Goals: None

ECU Joondalup have held Perth SC to a scoreless draw during Round 13 of the Football West State Premier League to dent the Dorrien Gardens side’s chances of catching League leaders Floreat Athena. Despite the lack of goals, there were plenty of chances on offer for both sides who produced an entertaining battle in front of a healthy crowd.

The first chance of the match fell to Andreas Oliviera on six minutes with the striker chesting a Barry Wood low centre towards goal from five yards forcing Aleks Vrteski into the first of a string of fine saves. Oliviera was again in the action six minutes later after a quick Perth counterattack caught out the ECU defence but the striker’s effort from right side of the area went wide of the upright.

Only minutes later and Oliviera had his hat-trick of chances after a long clearance from Gianfranco Circati bounced on the edge of the area, with Oliviera capitalizing on a slip from the ECU defender to turn and lob the bouncing ball over Vrteski but only inches wide of the upright.

The chance spurred ECU into action as they began to fight their way into the contest and Perth keeper Gareth Deeg was forced into a fingertip save from Craig Young after a neat layback from Matt Donlevy. Donlevy fired another wide of the upright five minutes later after robbing Michael Ord at the back whilst at the other end Oliviera headed straight at the keeper after a Scott Bulloch centre picked out the unmarked striker six yards out.

ECU were regularly switching play to stretch the Perth midfield with midfielder Marc Anthony proving in irresistible form with his delightful passing being a standout. ECU striker Ian McMurray in his first run out in four weeks headed over the bar after neat work from Tommy Amphlett and put another wide minutes later after the same combination eluded the Perth defence. It was more of the same from both sides after half-time, with Oliviera forcing another fingertip save from Vrteski after Scott Blackmore lost possession while at the other end an inviting Mark Lee centre just eluded the advancing Amphlett.

The first yellow cards came out of the referees pocket on 54 minutes after a clash between Blackmore and Faria started a minor melee. A good buildup saw Perth create another chance minutes later after Faria played to Wood whose cross found the unmarked Bulloch but his shot from a tight angle was parried away by Vrteski. On 61 minutes a superb Anthony ball spread play to the left were Amphlett was loitering with intent, the youngster skipping inside Icanovski and sending a rasping curler towards goal with Deeg finger tipping the ball over the cross bar. From the resulting corner Ian McMurray headed against the cross bar as the Perth nerves were jangling.

On 80 minutes it was Perth’s turn to hit the woodwork, Todd Howarth hitting the cross bar after some sublime build up play from Puca and Naglieri before Wood teed up the chance. Wood had one final chance to seal the points for his side after a delightful touch and turn inside the box but he stabbed his effort wide of the goal under pressure from the ECU defence.

Perth Coach Graham Normanton saw his side slip further behind Floreat in the race for the League title. “Of course we can catch them - if they lose. We play them but we’ve got to forget about Floreat, we’ve got to win games and we haven’t won too many recently. We’ve just got to worry about our own front yard and sort that out,” said Normanton.

On the performance, Normanton saw his side draw a blank despite creating some good chances throughout the 90 minutes. “I thought we had enough chances to win it, they didn’t have many very good chances, we hit the bar with one and I thought we had the better of the opportunities but at the end of the day we didn’t take them,” he said.

ECU Joondalup Coach Willie McNally was the happier of the two coaches after seeing his side record their second draw against Perth in a month. “I thought it was a really good game today, they created a few, we created a few and after last week we were disappointed so to come out and play like that was quite good,” said the ECU Coach.

Marc Anthony was in sensational form for ECU in a best on ground performance with the terrier only missing a goal or assist from his record to cap a wonderful display, and McNally was happy to talk him up. “I’ve been involved with WA soccer for 25 years and the guy is the best import I have seen,” said McNally.

Aleks Vrteski was also in inspirational form and the former State keeper was glowing in his praise. “I’ve worked with Aleks for the last five of six years and I rate Aleks as one of the best young goal keepers in Australia and again I just cannot believe he’s not getting his chance in the A-League” he said.

Football West Match Reporter Ben Fitzpatrick

Goals: 0:1 Dean Apelgren (56.); 1:1 Kevin Henderson (68.); 1:2 Mladen Kovacevic (82.)

Inglewood United’s mid-season revival continued when they defeated Stirling Lions 2-1 at Macedonia Park. Steve Porter and Phil Arnold featured prominently as Stirling dominated the opening minutes and prodded for a way through their opponents’ rearguard. However, Inglewood almost snatched the lead on 14 minutes when Greg Sharland chipped over goalkeeper Phil Straker only to have Darko Ilomanoski prevent the ball from crossing the line. Stirling responded with a string of chances that opened with a long-range strike by Michael Pugliese which whistled narrowly over the crossbar. Teenager Dean Evans was linking to great effect with Porter and Dannie Richman who showed some classy touched in the middle of the park. In the 28th minute Porter sent a free-kick deep into the 18-yard box where it was met by Kevin Henderson who headed the wrong side of the post. Ludovic Boi beating three opponents down the flank but was unable to get through a well-organised defence, then Arnold chanced his luck from distance to no avail. The deadlock was finally broken on 55 minutes when Dean Apelgren drove in a fierce cross that dipped and swung over the defence and a mix-up between Ilomanoski and Straker saw the ball go between the teammates and into the net. Stirling levelled ten minutes later when Porter sent another free-kick to the back post where Henderson stuck out a boot to force the ball past Oliver Taseski. Play was then end to end as both teams went in search of further goals. Evans was unlucky not to put Stirling ahead with a fine shot on the run that sailed over the bar. With ten minutes to go Mladen Kovacevic stuck out a boot to deflect a long-range effort by Baczynski past Straker and put Inglewood in the box seats. The home side threw everything into scoring late but could find few holes in a defence composed of Shane Pryce, Daniel Kovacevic and Danny Stoitis.

Goals: 1:0 Darren Kingston (20.); 2:0 Jason Goodwin (38.); 3:0 Darren Kingston (40.); 3:1 Glenn Thomas (45.)

Armadale today came away with their second victory of the season with a 3-1 win over Sorrento at Alfred Skeet Oval today.

Two goals from Darren Kingston and another from Jason Goodwin before half time was too much for Sorrento, whose consolation came from Glen Thomas just before the break.

Sorrento started the better side in the first half, with Lewis Flatt and Jared Love looking dangerous on the ball. At the other end of the park, Kingston and Goodwin were causing problems for the Sorrento defense.

It took 21 minutes for Armadale to take the lead, with Kingston finishing off a terrific cross from Ben Howe with a precision header into the corner of the Sorrento net. The goal seemed to give Billy Russell’s side an extra leg, with the passing game and the run going up a notch. On the half hour mark, Sorrento’s best chance so far, from Todd Harnwell, was well saved from Cyril Sharrock.

The second came after 37 minutes, more good work down the left hand side seeing Ryan Pearson deliver Goodwin with an easy header inside the box.

Football West Match Reporter Raymond Bohan

Goals: 1:0 Michael Draper (16.); 1:1 Boima Karpeh (30.); 1:2 Garin Collins (76.)

Floreat Athena have cemented their standing on top of the state league ladder after a tough 2-1 victory over a tenacious Fremantle Spirit outfit at the Spanish Club on Saturday afternoon.

The ladder leaders, who are now four points clear of second placed Cockburn, started slowly and trailed in the early going after a brilliant solo run and goal by Michael Draper in the 16th minute.

The Spirit controlled proceedings in the first-half as coach Marc Wingell tactically disrupted the normally well-oiled Floreat machine. The Spirit put a number of players back in an attempt to clog up Floreat’s attack and limit the space for star striker Gerry Karpeh. The leading goal scorer in the league was struggling to get into the game and was continually frustrated by the Spirit’s defensive pressure.

An upset appeared a distinct possibility as the Spirit’s pace was proving difficult to counter and they were extremely dangerous on the counter attack. Draper, Jason Barrera and Callum Roberts continually broke the lines with their extraordinary foot speed and time and again put the Floreat defence under enormous pressure.

Unfortunately for the young Spirit, they could not inflict the killer blow and like a good side Floreat made them pay. In the 30th minute Floreat got the equaliser they sorely needed when Karpeh finally found some space and with exquisite skill dribbled past two defenders and expertly rifled the ball past the Spirit’s keeper and into the back of the net.

The goal was badly needed for the temperamental star, who up to that point was shut down by a rotation of defenders which included Oliver Gilford, Alex Christie and Mark Darby.

The Spirit all season have been known for their determination and grit and were far from being phased with Floreat’s equaliser. Roberts was absolutely carving up the Floreat defenders and was close to regaining the lead for the Spirit in the 40th minute when he ran past the defence and only had to beat Vas Vujacic but was denied by a spectacular save by the Floreat goalie.

The Spirit had a moral victory in the first-half but Floreat lifted in the second and dictated proceedings. The key aspect to Floreat’s game is their ability to counter-attack, with pacy midfielders Bajo Savic and Josip Magdic the catalysts, and with the duo starting to have an impact, the visitors started to dominate.

In the 55th minute Floreat appeared headed for the lead but Karpeh sprayed an open shot in front of goal. The Spirit were in survival mode and rarely attacked but were doing enough to secure an invaluable point.

The game lifted in intensity and escalated in the 70th minute when a fight broke out which saw James Isiah and Roberts red-carded. The sending off of Roberts was a big blow for the Spirit as his run and dash was sorely missed.

The winner for Floreat came in the 76th minute when an Adam Bachiller shot deflected off the bar only to be scissor-kicked past the Spirit’s goalie to give the visitors the lead.

Now trailing, the Spirit broke away from their game plan and attacked. They had chances, notably a near miss by Barrera, but eventually the whistle sounded to the relief of the Floreat players and officials.

Floreat coach Michael Roki was happy to come away with the win but paid tribute to the gutsy Spirit who have pushed the top sides to the limit.

“It was a tough battle- much like the first encounter with Fremantle. They’re a good, tough side to come up against and yeah even just the one goal (win) is an important one for us. Really happy about that one today,” he said.

Goals: 0:1 Aaron Dos Santos (27.)

Cockburn City moved to outright second after edging past Wanneroo City 1-0 in a scrappy encounter at Kingsway Sporting Complex. Both teams had lengthy absentee lists with Cockburn missing Michael Mirco, Johnny Mirco, Jason Dos Santos, Dean Wallace, Anthony Pereira and Peter Kuzet. Teenage goalkeeper Lee Mackie made his senior State League debut for a home side without Rowdy Yates, Craig Bowman, Aaron Olow, Jack Watts and Ahmed Hafez. Cockburn made a positive start with Giovanni De Bartolo and Josh Kamasz lively in the final third, however, genuine chances were scarce thanks to a resilient defence marshalled by Peter Vukmirovic and teenager Chris Pugh. The visitors' persistence was rewarded in the 28th minute when Paul Natale slipped the ball down the left to Aaron Dos Santos who cut inside two opponents and hit a speculative shot from 20-metres which incredibly snuck inside the far post. To their credit Wanneroo's youngsters remained focused and set about taking the game up to their more fancied opponent. With a little more luck the home team could have gone into the break on level terms as attempts on goal from Ben Yates and Craig Cheeseman going close. Wanneroo stepped up a gear for the second half with Yates, Cheesman and Vukmirovic leading the search for an equaliser. Cheesman crashed the ball into the crossbar, while a goal line clearance prevented Carl Harrison from bringing the teams level. Wanneroo continued to press with Cheesman again going close but no matter what they tried there was just no way for the home team. For their part Cockburn were limited to only scattered counterattacks, none of which really tested Mackie or his defence. The sound of the final whistle was a welcome relief for Cockburn on a day when Wanneroo deserved at least a share of the spoils.

Goals: 1:0 John Thornley (5.); 2:0 Stuart Montgomery (9.); 3:0 John Thornley (28.); 4:0 Stuart Montgomery (32.); 5:0 Stuart Montgomery (Penalty, 70.)

A four goal first half blitz from Western Knights started the demolition of Swan IC before eventually running out 5-0 winners in a one-sided round 13 Football West Premier League clash at Nash Field.

The Knights were on fire early with Stuart Montgomery and John Thornley causing the Swans defence problems and on five minutes Thornley opened the scoring; He capitalized on a defensive mistake from Robert Monterosso before calming rounding Cory Hugo and slotting home.

It was 2-0 four minutes later, Montgomery beating the offside trap before finishing clinically past Hugo. The Swans were struggling to get in to the game and the Knights should have made it 3-0 on the quarter-hour, Anthony Skorich’s cross found Thornley who blazed over from close-range. But the Knights constant pressure was rewarded on 27 minutes with the third, after a darting run from Andrija Jukic is pass was flicked on by Montgomery and Thornley fired home low past a stranded Hugo.

The Knights domination continued and it was 4-0 on 33 minutes with a great team goal, Jukic found Thornley who sent Skorich out wide on the right, his through ball caught the Swans defence flat footed and Montgomery again finished low past Hugo.

The Swans first shot on goal came on 38 minutes John Monterosso’s long-range shot was saved low by Beau Geerlings. It had been a busy day for the young Knights shot stopper, because of injuries he had started in all three games on the day, and his side went into the break leading 4-0.

The Swans opened brightly in the second half, Anthony McStea’s corner was headed inches over by Damien Scali, and moments later John Monterosso’s shot was blocked on the line by the Knights and Scali’s follow up shot went wide.

But on 70 minutes Jukic was sent clear into the penalty area by a Scott Bushby pass and he was brought down by Brendan Knox and referee Steve Muldoon pointed to the spot. Montgomery stepped up to score to complete his hat trick and make it 5-0.

Both sides had chances late, Jukic great run and shot was superbly saved by Hugo and Montgomery fired the follow up in to the side netting. For the Swans Dejan Djukanovic’s good run and pass set up Scali for a shot which Geerlings saved well to his right, and the keeper tipped over a late Justin Hugo free kick. The Knights running out deserved winners 5-0.

Football West Match Reporter Peter Simcox