Perth SC defeated Floreat Athena 2-1 last night at Alfred Skeet Reserve in Armadale but it wan’t enough to progress to the NPLM Night Series semi finals.
Needing a win over our local rivals and a draw in the Sorrento-Western Knights game, being played at the same time at Percy Doyle Reserve, the Azzurri did their bit but an 83rd minute winner for Sorrento made sure they progressed at our expense.
The evening did not start well for the Azzurri, with Athena going ahead in the 10th minute when striker Owen Goodliffe read Zayd Farah’s attempted header back to Mark Birighitti and lobbed the keeper to find the back of the net.
Birighitti was excellent for Perth SC early, making two crucial saves to keep the Azzurri in the game.
The Azzurri worked our way back into the match and in the 24th minute scored a brilliant team goal which started at right back and ended with Gordon Perkins getting on the end of a cross from the left-hand side.
Ethan Banks put us in front on the half-hour mark and that’s how the score remained for the rest of the game.
Former Azzurri player Hasen Asadi hit the post for Athena just before half-time, but Perth SC controlled most of the second half, with Banks having the best chance to seal the game late in the match from close range but he couldn’t get a clean strike on the ball.
Perth SC finished third in Group B on eight points, one point behind Sorrento and Stirling Macedonia who both qualified for the semi finals.
The Azzurri will now play Armadale SC on Friday night at Dorrien Gardens in a friendly. Kick-off is 7pm and entry is free.