A brace by Perth winger Greg Sharland and a cool finish by Liam Boland proved too much for a spirited Armadale, who battled to give their traveling supporters some hope, but were unable to find the back of the net.

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Report by George Tsadilas

“Armadale have proved to be tough opponents for us in the past and we needed to be on our game to get the result today” said Perth coach Gianfranco Circati after the match. “With a big squad and players coming back into form I feel we are in a strong position to take on Inglewood next week”.

Sharland opened the scoring in the second minute when the visitors failed to clear a Josh Pereira cross. Sharland pounced on the loose ball to drill home past Cyril Sharrock for an early Perth lead. Liam Boland was keeping busy up front and from a quick throw darted toward the byline. Feigning a pass inside, he had Sharrock committed on the deck and paused before lifting the ball over the keeper and into the roof of the net to double the home side’s advantage on 21 minutes.

At the other end, Dale Wingell was at the focal point for most of Armadale’s forward thrusts. Receiving a ball in the Perth penalty area, and being tracked by two Perth defenders, he cleverly back heeled for an advancing Rhys Loxley who had the goal at his mercy. In an effort to reach maximum power, he blasted his effort into the next suburb.

Armadale continued to search for a way back into the game and soon after the restart Wingell latched on to a half volley opportunity and taking the slightest of deflections, just flashed wide of left upright, with the keeper Alex Dunn unmoved. The resulting corner by Loxley saw the ball bounce only inches in front of goal and zip across the face with defenders and strikers alike unable to get a crucial touch.

Perth maintained their composure and were still finding avenues to goal through substitutes David Onoforo and Daniel Niederberger, however it was a foul on Boland by Mark McClements that produced the per-curser to Perth’s third on 79 minutes. From a few metres outside the penalty area, Sharland wrapped his foot around the dead ball and swung his effort into the bottom corner of the net with Sharrock left stranded.

Wingell was again in the thick of the action when he set up Chris Holland in front of goal, but the substitute only managed to find the waiting arms of an outstretched Dunn. Holland was again presented an opportunity when Mitch Castrilli whipped a low cross into the six-yard box, however his lunging effort couldn’t get enough purchase on the ball to deflect toward goal. In the dying stages, Onoforo put the ball on a plate for Boland only metres out. Sharrock got down well and smothered the close range effort to deny Boland his second and Perth their fourth.

Perth 3 (Greg SHARLAND 2’, 79’ Liam BOLAND 21’)

Armadale 0

Saturday 8 September, 2012

BGC Stadium, Perth

Kick-Off: 3pm

Referee: Hugo BEST

Assistant Referees: David CURRIE, Phil TRAIANEDES

Perth SC: 1. Alex DUNN, 2. Trent KAY, 3. Adam BACHILLER, 4. Craig SIMPSON, 5. Daniel COLETTA, 10. Andres OLIVEIRA (9. David ONOFORO 69’) 14. Josh PEREIRA (8. Dom DE FELICE 69’) 15. Antonio NAGLIERI, 16. Liam BOLAND, 18. Sebit OYET (12. Daniel NIEDERBERGER 43’) 23. Greg SHARLAND

Substitutes not used: 6. Shaun KILKELLY, 20. Luke MARTINO (gk)

Yellow Cards: None

Red Cards: None

Armadale: 1. Cyril SHARROCK, 3. Mark McCLEMENTS (19. Wilf DINSDALE 70’) 5. Nick VIAGGIO, 6. Nathan COSTELLO, 7. Ravi KUPPASAMY (16. Chris HOLLAND 64’) 8. Dale WINGELL, 9. Darren FRANCIS, 10. Alan DARLINGTON, 12. Rhys LOXLEY (2. Brandon CATCHPOLE 75’) 13. Sam LOVELESS, 14. Mitch CASTRILLI

Substitutes not used: 18. Sean NICHOLLS, 20. Jack ADAMS (gk)

Yellow Cards: Mitch CASTRILLI 16’, 5. Nick VIAGGIO 24’, 3. Mark McCLEMENTS 30’

Red Cards: None