Report by Jayden Lihou

A brace from Zelfy Nazary proved to be the difference as Balcatta beat traditional rivals Perth SC 4-3 at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday.

The win ensured Balcatta claimed the Grand View Homes Cup and climb into seventh place on the ladder, while Perth slipped to third.

Balcatta coach Marc Anthony was very pleased with the result against what he deemed to be a tough outfit.

“To beat Perth at home is a big result for us, in all fairness they are the best team we’ve played this year,” he said.

“Fair play to our lads; we had a game plan and we stuck to that plan and we looked very dangerous at times and it’s very pleasing to score goals.

“We’re very happy to get the three points and this result will give us more confidence for the rest of the year.”

Perth was the first team off the mark when Matthew Milenkovic headed home a beautifully whipped corner from Dean Evans in the 14th minute.

Balcatta levelled the scored 13 minutes later when Nazary scored off a post after his teammate Gomo Dukully had his shot parried by Perth keeper Francis Soale.

Connor Kavanagh ensured that Balcatta went into half time with the lead when he scored outside the box from a smart cutback in the 44th minute.

After the break, Perth coach Gareth Naven decided to bring on forward Gustavo Catarcione for Thomas Jebb.

The substitution paid dividends a mere five minutes later when Catarcione found space inside the box and scored in the 49th minute making it 2-2.

Balcatta were given the chance to take the lead yet again when Dukully was fouled inside the box.

A touch from Soale was not enough to prevent Nazary from claiming his second goal as Balcatta took the lead again.

Dukully put his side two up after he found himself one-on-one with Soale and scored coolly in the 64th minute.

Catarcione scored his second when he chested a far-post cross from teammate Jordan De Leo and tapped the ball into the net in the 69th minute.

This goal would ensure a nervous end to the game for Balcatta but Perth failed to find the equaliser after dominating the final period of the game.

Naven said that he was disappointed in his side’s performance which resulted in their first loss of the season but insists his defence was not entirely to blame.

“Our playing group has to realise that it’s 100 percent or nothing, we were 60-70 percent at times and our reaction in regards to reading the play needs to improve,” he said.

“We can’t blame everything on our defence because everything started from their back third to our middle third.

“I’m sure we could have stopped all those goals in various positions on the field but I think as a group we can’t be conceding four goals in a game.”

Balcatta 4 (Nazary 27min, 55, Kavanagh 44, Dukully 64)
Perth SC 3 (Milenkovic 14min, Catarcione 49, 69)
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: David Bruce
Assistants: Eamon Mcdonnell, Darren Quinlan
 
Balcatta: GK. Clint DAVIES, 3. Kieron STALLARD, 4. Alexsander SULESKI (2. Hanafi GHAZALI 51’), 5. Connor KAVANAGH, 6. John CORNESS, 10. Zelfy NAZARY, 11. Feisal ZAW, 15. Gomo DUKULLY (14. Parvis SHIRZADI 76’), 18. Anthony BAFABUSHA, 17. Keiron COLWELL, 19. Alan CARROLL
Subs not used: 9. Hassan EL YASSIRI, 12. Eamon MCNEILS, 21. Damien STANOEVSKI
Yellow Cards: Stallard 62’
Red Cards: nil

Perth SC: GK. Francis SOALE, 3. Marco SANTALUCIA, 4. Adrian MADASCHI, 5. Dean EVANS, 10. Nike AMBROGIO, 8. Tom KING, 12. Jordan DE LEO, 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 16. Thomas JEBB (9. Gustavo CATARCIONE 46’), 17. Recce VITTIGLIA (14. Dino TOPCAGIC 75’), 20. Matthew MILENKOVIC (7. Francesci FURFARO 70’)
Sub not used: 6. Clark KELTIE, 24. Daniel PASSARELLI
Yellow cards: Ambrogio 59’, Pizzata 64’, Madaschi 95’
Red Cards: nil