Goals: 0:1 Anthony Skorich (79.); 1:1 Michael Ord (90.)

A last-gasp Michael Ord header has earnt Perth a 1-1 draw with traditional rivals Western Knights at Dorrien Gardens this afternoon. Perth started the brighter of the two sides in a first half where they were only slightly more dominant in possession. After only three minutes, Todd Howarth showed sublime skill only for his right foot strike from distance to be well saved by Kevin Miller in the Knights’ goal. Just two minutes later and Perth had another chance with Matt Danskin’s lob saved by Miller just inside the penalty area, the follow-up from Andreas Oliveira was far too powerful and drifted over. Western Knights first real chance didn’t come until the 9th minute when captain Stuart Montgomery took advantage of some sloppy Perth defending to find Andrija Jukic who also shot well over the bar. The best chance of a disappointing first half fell to Michael Ord of Perth , whose looping header hit the far post after a great cross from the right by Matt Danskin. The half-time team talks from both coaches proved influential as new life was injected into the game after the break. Trent Kay and Matt Danskin were both guilty of missing good chances for the home side inside the first 15 minutes of the second half. Danskin miskicked in front of goal whilst Kay headed just over from just a few yards out. The Knights came closest to opening the scoring in the 74th minute after good work from Anthony Skorich down the right set up second-half substitute John Thornley who beat Gareth Deeg only for his shot to slip past the far post. In fact it was the Knights who opened the scoring in the 80th minute. An Andrija Jukic free-kick was fumbled by Deeg with Skorich on hand to tap in from close range. Western Knights seemed to have the points in the bag but in the 92nd minute Perth were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Antonio Naglieri whipped in a left foot cross which Ord invitingly converted from close range to send the Perth faithful into a frenzy.

Football West Match Reporter: Ilija Mihalj

Goals: None

ECU Joondalup and Cockburn City have taken a point each in an uninspiring 0-0 battle at the University Ground today. Had ECU taken one of the many chances that fell their way in the first half it could have been a very different result for Willie McNally’s side, with talented youngster Tommy Amphlett guilty of wasting some golden chances for his side. Cockburn had the first shot on goal in the fifth minute as Aaron Dos Santos fired over the bar after a fine pass from Johnny Mirco, who returned from a one week suspension. From the goal kick, Amphlett raced on to the bouncing ball but saw his lob sail harmlessly over the bar under pressure from the advancing keeper and covering defender. On nine minutes, good build up play from Cockburn allowed Dos Santos to turn and curl towards goal but the effort was over the bar from the edge of the area. Again from the goal kick, ECU found themselves with a great chance to open the scoring, Amphlett once more advancing into the box, a neat turn had put the defender out of the picture but saw his flick with the outside of the boot float over the bar under pressure from Pacella. ECU were looking dangerous and Matt Donlevy smashed a long range attempt just wide of the upright after a neat interchange with McMurray and John Higgins opened up the Cockburn defence.

McMurray saw a near post header graze the crossbar following a Higgins corner while at the other end a Dos Santos shot was easily saved by Petterson. On 33 minutes Pacella almost gifted ECU the lead after dropping a cross into the path of Amphlett whose neat chest past the keeper allowed him to pick his spot but saw his flicked effort angle over the bar with the youngster probably better served using his left foot.

With five minutes remaining in the half, Amphlett found himself with only the keeper to beat after Nunes slipped at the back, however the winger shot straight at Pacella in what should have been a goal for the home side. Cockburn were relieved to head into the change rooms on level terms and set out in the second half to fight back into the match in an attempt to be the first side to defeat ECU at their home pitch this season but found the home side in no mood to concede a goal. Dom De Felice blazed wildly over the bar from 20 yards before substitute Josh Kamasz played wide to Mirco who cut into the box but again couldn’t keep his shot down. Another tantalizing corner from Higgins was cleared from the six yard area by Nunes but only as far as Lee lurking outside the area but the midfielder only succeeded in giving the ball boys a work out as his effort went harmlessly high and wide. Cockburn were struggling with the ECU corners and Nunes could only head high and towards his own goal were Pacella fumbled the ball onto the post before a scramble saw referee Mat Cheeseman award a free kick to Cockburn. Enterprising work from Kamasz again presented Mirco with an opportunity to shoot however he failed to trouble the keeper. In injury time Amphlett found himself with one final chance to secure the three points after a Jason Mirco cross bounced in the area and found its way to the unmarked winger at the back post but his header was over the bar in what was a disappointing end for the home supporters. ECU coach Willie McNally was left to once again bemoan his side’s inability to take their chances as his side recorded their eighth draw of the campaign, three more than any other side so far. “It’s the story of our season, first half I thought we could have been four nil up with three great chances, couple good chances in the second half but that’s just the story of our season. Tommy (Amphlett) could have scored five today and been our top goal scorer” said McNally. “I thought we played well, we pushed onto them and didn’t let them play and we upset them a wee little bit”.

“We are creating chances, and if you’re creating chances then you’re playing well and I can’t ask for any more from the boys” he said. Scott Miller was pleased to see an improved second half performance from his side after a poor opening 45 minutes that could have seen the match all but over. “First half they should have had two or three, and second half would have been a waste of time but they didn’t take their chances and we ran over the top of them in the second half. They defended really well and organized and made it tough for us to break it down” said Miller. “Its tough conditions out there, they played it really well. No excuses, we tried to get the team balance right but it’s not coming as quick as we would like, when you lose a few you got to get them straight back in” he said.

Match Reporter: Ben Fitzpatrick

Goals: 1:0 Branimir Mikulic (15.); 2:0 Boima Karpeh (56.); 3:0 Boima Karpeh (65.); 3:1 Brodie Martin (70.); 3:2 Brodie Martin (82.)

Sorrento (4-3-3): Young (Cochrane 76), Trajkoski, Cagorski (Yorke 56), Banks, Lynn, Flatt (Love 62), Martin, Thomas, Boyle, S McDonald, Harnwell. Subs not used: Neville, Stuart. Cautioned: S McDonald, Harnwell. Sent Off: Harnwell (83)

Floreat (4-4-2): V Vujacic, Madashic, Vajacic (Insaurralde 72), Bachiller (Isaia 65), Mikulic, Migas, Vatistas, Magdic, Palvlovic, Collins, Kareph. Subs not used: Dunne, Simpson. Cautioned: Vatistas.

Referee: Jeremy Oliphant

Floreat by winning against the Sorrento Gulls take possession of the Football West Championship on their home ground with 3 matches of the season remaining. Sorrento won the Championship last season at the same venue, but the day was Floreat’s as they endured a nervous finish as the Gulls fought back from 3-0 down. A late Gulls send off stalled their efforts and Floreat held on for their 3-2 win.

Gulls Captain, Neil Young won the toss of the coin and attacked the Britannia Road end in warm conditions. Both teams settled to their tasks and all early signs were indicating a good competitive match. The first goal chance did produce the best result for Floreat. A 15th minute corner by Miki Vujacic from the left was tipped away by keeper, Neil Young, but the ball went to Branimir Mikulic who adjusted well to slam a spectacular volley just under the bar through a crowd of players in a well taken goal to put the home team into the lead. On 18 minutes Sorrento had their best chance of the half, Todd Harnwell ran forward before cutting across to Steve McDonald. The tall fellow chested down and volleyed, but his shot deflected off keeper, Vas Vujacic for a corner. Following an attempted clearance from the Glen Thomas corner from the left, the ball fell to Gary Lynn who let fly with his left foot, but the ball was just over. Not much goal mouth action, but the football was entertaining. Then on 38 minutes Stuart Banks, after accepting a throw out from Neil Young, fed Todd Harnwell, but Harnwell's first time volley was high. The second half was four minutes old when Boima Karpeh had space, but his explosive drive crashed into the junction of crossbar and left upright. Four minutes later another Thomas corner from the right was met at the back post by McDonald, but his header was across the face of goal and wide of the foot of the right post.

On 11 minutes Karpeh got into the Gulls area and was caught in a tackle by Daniel Cagorski and Referee Jeremy Oliphant rightly awarded the penalty. Karpeh took the spot kick himself and converted by firing in left despite Young guessing the correct direction. Cagorski was immediately replaced due to a knee injury by Cameron Yorke. Cagorski back in the Gulls side after 2 knee reconstructions. Floreat were rolling and on 61 minutes Karpeh’s slight lob was perfect for Garin Collins whose shot went past Young, but not Stuart Banks who cleared from the line. Three minutes later it was Collins who set up Karpeh who smacked his first shot onto the right post, but was lucky with the rebound as his shot struck the left post but went in to put Floreat 3 to the good. Sorrento had a goal back on 68 minutes when Thomas found substitute Jared Love on the right and he crossed low for Brodie Martin to turn the ball home from in front.With Neil Young succumbing to a hamstring injury when gathering in front of Collins on 76 minutes, replacement goalkeeper Anthony Cochrane was soon in action as his reflexes denied Collins' close-range strike. Martin put away his second of the afternoon on 81 minutes. Harnwell held the ball well and then passed back to Nick Trajkoski on his debut, who slipped inside to McDonald who in turn found Martin slightly on the left and he angled his shot across Vas Vujacic and into the bottom right to bring the Gulls within one.

With the Gulls thinking they had a chance and Floreat content to take the holding pattern, it looked right for a good finish, but the sending off of Harnwell 2 minutes later for his 2nd caution seemed to snuff the flow of Sorrento. Harnwell was deemed to be “diving” as both he and his challenger, Madashic both went to ground in the Floreat area. Thus, Floreat had an easier task of holding their lines and ran down the clock to ensure their 2007 League Championship.

Match report courtesy of Sorrento

Goals: 0:1 Jason Goodwin (61.)

A great solo effort from Armadale striker Jason Goodwin denied the Lions climbing into second spot on the Premier Soccer League ladder in the Stirling Lions shock 1-0 defeat to lowly Armadale at Macedonia Park on Saturday. The hapless Lions had numerous scoring chances but couldn’t convert whereas Armadale took their only opportunity well. In perfect playing conditions the Lions opened up with last week’s suspended players Kevin Henderson and Alan Muir back in the team while Keith Brown and Steve Porter controlled the early midfield arm wrestle. It was only the 2nd minute and Phil Arnold (left) tested Army keeper Cyril Sharrock with an explosive shot on the run which was well saved by the Armadale keeper. The Lions were menacing the Armadale goal without any luck as an in-swinging Steve Porter corner was cleared off the line by the Armadale defence in the 15th minute. This half was played totally in the Lions half with Armadale strikers Marlon Ramirez and Jason Goodwin left starved of any service with the Army midfield playing a defensive role. Scott Devine and Steven Skilandis were working hard in the engine room for the Armadale team and held their own against the talented Lions midfield.

The 30th minute saw another Lions attack come to no avail when an Alan Muir corner sat up in the box with the resulting scramble desperately cleared from the danger area as firstly Brown and then Arnold’s shots on goal were blocked by the Army defensive wall. The final action of the half was a nonchalant header from Andy Brown that almost got past the Army custodian, but Sharrock’s finger tips parried the ball away to safety. Stirling came out of the break looking to score and almost did in the 55th minute when a perfect cross from Steve Hesketh (right) was flick headed on goal by Porter only to be denied by the post. The Lions again came close when a Phil Arnold long throw only needed a touch but all the diving efforts of Andy Brown and Keith Brown failed to get a touch when the goal was at their mercy.

The killer punch from the astute Armadale coaching staff of Billy Russell and Tom Kilkelly came in the 67th minute when a counter attack from the Army via good passes from Devine and Skilandis set Jamie Goodwin through on goal. Goodwin had to beat two Lions defenders then unleashed a smashing shot that beat Lions keeper Phil Straker. Ironically this was the first and only threat on goal that Straker had to deal with. The Lions fans were getting frustrated as another open goal chance went begging with a Phil Arnold cross giving Andy Brown a free header on goal but again his effort went wide of the post. An overdue and late substitution was finally made by the Lions coaching staff when will of the wisp Ludo Boi came on with only 10 minutes remaining. His pace troubled the tiring Army legs and a great solo effort almost snatched a point with his driving shot going the wrong side of the post for the Lions in the dying minutes. It was a great tactical win by Armadale although the quality of the football left a lot to be desired for the football purists.

Match report courtesy of Stirling Lions

Goals: 1:0 Daniel Neiderberger (Penalty, 44.); 2:0 Shaun Kilkelly (79.)

A goal in each half gave home side Inglewood United a comfortable 2-0 win against Swan IC in this afternoon’s round 19 Football West premier league at the Clipsal Stadium. The visitors opened brightly with youngster Michael Tronchin’s cross from the right headed towards goal by David Foster, Oliver Taseski saving low at his near post. Inglewood suffered an early blow when Danny Stoitis was injured in the fifth minute and had to be replaced by James Duncan. Swans again went close on the quarter hour, Damian Scali’s header saved low by Taseski and David Perich’s long-range shot flew inches wide.

The home side hit on the counter-attack moments later and should have taken the lead, Daniel Niederberger was in on goal but he fired well over the bar.

It was a tight affair with both defence’s on top, Daniel Kovacevic and Shane Pyrce for the Wood and Aaron Cole and David McNally for the Swans were outstanding. But as the half ended the hosts pressed, Dean Aplegren’s superb through ball played in Niederberger again, but his first time shot flew inches past the post. But on 43 minutes Inglewood had the lead, a good turn in the penalty area by Niederberger ended with his flick striking the arm of Swans Brendan Knox and referee Ton Klaver pointed to the spot. Cory Hugo guessed the right way but couldn’t keep out Niederberger’s spot kick and Inglewood had the lead at the break.

It was an open start to the second half with chances at both ends, Brendan Knox fired over for the Swans after good approach work from Thomas Shepheard, and Kevin Griffiths fired wide from the edge of the box for Inglewood. The home side looked to finish the game off and Jason Colli’s cross found Albert Osei-Tutu, but his first touch let him down and his weak shot was saved by Hugo. They went close again on 78 minutes, Shaun Killkelly sent Niederberger in down the right, his cross found the unmarked Griffiths in front of goal, but somehow his weak shot was cleared off the line by Cole. But it mattered not as the home side made it 2-0 moments later, Griffiths made up for his miss crossing to Niederberger whose header was saved by Hugo, but Kilkelly was on hand to score from the rebound. The game was over as a contest, but Colli went close to extending Inglewood’s lead late on and Shepheard fired wide for the Swans, a 2-0 win the final score to Bobby Despotovski’s side.

Match Reporter: Peter Simcox

Goals: 1:0 (1.); 2:0 (10.); 3:0 (25.); 4:0 (45.); 5:0 (46.); 5:1 (67.); 6:1 (70.); 7:1 (78.); 8:1 (82.); 9:1 (90.)