Football West News

Rockingham put pressure on the Perth goal. Photo by Jonny Warrington

Perth SC’s fantastic unbeaten run came to a dramatic end on Saturday as the NPL WA leaders went down to a stoppage-time goal against Rockingham City.

The reigning champions had not lost a league match since Round 14 last year – 13 months and 26 games ago.

And it looked like they were going to escape from their trip to SafeRad Stadium with a draw on the back of Matt Milenkovic’s close-range header.

But a minute into stoppage time Rockingham skipper Lydon Hodgkiss was left completely unmarked and he nodded the winner from two yards out.  

“Just reward for the way we played … fantastic by the boys,” Rockingham coach Cameron Lord said.

“I think we fully deserved the three points and I think on another day we might have scored a few more goals.”

The result lifted Rockingham two places to eighth while the loss was not too damaging for Perth, who still have a nine-point advantage at the top with just eight matches remaining.

The swapping of places below Perth continued with Balcatta jumping to second place after a 2-1 win at Bayswater City.

Baysie led at half-time thanks to Gordon Smith’s strike and it would have been worse for Balcatta if keeper Lewis Italiano had not saved Daryl Nicol’s spot-kick.

But things turned around after the break when bothers Michael and Adam Zimarino came off the bench and both scored in the final 20 minutes.

Floreat remain third despite crashing 3-0 at Inglewood United, while Perth Glory’s 1-1 home draw with Armadale lifted them to fourth.

The bottom two clubs Stirling Lions and ECU Joondalup both won, setting up nicely their meeting at ECU this Saturday.