Jorquera shot from 12-yards was straight at Dunn, while on 75 minutes Marulanda good run and shot was well saved by the Perth keeper.

It looked like we were heading for the dreaded penalty shoot-out, but Perth had other ideas and scored the all-important winner on 86 minutes. A superb through ball by Naglieri sent Sciascia clear down the left; he held off Kearney and fired home past Dixon from six-yards.

City then threw everything at Perth in the closing stages but couldn't break them down, and at the final whistle it was Perth celebrating another Night Series Final victory.

Perth Coach Gianfranco Circati was delighted with the fighting performance of his side. "It was a hard fought game tonight, especially when we lost Shaun (Kilkelly) just before half time, but everything worked out for us, the boys worked really hard," said Circati.

"Bayswater played a really good game, there were a lot of yellow cards in an entertaining final, and we're delighted to win in the end."

From Football West
Photo by Peter Simcox

Perth Soccer Club have made it a hat-trick of State League Grand Final wins after a thrashing Sorrento 7-0 in Sunday's All Flags Grand Final at Frank Drago Reserve.

Goals from David Onoforo and Andreas Oliveira gave Perth the lead at half time, but five more after the break, from Robbie Sciascia, Onoforo, Oliveira, Josh Wilkins and Adam Bachiller gave Gianfranco Circati's side the crown of Champions of WA football for 2011.

Skipper Onoforo was delighted with the victory. "I can't say enough about the players who played today and all that have given everything all season for our football club," said Onoforo.

"We were great today and to win the Grand Final for a third time is very special, and we're going to enjoy it tonight."

The Gull's came into the game in good form after beating Balcatta 3-0 last week, and went in unchanged from that side. Perth on the other hand made two changes to their starting line up with Oliveira returning from injury, while Robbie Sciascia replaced Josh Wilkins, who dropped to the bench.

It was Perth who was out of the blocks early and went close after only three minutes. Greg Sharland's pass picked out Onoforo, and his shot on the turn was deflected inches wide of the far post.

But on 12 minutes they did break the deadlock. Again it was Sharland who was the supplier, his quickly taken free kick caught Sorrento napping and Onoforo nipped in and fired low past Curtis Aspden from six-yards.

Sorrento looked to hit back immediately and two minutes later Shaun Timmins' cross from the left found Joe Allanson at the back post, but the striker's header flashed inches over the bar.

The Gulls continued to take the game to Perth and on 21 minutes Ryan Pearson's long ball over the top caught the Perth backline out and Todd Harnwell was in on goal, but keeper Jason Saldaris denied the Sorrento skipper with a smart save.

Then against the run of play Perth doubled their lead. Again it was Sharland who began the move, sending Trent Kay racing down the left. His cross into the penalty area found the unmarked Oliveira, who fired home from 8-yards.

It became heated on the pitch when a clash between Matt Danskin and Allanson saw a melee involving both sets of players, which referee Mathew Cheeseman soon sorted out and booked the Perth defender.

Both sides had late chances as the game opened up. First on 39 minutes Sorrento defender Pearson's cross-shot beat Saldaris but the ball crashed off the crossbar. The rebound fell to Timmins who crossed the ball back into the penalty area and Todd Harnwell saw his header go only inches over the top.

On the stroke of half time Josh Pereira sent Onoforo clear down the right. His cross found Oliviera whose first time shot was straight at Aspden who saved.

Sorrento opened the second half well and seven minutes in Danny Cain's free kick was headed back across goal by Jamie Harnwell, but Timmins' shot from 18-yards was blocked by Shaun Kilkelly and cleared.

Moments later they went even closer. Again it was Cain who made space down the left and crossed to Todd Harnwell, whose shot through a crowded penalty area was superbly saved by Saldaris.

That save was vital for Perth as three minutes later they made it 3-0. Sharland raced clear down the left, and his pinpoint cross found the unmarked Sciascia at the back post, and he fired home from 8-yards.

It became 4-0 two minutes later. Sharland again was found down the left and this time he picked out Oliveira at the back post, and he fired home.
Sorrento pushed men forward looking to get back into the game and they were caught out again on 70 minutes. Onoforo was sent clear down the left by Danskin, and his cross picked out the unmarked Wilkins, who had only been on the pitch for sixty seconds, and he fired home

Perth was dominating and went close again on 82 minutes. Oliviera sent Wilkins clear in on goal his shot was well saved by Aspden, the rebound falling to Onoforo, whose shot was cleared off the line by Jared Love.

It was 6-0 two minutes later. Onoforo picking out Adam Bachiller, and he finished clinically from the left of the penalty area.

Perth made it 7-0 in the 89th minute. Oliveira was sent clear by Dom de Felice and his shot was blocked by Aspden, but the rebound fell to Onoforo who fired home into an empty net, to round off a comprehensive victory for the Dorrien Gardens club. Perth midfielder Greg Sharland was awarded the ‘Gary Marocchi Medal' as best a field in the game.

Perth coach Gianfranco Circati was happy with the performance and to make it a hat-trick of Grand Final wins. "It was a big win. Any final I don't think should finish 7-0 and obviously everything went right for us and something went wrong for them. But this is the beauty of the final," said Circati.

"Obviously we were a little bit worried after the final of the Cup and we didn't want to lose this game, but I think we were ready for this. We had a little bit of luck but we played very well. I don't think it was the best Sorrento today but it was definitely the best Perth of the season."

The 2011 Fairest & Best Winners were announced infront of 500 people at Burswood Entertainment Complex Grand Ballroom on Friday 4th Novemember.
The Robert Giorgi Memorial Trophy and Youth Development Player awards were announced.

Congratulations to all recipients for their tremendous 2011 season!

Trophy Winners for Perth Soccer Club Season 2011 are as follows;

League Fairest & Best
Antonio Naglieri
Sponsored by WA Italian Club

League Runner Up Fairest & Best
Trent Kay
Sponsored by WA Italian Club
 

Under 23's Fairest & Best
Thomas Black
Sponsored by Bertoncini Engineering

Under 23's Runner Up Fairest & Best
Matthew Izzo
Sponsored by Bertoncini Engineering

Under 18's Fairest & Best
Tim Robertson
Sponsored by Pretone Graphics

Under 18's Runner Up Fairest & Best
Ioasa Saemo
Sponsored by Pretone Graphics

Robert Giorgi Memorial Trophy
This award is presented annually as a tribute to Robbie, both as a player and person. It is hoped that his faith, determination and courage will inspire all young players; as his best and happiest years were those he was shared with Azzurri.
Matthew Izzo
Sponsored by Giorgi Family

Youth Development Player
This award is bestowed each year to the Perth Soccer Club (Inc) most promising junior player of the year
Joshua Wilkins
Sponsored by Giorgi Group

Ian McMurray was outstanding for the champions, with his best afield performance earning him the inaugural Gary Marocchi Medal.

In some pre-match drama, 2009 Gold Medal winner David Micevski was declared a non-starter for the Knights after coming down with a severe case of the flu and he sat on the bench.