Report by Jayden Lihou

Perth SC striker Gustavo Catarcione scored three times in his team’s first PS4 NPLWA league match of the 2016 season at Alfred Skeet Reserve on Saturday.

Catacione’s goals set up a 4-1 win over an Armadale side that had shown decent form in the recent QBE Night Series matches.

“I feel great at the moment,” Catarcione said. “This was my first ever hat-trick in Australia."

Despite the score, Perth SC coach Gareth Naven acknowledged the match had not been easy.

“It was really important that we stayed in the game at 1-1,” he said. “Armadale has a 10 minute spell when they were on top.

“We could have conceded a goal, but we hung in there and obviously Gus scoring three set us up nicely.”

Armadale had the best early opportunities but English striker Alex Salmon had two attempts saved in quick succession in the 14th minute.

The first was a header from a good ball into the box, which spurred a save from Perth keeper Francis Soale, who parried the ball back into Salmon’s path. But Soale again reacted quickly to save the follow up.

Perth threatened through Reece Vittiglia on 20 minutes but his volley went wide.

Just three minutes later, some good link up play between Armdale’s Trevor Laure and Salmon created an opportunity for the striker but his shot sailed just over the bar.

But the breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Catarcione slotted the ball past Armadale goalkeeper Alfie Brincat to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break.

Early in the second half, Armadale could have eliminated the deficit when Banin Hashem beat three Perth players on the wing but he fired over.

The home side got their reward in the 59th minute, though, when Salmon scored to level the match.

A long ball from Brincat found its way to Salmon, who made a mazy run inside the box and shot coolly into the bottom corner.

Perth SC regained the lead in 69th minute thanks to another goal from Catarcione, who fired home from inside the box.

Former Socceroos defender Adrian Madaschi made it 3-1 in the 78th minute when he headed an uncontested Vittiglia cross past Brincat.

The game was put beyond doubt in the closing stages of the match when Catarcione scored his third thanks to a good assist from Vittiglia that split the two central defenders.

Armadale manager Paul Price wasn’t disappointed with his team’s overall performance despite conceding four goals.

“Once we got the equaliser I thought we might go on to win it, but it wasn’t to be,” he said.

“After 70 minutes we were doing really well; I don’t think anyone could have said either side was better than the other.

“But in the last 20 minutes they stuck a couple in the back of the net with a couple of our mistakes and it made them look like a good team.

“Whether the fourth goal was off-side or not, I guess we’ll never know. Maybe they deserved to win, but it was never a 4-1 game.”

Armadale 1 (Salmon 59 mins)
Perth SC 4 (Catarcione 36 mins, 69, 89, Madaschi 78)
Ground: Alfred Skeet Reserve
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Referee: Matthew Southern  
Assistants:  Brendan Skinner, Wayne Mutakiwa.
Fourth official: Greg Birch

Armadale: 1. Alfie BRINCAT, 2. Alex CASTIELLO, 3. Jake SARDELIC, 4. Jesse FULLER, 5. Sam LOVELESS, 7. Banin HASHEM (6. Anthony SKORICH 87), 10. Alex SALMON, 11. Ellis HEALING, 15. Nathan SMITH (8. Caleb DIXON 46), 17. Trevor LAURE, 19. Darren FRANCIS
Substitutes not used: 9. Raveshian KUPPUSAMY, 16. Jordan CANDLISH, 20. Duncan Black
Yellow cards: Castiello 42’, Hashem 57’
Red cards: nil

Perth SC: 1. Francis SOALE, 3. Marco SANTALUCIA, 4. Adrian MADASCHI, 5. Dean EVANS, 8. Tom KING, 9. Gustavo CATACIONE, 12. Jordan DE LEO, 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA, 18. Oliver TATE (10. Nicholas AMBROGIO 64), 20. Matt MILENKOVIC (14. Dino TOPCAGIC 71).
Substitutes not used:  16. Thomas JEBB, 23. Daniel PASSARELLI, 24. Dom SALVODELLI
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil