Report by Peter Simcox

Perth Soccer Club kick started their National Premier Leagues WA season with a 4-1 win against Floreat Athena at the E&D Litis Stadium last night.

Perth went ahead through Friday Zico’s early contender for goal of the season before skipper Craig Simpson doubled their lead on 20 minutes. Ashley Rosindale added a third before the break and although Jack Allen pulled one back early in the second half, Mark Doninger scored the fourth to wrap up the points.

Simpson was outstanding on the night at the heart of the Perth back four and was delighted with his side’s performance.

“We haven’t played well for 90 minutes in the pre-season but I thought we did tonight,” said Simpson, who has returned to Perth after a season with Inglewood United. “We took our chances, which we failed to do last week against Perth Glory, and I thought we deserved the points tonight.”

The defender was pleased to be back at Perth after a change of management at the club.

“I didn’t want to leave the (Perth) club but it was unusual circumstances,” he said. “I’m happy to be back and honoured to be named captain for the season. We have picked some good signings this season and we will only get better the more we play together.”

It was a sombre start to the game when a moment’s silence was observed prior to kick-off in acknowledgement of the sad passing of Mr Evangelos Litis, who helped fund the redevelopment of Athena’s home ground in 1998.

On the pitch, Perth started quickly and they were ahead after only five minutes. Clark Keltie sent Robbie Sciascia racing down the right, his cross picked out Zico at the back post and the young striker volleyed home superbly.

It was 2-0 on 20 minutes when Doninger’s corner picked out Simpson, who headed home from close-range.

Floreat could not take a trick and when David Heagney fell under a challenge from Simpson in the 28th minute referee David Bruce waved away the Floreat players’ appeals.

Then to rub salt in the wounds, 60 seconds later Perth added a third. Former Floreat midfielder Mark Pritchard’s free-kick was finished at the back post by Rosindale.

Floreat were struggling to break a sold Perth defence.  Jamie Eames saw his header saved by Alex Dunn before the break and Heagney’s curling shot was saved by the Perth custodian.

The home side began the second half well and Ludovic Boi headed wide two minutes in before Floreat sensed a lifeline on 56 minutes. Boi and Heagney combined to send Allen in on goal and he fired low past Dunn.

But their hopes of a comeback were quashed eight minutes later when Perth added a fourth. Pritchard sent substitute Aden da Luz racing down the left, he crossed from the by-line and found Doninger. The former Newcastle United midfielder fired home from 8m.

Floreat were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes to play when, after coach Chris Barbas had used all his substitutes, Boi limped off with an injury.

Perth almost added a fifth late when de Luz’s shot crashed off a post, while Perth keeper Dunn produced a stunning save to deny Heagney and Victor Fenehia.

Perth coach Taki Nicolaidis was delighted with the performance against his former club. “It was important to pick up three points today after only drawing last week against the Glory,” he said.

“Our plan was to set the tone early in the game, which we did, and three early goals made it easier for us in the end.”

Floreat Athena 1 (Allen 56’)
Perth Soccer Club 4 (Zico 5’, Simpson 20’, Rosindale 29’, Doninger 64’)
Sunday, March 16, 2014
E&D Litis Stadium, Mt Hawthorn
Attendance: 300
Referee: David Bruce
Assistants: Colin Duncan and Aamour Timour

Floreat Athena: GK Yousri GHARSALLAH, 3 Jack ALLEN, 5 Jamie EAMES, 6 Aryn WILLIAMS, 8 Thomas GOODING (15 Victor FENEHIA 56’), 9 David HEAGNEY(16 Mwansa MUSONDA 78’), 10 Ashley CORKER, 12 Cameron YORKE, 14 Ludovic BOI, 17 Callum FRANSZ, 33 Mark WALSH (2 Blair GOVAN 46’)
Subs not used: RGK Tom DIXON, 13 Sam BARBAS
Yellow cards: Corker 12’, Fransz 17’, Fenehia 66’

Perth SC: GK Alex DUNN, 2 Josh WILKINS, 4 Craig SIMPSON (c), 6 Clark KELTIE, 9 Friday ZICO (8 Aden DA LUZ 46’), 10 Ashley ROSINDALE, 11 Robbie SCIASCIA (19 Andreas THEODOSIADES 70’), 12 Tim ROBERTSON (21 Jarrod BELFORD 63’), 14 Mark PRITCHARD, 15 Mark DONINGER, 20 James MAROCCHI
Subs not used: RGK Dom SAVOLDELLI, 7 Liam BOLAND
Yellow cards: Zico 30’, Keltie 36’