Report by Colin Outhwaite

Perth SC held 10-man Bayswater City to a 1-1 draw in the NPL Rivalry Round at Frank Drago Reserve in a game that gave credit to the fixture.

Mark Doninger converted a penalty in the 35th minute for the visitors only for Steve Burton to level the scores five minutes later.

Pictured: Bayswater's Steve Burton holds off Josh Wilkins. Photo: Vince Caratozzolo

Chris Saldaris’ red card for a nasty studs-up challenge in the 55th minute did not give the Azzurri the advantage they needed to beat the league leaders.

Perth coach Taki Nicolaidis said his team battled well and played some great football.

“Bayswater had their spells and controlled the game at times with a man down but in terms of opportunities and chances I thought we were on top,” he said.

“We tried a slightly different system and game style and I thought it worked well.”

Perth pressed high and it paid off when Doninger, who according to Nicolaidis gave his best performance of the season, forced a defensive error that led to him being brought down by Saldaris in the box.

Bayswater did not waste any time after the restart and it was Perth’s turn to falter, gifting Burton the ball to smash into the roof of the net.

Despite the two goals, the first half did not live up to the big fixture’s expectations but the second did not disappoint with end-to-end action.

Doninger deserved a second for his effort as he muscled off two defenders only to shoot into Spence’s arms.

He then lashed at a long ball which keeper Devon Spence misjudged and ran straight past, leaving skipper Trent Kay to clear the danger.

Bayswater substitute Gustavo Giron Marulanda immediately caused problems for Perth playing a brilliant cross-field ball, which Burton fired wide across goal in the 65th minute.

Two minutes later Brian Farrell spotted Francis Soale off his line and lofted a shot towards goal which, thankfully for the Perth keeper, landed on the top of the net.

Bayswater coach Chris Coyne was disappointed with some of the refereeing decisions, including a handball in the Perth box, which could have changed the outcome.

“I’m not complaining about the sending off or the penalty, just the inconsistency of decision making that ruined what was set to be a classic,” he said.

“Between the two teams I thought it was a really good, honest game of football.”

With on-form Balcatta breathing down their neck there will be no room for error next week against ECU.

“I’ve got a team of winners - they don’t like losing,” Coyne said. “Once we start getting the basics right in terms of playing it simple, there’ll be a goals going in and someone will cop it.”

Bayswater City 1 (BURTON 40')
Perth SC 1 (DONINGER 35’)
Saturday 21 June, 2014

Frank Drago Reserve
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Steven Gregory
Assistant referees: Ammar Timmour, Sorousha Moursha
Crowd: 300 (approx)

BAYSWATER CITY: 1. Devon SPENCE,  5. Andy REALE, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 8. Paul McCARTHY (2. Declan HARGREAVES 82’), 12. Steve BURTON, 13. Trent KAY, 15. Brian FARRELL (3. Adam BACHILLER 91’),  16. Jamie COYNE, 20. Sam MITCHINSON, 21. David HEAGNEY (9. Gustavo GIRON MARULANDA 45’), 23. Chris SALDARIS
Substitutes not used: 22. Joel DRISCOLL, 14. Harry BISSETT
Yellow cards: BURTON 79’, MITCHINSON 86’
Red cards: SALDARIS 56’

PERTH SC: 1. Francis SOALE, 2. Josh WILKINS, 5. Laurence GAUGHAN, 6. Clark KELTIE, 8. Aden DA LUZ (17. Matt MILENKOVIC 73’), 13. Alex CASTIELLO, 14. Mark PRITCHARD, 15. Mark DONINGER,16. Nick AMBROGIO (19. Andreas THEODOSIADES 24’), 18. Jason BARRERA (9. Friday ZICO 83’), 20. James MAROCCHI
Substitutes not used: 23. Dom SAVOLDELLI (rgk),   12. Marco SANTALUCIA  
Yellow cards: MAROCCHI 36’, PRITCHARD 60’
Red cards: nil