Report by Aisling Lawless

Photo: Heather Miller

Reece Vittiglia’s 90^th minute goal helped Perth regain their winning form in the PS4 National Premier League WA with a 2-1 win against ECU Joondalup on Saturday.

After Mark Prichard’s first half header, Tommy Amphlett equalised in the 82^nd minute, before Vittiglia sealed the win for the visitors.

It was the former Sorrento players first full game back from injury and he said that whilst he was relieved to get all three points there was still a lot they could work on.

“We can keep possession a bit better and while I think we created a lot of chances we just need to be more clinical in front of goal,” he said.

 “We only came out with a 1-0 lead and we knew they were going to come at us, so it was always going to be a difficult second half.”

Vittiglia said there has been a massive buzz around the club after their progression into the round of 32 in the Westfield FFA Cup.

“Obviously we want to carry that momentum forward into the league now,” he said.

Jamie Serra made a spectacular save to deny Pritchard in the games first real chance, as his point blank reaction save drew admiration from the crowd on 15 minutes.

But eight minutes later the home side found themselves a goal behind after Pritchard made sure his next attempt found the back of the net.

ECU had a fantastic chance to draw level on 56 minutes when Andy Higgins’ shot forced Francis Soale to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Serra kept the home side in the match denying Pritchard another header in the 70^th minute and showed his reflexes in knocking Marco Santalucia’s shot high over the crossbar.

Amphlett then brought the scores level, converting an excellent pass from new signing Phil O’Callaghan.

It looked like Amphlett’s goal might have given ECU a much-needed point, but Vittiglia netted a late winner to save the game for Perth.

While their first half performance was lacking, ECU coach Dale McCulloch thought they played extremely well in the latter half of the game.

“The last three or four games have been very similar to this – we’ve put in the effort and we’ve deserved something out of it, but it’s just not happened in the end,” he said.

“No one is a quitter here, so we’ve just got to keep going, keep working hard and things will change eventually.

“We want to be a lot better than we were in the first half of the year. We’ve had a little bit of an up and down season with players out but we can regroup now with the squad we’ve got and look forward to the second half.”

ECU Joondalup 1  (Amphlett 82’)
Perth SC  2 (Pritchard 23’, Vittiglia 90’)

Saturday 27 June 2015

ECU Joondalup Football Stadium

Local kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Matt Southern
Assistant Referees:  Mathew Cheeseman, Tome Dowle

ECU Joondalup: 1. Jamie SERRA (gk), 2. Ryan LOWRY, 3. Jon HIGGINS (C), 5. Harry BISSETT (11. Phil O’CALLAGHAN 56’), 6. Ryan MCDARBY, 8. Joe SMITH, 10. Andy HIIGINS, 12. Josh TUCKER, 13. Tommy AMPHLETT, 14. Ollie ANNIS (9. Stuart MONTGOMERY 57’), 15. Cian HIRRELL
Substitutes not used:, 16. Coire MCGUIGAN, 17. Joel PROUT, 20. Scott WALLIS.
Yellow cards: Smith 52’, McDarby 71’
Red Cards: Nil

Perth SC: 1. Francis SOALE, 2. Josh WILKINS, 3. David CYRUS, 4. James MAROCCHI, 5. Dean EVANS, 12. Marco SANTALUCIA, 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 14. Mark PRITCHARD (C), 16. Nicholas AMBROGIO (9. Harley ORR 62’), 17. Reece VITIGGLIA, 18. Josh PEREIRA (7. Carlo COELHO 83’)
Substitutes not used:  24. Alex DUNN, 21. Matt MILENKOVIC,
Yellow Cards: Cyrus 17’
Red Cards: Nil