Report by Peter Simcox

Perth SC kicked off Round Three in style as they produced an outstanding second-half display to thrash Armadale 5-1 at Alfred Skeet Reserve on Friday night.

Perth had to come from behind to do it after Chris Jackson had given the home side an early lead.

But Niccolo Sabatini restored parity before Gustavo Catarcione ensured the visitors led at the break with a goal in first-half stoppage time.

The second half saw Perth take complete control and Catarcione, Paul Zimarino and Nicholas Ambrogio completed the scoring to make it back-to-back NPL WA wins for Ramon Falzon’s side.

The coach was delighted both to collect the three points and with the second-half performance of his side.

Falzon said: “The first half they came out firing, especially after taking four points from their first two games. We expected that but we didn’t deal with it the best.

“But despite being second best we scored late to go in with the lead and the second half performance of the boys was excellent.

“We’re still creating good chances and despite the scoreline we still missed a few easy chances, which is something we will have to work on.”

Perth youngster Kristian Santich, a constant threat in the middle of the park, said it was important they kept their good form going.

“A good win tonight, we struggled in the first half but we played well after half-time and thoroughly deserved the points,” he said.

“The goal just before half-time was crucial, you could see the boys were pumped at the break and we went on with it.”

It was a tight opening to the game with both sides going close early.

First Sabatini pulled the ball back to Santich on the edge of the box, but his shot was well saved by Armadale keeper Sam Hutchings.

Moments later Michael Rizidis found space on the right for Armadale. His cross picked out Jackson but his header flashed wide of the target.

Then on 20 minutes the home side hit the front. Rizidis ran at the Perth defence and played in Jackson, whose first-time shot took a deflection off Adrian Madaschi and wrong-footed Francis Soale to open the scoring.

Armadale were playing well and almost added a second four minutes later but Michael Lawson’s free-kick was saved by Soale.

Perth needed a spark and it was Sabatini and Catarcione who provided it. Sabatini put Catarcione in on goal but his lob over keeper Hutchings dropped agonisingly over the top.

But eight minutes later the visitors were level. A long clearance sent Niccolo racing clear, he held off his marker and finished past Hutchings via a deflection.

Perth ended the half well and deservedly hit the front two minutes into stoppage time. Richard Howles escaped down the right to whip in a cross from the byline and Catarcione got in front of his marker to finish clinically past Hutchings.

Perth continued to dictate terms after the break and it was no surprise when they added a third. Great work on the left by Sabatini ended with a cross to the back post and Zimarino made no mistake.

Armadale were almost handed a lifeline on the hour when a cross-shot by Lawson was misjudged by Soale but luckily for the Perth keeper he pushed it onto the post and away for a corner.

But it didn’t take long for Perth to put the game to bed. Catarcione’s initial shot was saved by Hutchings before the Brazilian striker buried the rebound.

The icing was put on the cake six minutes from time when substitute Ambrogio finished in style to complete a superb second-half showing.

Armadale 1 (Jackson 20 min)
Perth SC 5 (Sabatini 38, Catarcione 45+2, 66, Zimarino 56, Ambrogio 84)
Friday, March 9, 2018
Alfred Skeet Reserve
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Julian Serra
Assistants: Stuart Muldoon, Walter Ciotti

Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 3 Dylan DA SILVA, 4 Nathan COSTELLO (C), 5 David ANNALL, 7 Charlie KENNA, 8 Michael LAWSON, 10 Chris JACKSON, 11 Michael RIZIDIS, 15 Ali GHOLAMI (14 Jonathan BOGONI 81), 17 James ATKINS (13 Alex BOND 46), 18 Charlie SIMPSON (6 Kevin CASTLE 75)
Substitutes not used: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK
Yellow cards: Simpson 69
Red cards: Nil

Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE, 4 Adrian MADASCHI, 5 Niccolo SABATINI, 7 Aleks JOVIC (6 Harley ORR 23), 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 13 Rocco PIZZATA, 14 Kristian SANTICH, 16 Kieran COLWELL, 18 Richard HOWLES (17 Frank FURFARO 79), 20 Paul ZIMARINO (10 Nicholas AMBROGIO 75)
Substitutes not used: RGK Daniel PASSARELLI, 2 Alex SILLA
Yellow cards: Madaschi 37, Orr 39
Red cards: Nil