Report by Tommy Doleman

Photo by FotoEnzo

Perth SC's NPL WA title push suffered a major setback on Saturday after Jonathan Corness struck in the last minute of stoppage time to rescue a deserved point for Balcatta at Grindleford Reserve.

The Azzurri looked to have grabbed a vital win in their pursuit of leaders Perth Glory when Gustavo Catarcione's screamer a minute into injury time put them 2-1 ahead.

But Corness struck at the death to leave Perth three points behind Glory, who play their Round 22 match on Sunday against lowly Stirling Lions.

Defeats for Cockburn and Bayswater ensured Perth SC's hold on second spot remained tight but for head coach Ramon Falzon that was of little consolation.

"Leading 2-1 with only a few minutes to go, defending one corner should not have been a massive issue to the point we give two points away in the last minute of the game," he said.

"Balcatta played well, especially in the second half. They definitely deserved the point overall, but dropping the two points hurt when we had them and especially with Cockburn and Bayswater losing, it hurts.

"We could have also been closer to Glory, so now we have to wait and see on their result because there is only four rounds left."

Balcatta coach Goran Stajic agreed his team deserved to get a result from the game, as they continued a run of only one loss in five games to haul themselves away from the foot of table

"I don’t think there was an out-and-out winner there - it was probably a fair result," he said.

"If you want to look at it from a points point of view, like boxing, then we might have won it. But it was a fantastic game and a really good game to coach in.

"We are extremely pleased with that. For the whole year really we have bounced back, the young players have been getting a lot of experience and it was good to see them come back from the dead today.

"That result today is like a win for us to be honest, the performance was great and we are looking forward to next week now to try and earn some more points."

Perth were on a fine run of their own with six wins in their last seven games and that streak looked set to continue when Catarcione was felled and Josh Mannella pointed to the penalty spot.

Harley Orr confidently stepped up to score and send the visitors on their way as they maintained reasonable control of the game for the rest of the half.

But Balcatta improved after half-time. Nicholas Challot replaced Alex Wild at the break and the hosts started to get some joy down the left-hand side.

Perth continued to look dangerous at the other end as Paul Zimarino tested Kyle McDonald after picking a defender's pocket, before a last-ditch Rocco Pizzata tackle thwarted Challot in the area.

Gradually, Balcatta started to gain some momentum and they were rewarded on 83 minutes when Lawrence Shuruma whipped in a free-kick and Tom Pellizzari rose highest to head in.

Challot's toe-poke toward goal touched off Pizzata into the side netting before Perth broke and they looked to have won the game when top marksman Catarcione struck in the 91st minute.

The Brazilian forward picked up the ball wide on the right, ran laterally across the edge of the area, before brilliantly striking into the roof of the net with just minutes remaining.

But there would be late drama as Perth failed to clear another Shuruma set-piece and the loose ball was swept home by Corness to earn Balcatta a share of the points.

Balcatta 2 (Pellizzari 83min, Corness 90+3)
Perth SC 2 (Orr pen 15, Catarcione 90+1)
Saturday, July 28
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assitant referees: Thomas Robinson, Alexander Best

Balcatta: GK. Kyle MCDONALD, 3. Hayden STEVENS, 4. Calum O'CONNELL, 5. Tom PELLIZZARI, 6. Kris GATE (8. Carmelo GIUFFRE 31), 7. Asher NELSON (21 Renee ALBA 70), 9. Alex WILD (11. Nicholas CHALLOT 46) , 10. Jonathan CORNESS, 14. Lawrence SHURUMA, 18. Robert DEL BORRELLO, 20. Shubham MOKALA
Substitutes not used: RGK. Dom SAVOLDELLI, 24. Tom LOGAN
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Perth SC: GK. Francis SOALE, 2. Alex SILLA, 6. Harley ORR, 8. Tom KING, 9. Gustavo CATARCIONE, 11. Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12. Jordan DE LEO, 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 14. Kristian SANTICH, 17. Frank FURFARO (5. Niccolo SABBATINI 65) 20. Paul ZIMARINO
Substitutes not used: RGK. Malek KUC, 7. Aleks JOVIC, 10. Nicholas AMBROGIO, 16. Kieran COLWELL
Yellow cards: Pizzata 82, Zimarino 90+3
Red cards: Nil