From Football West
Report by Peter Simcox

A goal three minutes from time by Perth SC defender Craig Simpson has given the home side a hard fought 4-3 win against Division One's Dianella White Eagles in the Group F Night Series game at BGC Stadium on Saturday evening.

Dianella striker Andrew Kiir scored twice in the first half to give them a 2-1 lead at the break, with Josh Pereira scoring for the home side. David Onoforo netted twice for Perth in the second half, and it looked like they would go on and win comfortably, but Spiro Nenadic levelled, before Simpson popped up to win late on.

It was an even opening to the game, but on 22 minutes Dianella stunned their host when they hit the front. Perth defender Shaun Kilkelly lost possession, and Kiir picked the ball up on the edge of the penalty area and unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew past keeper Luke Martino.

Perth hit back four minutes later, with another stunning strike. This time Pereira long-range strike beat Mathew Battigelli, and it was game on.

But sixty seconds later Dianella were back in front. Andreas Theodosiades found space down the left, his cross to the back post found Kiir, who fired home from eight-yards.

Both sides had chances before the break in an entertaining encounter. First on 32 minutes Rob Sciascia's cross from the left was headed against the bar by Andreas Oliveira, and the striker's follow up shot was saved by Battigelli.

Then four minutes before the break Kiir had a golden chance for his hat-trick. The big striker, who is heading to the UK for trials later in the month, was sent clear and he rounded Martino but delayed his shot and the chance was gone.

In first half stoppage-time Battigelli saved superbly from another Pereira long-range shot to give his side the lead at the break.

Perth coach Gianfranco Circati rang the changes at the break bringing on Dom de Felice and Josh Wilkins to replace Kilkelly and Matt Danskin, and they began brightly. Sciascia was given far too much time and space on the right on 52 minutes, his cross picked out Onoforo who headed inches over the top.

Moments later Sciascia fed De Felice down the right channel, and his cross deflected off Bojan Radinovic and crashed off the post and behind.

Dianella hit back and Martino had to be alert to deny second half substitute Dhamon Kalamaris on 68 minutes, but two later Perth levelled. New midfielder James Isaia's free kick picked out Onoforo in the penalty area. The striker superbly chested the ball down to his advantage and fired home past Battigelli.

Then eight minutes later Perth hit the front. Sciascia's corner from the left was dropped under pressure by Battigelli, Onoforo's first shot hit the post but the striker made no mistake with the second firing low past a Dianella defender on the line.

It looked like Perth would go on and comfortably win the game, but Dianella had other ideas and Jamie Goodman's side were level again two minutes later. Nenadic wasn't picked up at the back post and his snap shot beat Martino, much to the delight of the Dianella faithful.

It looked like the points would be shared but with three minutes remaining Perth won it. Sciascia's corner again from the left wasn't dealt with by the Dianella defence and Simpson fired home from close-range to win the game for his side and continue its perfect start to the Night Series.

Simpson was happy to get the win. "We made it hard for ourselves in the end; we made two stupid mistakes and were punished, so we have to improve," said Simpson.

"We made a few changes at the break and I thought we played well second half and it's nice to score, and even better when it's the winner late in the game."