Night Series Champions 1972, 1987, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
State Cup Champions 2013, 2014
Minor Premiers 2012, 2014
NPL Inaugural Champions 2014
League/NPL Champions 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017
Top 4 Cup Champions 1971, 2017
Doninger solo show shoots Perth to Grand Final
By Jason Harris
Perth have won a place in the 2014 NPLWA grand final after a emphatic 5-0 win against Bayswater at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday with star striker Mark Doninger scoring all five.
Bayswater started the game really well, and in the second minute Paul McCarthy had his shot tipped over the bar by Perth goalkeeper Francis Soale.
Perth then had a chance when Tim Robertson had a shot from inside the box, but pulled it wide not troubling Devon Spence in Bayswater’s goal.
In the 11th minute, David Heagney was fouled heavily just outside the box. Todd Howarth then stepped up to deliver a beautiful curling free kick, which was matched by a great save by Soale.
Ashley Rosindale was then put through on goal but the Bayswater defence was able to crowd him out.
Perth who were starting to look very dangerous, and were rewarded when they opened the scoring in the 21st minute, when Aden Da Luz squared a perfectly weighted ball to Mark Doninger who beat Devon Spence from close range.
Doninger then grab a first half double when he managed to control a incoming shot, and convert from around 6yards slotting the ball past Spence.
Perth then extremely close to grabbing a third when Andreas Theodosiades forced a finger-tip save out of Devon Spence.
Doninger then claimed his first half hat-trick a outstanding feat, when he raced onto a long ball from defence and managed to lob Spence who had raced of his line to no avail.
The visitors looked superb and went to half time with an almost insurmountable 3-0 lead. It was a staggering score line and the question to be asked, could Bayswater pull something out of the fire or at least gain some confidence.
Bayswater made a change at half time, with striker Gustavo Maralunda coming on for captain Trent Kay.
It went from bad to worse for the home team early in the second half when defender Andy Reale was judged to have hand balled in the penalty area and Doninger grabbed his fourth from the spot.
Chris Coyne then made a double change with Adam Bachiller and Declan Hargreaves coming on for Reale and Howarth.
It was a surreal atmosphere at Frank Drago with Bayswater being defeated at home a unfamiliar occurrence and especially by this scoreline.
Perth played the offside trap superbly, with the ball over the top from defence regularly catching the Bayswater defence unawares.
The home team were shooting on sight, looking for a consolation goal but it didn’t look like happening. However, you have to give the players full credit for not throwing in the towel, and remaining professional to the very end.
Injury time arrived and the ball played deep from Perth’s defence paid dividends once again, when Doninger timed his run superbly and went on a run before dispatching the ball to the right of Spence from around 16 yards.
It was a symbolic way to end the game as he was clearly the difference in the game, but his teammates also were very good from the first whistle to the last.
Bayswater now await the winner of the Balcatta and Sorrento clash, which will be played at Grindleford Reserve tomorrow. They would be favourites whoever they play in that game, but it will be very interesting to see how their confidence is after this hammering.
For Perth, it is a return to the Grand Final, a place where they were a regular combatant in the last decade.
It is also a great turnaround from last season where they finished in fifth position.
Perth coach Taki Nicolaidis was naturally thrilled with the result.
“Our boys were absolutely outstanding there was not one passenger today and we were good enough to put away the chances and we looked a lot more hungrier than Baysie were today.”
Nicolaidis was also full of praise for the five-goal star Doninger.
” He is a very good goal scorer and today he was just fantastic. He scored thirteen in the league and around eight in the cup competitions and when you count today’s haul that is well over twenty goals.”
The 2014 finals series has had their first twist now lets see where the next one comes from.
Goals
Bayswater City
–
Perth SC
Doninger 21′ 32′ 43′ 53′ 90′
Bookings
Bayswater City
–
Perth SC
Orr 73′
Shots on target
Bayswater City 5 Perth SC 8
Shots off target
Bayswater City 3 Perth SC 3
Offsides
Bayswater City 3 Perth SC 3
Corners
Bayswater City 5 Perth SC 4
Squads
Bayswater City:
GK 1. Devon Spence 5. Andy Reale ( Bachiller 53’) 6. Todd Howarth (Hargreaves 53′) 8. Paul McCarthy 12. Steve Burton 13. Trent Kay (Capt) (Maralunda 45′) 15. Brian Farrell,16. Jamie Coyne 21. David Heagney, 20. Sam Mitchinson, 23. Chris Saldaris
Subs Not Used
RGK 22. Joel Driscoll
14. David Molinari
Perth S.C:
GK 1. Francis Soale, 2. Josh Wilkins, 4. Craig Simpson (Capt), (Caughan64′) 8. Aden Da Luz ,10. Ashley Rosindale, (Orr 60′) 12. Tim Robertson 13. Alex Castiello, 14. Mark Pritchard, 15. Mark Doninger, 19. Andreas Theodosiades, (Milenkovic 70′), 20. James Marocchi
Subs Not Used
RGK 24. Alex Dunn
9. Friday Zico