From Football West
Report by Andrew Ellis

Perth SC issued a statement of intent with a dominant 6-0 win over an out of sorts Western Knights at BGC Stadium on Friday night.

For Perth, a Night Series semi-final matchup with giant-killers Ashfield looms. For Knights, some serious soul searching will be required or they could be in for a long season.

Perth got off to the perfect start. In the sixth minute Rob SciaScia exploited the space behind Ethan Levitt and whipped in a dangerous cross. Onoforo's effort deflected in off the unfortunate Stuart Ferguson.

It went from bad to worse for the Knights just two minutes later when Antonio Naglieri sent a delightful free kick over the wall and into the bottom left corner.

The Knights looked to have given themselves a lifeline in the 18th minute when Johny Mirco volleyed home Ivan Skorich's teasing cross. Unfortunately for the visitors he was flagged offside. Their woes would deepen a minute later when Ivan Zuvela had to be substituted after receiving a blow to the head following a tangle with Josh Wilkins.

Onoforo hit the bar for Perth while Knights were again unlucky not to pull one back when Stuart Montgomery's corner was cleared off the line.

They would be made to rue that missed opportunity when SciaScia, who was giving the Knights defense a torrid time, slipped Onoforo on the edge of the box. The Perth captain had time to measure his shot and send it past the despairing Frazer Siddall.

In the closing stages of the first half SciaScia showed great persistence to win the ball back in midfield. From the ensuing counter-attack SciaScia whipped the ball to the back post to the waiting Onoforo. Four nil.

Knights came out in the second half determined to reduce the deficit, but couldn't find any kind of rhythm.

Instead it was Perth that added to their lead in the 52nd, with Andreas Oliveira twisting and turning on the edge of the box before curling a right-footed effort past substitute keeper Nathan Cipriano.

In the 59th minute Knights thought they'd reduced the deficit when Callum Roberts burst through and slipped the ball past Luke Martino. He was given offside. It looked a tight decision.

In the 72nd minute SciaScia was replaced by ex-Balcatta man Daniel Niederberger. Any relief the Knights, and Levitt in particular, felt at seeing the back of SciaScia was short lived. Five minutes after coming on as a substitute Niederberger made it six, blasting home from an acute angle when most would've been expecting a cut back.

Both Niederberger and Onoforo had great chances to add to the Knights' misery. Perhaps it was mercy. Perhaps it was just wayward finishing. Either way, Perth fully deserved their six goal win and gave Ashfield a lot to think about ahead of their meeting at 6PR Stadium next week.