By Tommy Doleman

Floreat Athena defeat Perth SC to close the gap at the top of the NPL WA to five points. Photo by FotoEnzo

Floreat Athena kept their title hopes alive with a 2-1 win over leaders Perth SC in an exciting and at times fiery City of Vincent derby.

All three goals were scored in the first half as Floreat won a fourth consecutive NPL WA match to cut the margin on leaders Perth to five points with four games to play.

Perth, meanwhile, suffered only a second league defeat of 2019. But they will be without top scorer Michael Domfeh next week against Balcatta after he and Floreat's Chris Saldaris both saw late red cards.

There were chances at both ends early on as Domfeh broke through Floreat's defence but couldn't get the power on his left-footed shot, before Dejan Aleksic saved from Dean Evans' free kick.

The next 20 minutes were cagey, up until Athena broke through to take the lead when another set piece from Evans was partially cleared and Boi lashed in for 1-0.

Perth are leaders for a reason, though, and they responded eight minutes before the break when David Bruce pointed to the penalty spot and Tom Southgate stepped up to score a first league goal of the season.

Parity was restored but only for four minutes. Ryan Malton's long throw was flicked onto the bar by Phil Arnold and the ball droped to Saldaris, who tapped in from close range.

Arnold had a chance to score Floreat's third midway through the second period, but Southgate got across brilliantly to block.

Then came the inevitable Perth surge as they tried desperately to maintain their eight-point lead at the summit of the league.

Athena keeper Jason Saldaris provided two vital interventions to deny Domfeh. First he pulled off a fine reaction save, before smothering at the feet of Perth's leading marksman when through on goal.

Late drama unfolded five minutes into stoppage time when Domfeh and Saldaris were sent off after a melee between the sides, and Perth couldn't create a further chance as Floreat held on to win.

Star player: Jason Saldaris (Floreat Athena)

NPL WA Round 18
Floreat Athena 1 (Boi 25min, C Saldaris 42)
Perth SC 1 (Southgate pen 38)

Saturday, 3 August, 2019
E&D Litis Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: David Bruce
Assistant referees: Niall Gillmor, Alexander Best

Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 4. Adrian MADASCHI, 6. Jesse FULLER, 9. Robert PETKOV (32. Robert HARDING 88), 10. Nick AMBROGIO (24. Sam THORNLEY 90+1), 11. Dennis GALAN, 14. Ludovic BOI, 15. Chris SALDARIS, 16. Ryan MALTON, 17. Dean EVANS, 18. Phil ARNOLD (29. Jack PAINTER-ANDREWS 80)
Substitutes not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 5. Tom JEBB
Yellow cards: Evans 85
Red cards: C Saldaris 90+5

Perth SC: GK Dejan ALEKSIC, 2. Alex SILLA, 3. Andreas THEODOSIADES (11. Matt MILENKOVIC 76) 4. Tom SOUTHGATE, 5. Niccolo SABATINI, 7. Aleks JOVIC, 9. Gustavo CATARCIONE, 12. Jordan DE LEO, 18. Michael DOMFEH, 19. Bojan RADINOVIC, 20. Paul ZIMARINO (14. Kristian SANTICH 69)
Substitutes not used: RGK Francis SOALE, 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 16. Kieran COLWELL.
Yellow cards: Southgate 30, Silla 41, Sabatini 53, Radinovic 70
Red cards: Domfeh 90+5