Perth holds Army to scoreless stalemate

“We’re a little bit disappointed we haven’t got the three points as we had enough chances,” Brophy said.

“Certainly in the last 15 minutes or so it became pretty end-to-end with us trying to go and get the three points and (Perth) trying to get us on the counter attack.

“But it just shows how far we’ve come that we’re disappointed not to have beaten Perth.”

It wasn’t the best of starts by an Armadale side still smarting from last week’s disappointing home defeat by Sorrento as Perth looked to attack early and dominated possession.

On 11 minutes, teenage defender Nathan Costello came to the home side’s rescue as his last-gasp challenge prevented Perth striker Daniel Micevski from getting the game’s first real shot away.

The visitors were unable to create any clear opportunities for the remainder of the half as a well-drilled Armadale defence, marshalled by veteran skipper Andy Todd, comfortably dealt with any danger thrown at it.

In fact, things started to swing the way of the hosts from the midway point of the first half with impressive right-back Sam Loveless and winger Lance Louvie causing problems for Perth’s relatively inexperienced back four.

On the half-hour, Loveless’ cross-come-shot almost caught out opposing custodian Jason Saldaris who managed to back-pedal and tip the effort onto the crossbar before it was cleared to safety.

Just before the interval, Louvie combined with recent signing Dannie Richman to set up lively attacker Jack Salter who could only shoot wide at the far post when he really should have at least hit the target.

Perth came out with some more purpose after the break as Logan Crawford and Adam Luca both went close but neither was able to find the breakthrough goal.

With 18 minutes remaining, Armadale thought it had opened the scoring when Salter’s header crashed down off the cross bar from Mark Peers’ corner, only for assistant referee Stuart Muldoon to rule that the ball hadn’t completely crossed the goal line.

The home team continued to dominate the closing stages but some cagey attacking play was evidence that it was wary of Perth’s counter-attacking prowess.

And Mauro Marchione’s side almost made Armadale pay late on when Luca’s corner was met by the head of striker Liam Boland, but amongst a crowd of bodies centre-back Christopher Saldaris was unable to force the ball home after flying in at the back post.

Peers almost won it for Armadale with a curling effort from distance, sandwiched in between two long-range strikes from Micevski that both sailed over the bar and missed the target.

A point each sees Armadale continue its strong early-season form ahead of a trip to Inglewood United next Saturday, while Perth continues to struggle in mid-table and welcomes Sorrento to Dorrien Gardens needing a win to kick-start its campaign.

Armadale 0
Perth SC 0
Date: Saturday, 6 April 2013
Ground: Alfred Skeet Reserve, Forrestdale
Match time: 3:00pm
Referee: Trent Flesken
Assistant referees: Stuart Muldoon and Josh Nixon

Armadale: 1. Cyril SHARROCK (gk), 2. Dannie RICHMAN (18. Billy QUINNCROFT 84’), 4. Andy TODD (c), 6. Nathan COSTELLO, 7. Rav KUPPUSAMY (9. Darren FRANCIS 77’), 10. Rhys LOXLEY, 13. Sam LOVELESS, 14. Mitch CASTRILLI, 15. Lance LOUVIE (11. Mark PEERS 60’), 16. Ian MAGUIRE, 17. Jack SALTER

Substitutes not used: RGK. Thomas ALLAN (rgk), 3. Jackson BEALEY
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Perth: 23. Jason SALDARIS (gk/c), 2. Logan CRAWFORD (15. Matthew IZZO 82’), 3. Luka NJEGICH, 5. Christopher SALDARIS, 6. Clark KELTIE, 7. Liam BOLAND, 9. Daniel MICEVSKI, 12. Josh WILKINS (16. David SESAY 64’), 14. George TCHAMI, 19. Nathan DE ABREU (8. James MAROCCHI 70’), 20. Adam LUCA

Substitutes not used: 13. Stefano VALENTINI, 21. Friday ZICO
Yellow cards: Liam BOLAND 35’, Logan CRAWFORD 62’, Christopher SALDARIS 70’
Red cards: Nil