Striker Gordon Perkins’ fifth goal for the season was enough to give the Azzurri three more points and continue our unbeaten start to the NPLM season at RedStar Arena on Saturday.
Saddled between Perth RedStar’s central defensive pairing of Dennis Galan and Blair Govan, Perkins brought down a looping high ball from Ethan Banks before firing past RedStar keeper Liam Reddy in the 70th minute to record the only goal of the game.
It was not Perth SC’s best performance of the season, but it was an important victory which ensured the Azzurri kept pace with the top four.
RedStar had the better of the chances in the first half and should have gone ahead in the 10th minute when Sam Pollard played through Daryl Nicol, but his dink over the advancing Azzurri keeper Mark Birighitti went wide.
The home side also had a couple of other chances late in the half, with Theo Leeming firing wide and Birighitti saving comfortably from Nicol after he got on the end of a long ball from Reddy.
Nicol had another golden chance in the 56th minute, but his volley from six yards went over the bar.
RedStar would rue the missed opportunities when Perkins struck with 20 minutes remaining.
Birighitti then played his part three minutes after the Azzurri took the lead with a fine save from Pollard.
Galan was shown a second yellow for the home team in the 78th minute and Perth SC should have iced the game with the man advantage.
Sam Riak got on the end of a Banks free kick, but his free header inside the six-yard box flew over the bar. Will Formston also couldn’t convert from point blank range after some good work from Michael Scafetta on the left.
RedStar had one final chance in injury time, with keeper Reddy coming forward for a corner. He won a glancing header from the corner but it went wide of Birightti’s left post.
Perth SC’s win keeps the Azzurri in fourth place on the NPLM ladder with 14 points, behind Bayswater City (18 points), Perth Glory (16) and Olympic Kingsway (15).
Attention turns to the Australia Cup next weekend with a massive cup tie away to Olympic Kingsway.