By Bianca Niederberger

It felt like history repeating as Perth SC scored a 4-1 win over Floreat Athena – the identical result when the team’s last met in the National Premier Leagues WA.

This time at Dorrien Gardens, Perth called on senior players Mark Pritchard and Mark Doninger to guide their young side to victory.

Doninger scored twice and Ashley Rosindale and Aden Da Luz were also on target for Perth against a Floreat side, whose consolation came from Lewis McMahon.

Although not reflected in the final score, the match was played at a high intensity as Perth youngsters, including Matt Milenkovic and Marco Santalucia - both making only their second start - fought to find their feet, while Floreat were guilty of squandering an abundance of scoring opportunities.

Da Luz and Rosindale loomed large from an early stage, as they combined to make life difficult for Floreat. Rosindale had a clear chance when he was found by Da Luz but he was impeded by a desperate Bobby Wilson.

Perth drew first blood in the 18th minute when Rosindale received a pass from Milenkovic and accelerated away from his man before beating Floreat keeper Michael Woolcott.

When injury forced Rosindale to be replaced by Nick Ambrogio, Floreat seemed to sense an opportunity and momentum swung in their favour.

But McMahon, Jamie Eames, Ludo Boi and Aryn Williams were plagued by inaccuracy.

The lead was doubled when, after a battle for the ball between Da Luz and Floreat’s Andrew Scaldaferro, the ball spilled to Doninger, who scored from the edge of the box.

Floreat were desperate to claw one back before the break but a multitude of chances went begging. The situation did not improve for the visitors in the second half, who continued to be wasteful with their chances.

Perth made the task seem insurmountable when they came up with their third goal in the 64th minute.

Doninger featured again as he held the ball at the edge of the box before flicking it to Da Luz, who sent it past Woolcott.

Just ten minutes later, things went from bad to worse for Floreat when Perth converted from a corner with Pritchard delivering for Doninger to head home at the back post.

Floreat grabbed a consolation in the dying minutes as Eames produced a brilliant cross for McMahon to head in.

Perth coach Taki Nicolaidis said his long history with Floreat had not been a motivating factor.

“Of course I miss the club,” he said. “I was there since I was five years old but Perth is an excellent and supportive club as well.

“We came out of the blocks really well today with high intensity.”

Nicolaidis was pleased that the second youngest team he had started all season had produced a result.

“We’re getting the points and the wins and I’m really pleased that some of our younger players are getting a look in,” he said.

Perth SC 4 Floreat Athena 1
Saturday 14th June, 2014
Dorrien Gardens
Attendance: approx. 300
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: A. Fielding
Assistants referees: T.Mihevc, S. Muldoon

Perth SC: 1. Francis SOALE, 2. Josh WILKINS, 12. Marco SANTALUCIA, 13. Alex CASTIELLO, 20. James MAROCCHI, 19. Andreas THEODOSIADES (21. Jarrod BELFORD 71’), 14. Mark PRITCHARD, 5. Matt MILENKOVIC (9. Friday ZICO 76’), 15. Mark DONINGER, 8. Aden DA LUZ, 10. Ashley ROSINDALE (16. Nick AMBROGIO 29’)
Substitutes not used: 18. Thomas SOUTHGATE, 23. Dom SAVOLDELLI
Yellow cards: James MAROCCHI 26’, Mark PRITCHARD 57’
Red cards: Nil

Floreat Athena: 23. Michael WOOLCOTT, 6. Bobby WILSON (18. Kye DOUGLAS 81’), 33. Mark WALSH, 17. Callum FRANZ, 10. Arun WILLIAMS (16.Chris RIZIDIS 76’), 5. Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 14. Ludovic BOI, 3. Jack ALLEN, 2. Blair GOVAN, 20. Lewis MCMAHON, 9. Jamie EAMES
Substitutes not used: 4. Gary HILL, 11. Ryan PRETORIUS, 99. Truston AHRENS
Yellow cards: Bobby WILSON 10’, Arun WILLIAMS 69’, Callum FRANZ 80’
Red cards: Nil