Report by Navrin Secker

Balcatta collected their first win of the season at the sixth attempt with a 2-1 defeat of Subiaco at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday. 

First-half goals from Tom Pellizzari and Calum O’Connell put the home side in the driving seat. And although David Perich got one back for the visitors, Balcatta saw the game out.

"I'm very pleased with the boys to get off the mark and get our first win, it’s probably just reward for the work they have put in over the last few weeks,” Balcatta assistant coach Dimitri Phylactov said.

“The big focus has been taking our chances when they come and trying to keep a clean sheet and we achieved one of those today.

“It was taking our opportunities when they came that made the big difference.”

While Balcatta had cause to celebrate, Subiaco player-coach Ian McMurray ripped into his players.

“I’m embarrassed for how we went about our business today, we didn’t turn up and showed no heart or desire,” he said.

“They (the players) all need to go home tonight and have a look at themselves.”

Subiaco actually looked sharp early on. However after early yellow cards to Perich, Jackson Dongray and even McMurray on the sidelines, Balcatta worked their way into the match.

And the home side's dominance paid off when Dongray's header set up Pellizzari for the opener.

Balcatta striker Adriano Jelenovic almost doubled the lead but Subiaco goalkeeper Ryan Montgomery saved from the one on one.

Nic Challott was causing Subiaco problems on the right wing and he created Balcatta's second late in the half. Although an intial shot was blocked, O’Connell was on hand to finish and ensure his side went into the break two goals to the good.

The second half was a different story as the visitors came out firing.

Two early chances fell to Daniel Pearce, but the Subiaco forward couldn’t find the target with either.

But they got back in the game on 69 minutes. A free-kick was whipped in to McMurray, who had just brought himself on, and he headed the ball to Perich who calmly tapped the ball in from six yards out.

The introduction of McMurray resulted in the visitors playing long balls deep to try to get something from the game. But despite their best efforts, Subiaco were unable to avoid their second consecutive defeat.

Balcatta 2 (Pellizzari 26min, O’Connell 44)
Subiaco 1 (Perich 68)
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistant referees: Joshua Nixon and Andre Ferreira

Balcatta: 2. Joseph MARINO, 3. Hayden STEVENS, 4. Calum O’CONNELL, 5. Tom PELLIZZARI, 6. Kris GATE, 10. Jonathan CORNESS, 11. Alba RENEE (9. Dejan ANDRIC 75), 15. Adriano JELENOVIC, 17. Brody KENNEDY (20. Shubham MOKALA 46), 21. Kyle MCDONALD, 22. Nic CHALLOTT (23. Lawrence SHURAMA 79)
Substitutes not used: 1. Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 24. Daniel HEPWORTH
Yellow cards: Jelenovic 43
Red cards: Nil

Subiaco: 1. Ryan MONTGOMERY, 6. Jackson DONGRAY, 8. Daniel PEARCE (19. Ian MCMURRAY 63), 10. Asher NELSON, 11. Joshua BOOYSEN (5. Monas ABENDELWA 63), 12. Nathan SMITH, 13. Fanuel DAWIT (4. Jack ANDREWS 83, 14. Ross JARMAN, 16. Steve Purton, 17. Alex CASTIELLO, 18. Daniel PERICH 
Substitutes not used: 7. Jonas DORLING, 24. Teophile BROWN
Yellow cards: Perich 16, Dongray 21, McMurray 22
Red cards: Nil