Perth SC put in one of their best performances of the NPLM season to go toe-to-toe with league leaders Bayswater City at Dorrien Gardens on Friday night despite a frustrating 1-0 loss.
Former Azzurri striker Cam Teece settled the matter for the visitors in the 34th minute when he fired in from close range after a cut back on the right from Sean McManus.
The home side would rue a number of missed opportunities in the first 20 minutes after a brilliant start to the contest in front of another bumper Friday night crowd at Dorrien Gardens.
The Azzurri also felt hard done by when Bayswater captain Luke Palmateer appeared to have impeded make-shift Perth SC striker Daniel Faichney in the box early in the second half when he was on his way to goal.
Experienced referee Josh Mannella and his assistant referee seemed to be the only two people at Dorrien Gardens who didn’t think it was a penalty.
To rub salt into Azzurri wounds, Mannella red carded Perth SC defender Sam Riak after the final whistle for dissent.
Perth SC dominated the opening passages, with Faichney – playing up front for the injured Gordon Perkins – shooting wide from around the penalty spot in the third minute after some nice interplay between Josh Cala, Ethan Banks and Jamie McNelis.
Riak found the back of the net in the 13th minute after heading home Luca Hirninger’s initial header from Banks’ cross, but it was chalked off for offside. Faichney then hit the post a few minutes later with his snapshot from Banks’ cross from the left.
Bayswater weathered the early storm and always looked dangerous going forward. Pat Loughrey’s shot in the 20th minute went straight into the arms of Perth SC keeper Mark Birighitti and his attempt five minutes later went wide when he should have hit the target from close range.
Teece struck 10 minutes later with the winner, despite the remonstrations from the Azzurri defence that he was offside when the initial ball was put into the box.
The Azzurri had several chances to equalise in the second half, the best being Faichney’s strike in injury time which was pushed wide of the post by Bayswater keeper Lewis Italiano.
McNelis also had a fantastic opportunity earlier when he was put through on goal, but his shot was straight at Italiano.
It was Perth SC’s second consecutive loss in the league after going the first seven games unbeaten and are still likely to remain in fourth spot on the table after the round of fixtures are completed.
The Azzurri travel to last year’s champions Olympic Kingsway next Saturday afternoon.