31.10.2003

STATE IN FRIENDLY ACTION

As part of their continuing preparations for the up-coming ‘World Peace Game’ with the Iraq national team, the West Australian State team will play two friendlies in the next few days. “The lads are looking good, getting sharper with each session,” commented coach Paul Simmons this week. On Saturday 1st November the State side meet a Bassendean Caledonian Invitational XI at Jubilee Reserve. Kick-off is 4.00pm and entry is free. Arena Joondalup is the venue on Wednesday 5th November as the State side take on National Soccer League champions Perth Glory, proceedings getting underway at 7.00pm.

31.10.2003

GROWING INTEREST IN FUTSAL

One of the fastest growing sports in the world, Futsal, is beginning to take off in Perth. "The Western Australian Futsal Association has just been formed and at present they are approaching venues to run competitions using the current, internationally recognised rules," said State Futsal squad member Rod McMullan this week. "Futsal is already played at several centres around Perth but games are being under rules which are about three years old. A new competition is about to start at Kingsway International Sports Stadium using the current rules." Individuals and teams interested in participating in the leagues are invited to contact McMullan via either rod.mcmullan@worley.com.au or 0400 216 901.

"Futsal is very similar to traditional outdoor soccer except it is played on a smaller playing surface," explained McMullan. "It's also got a lot in common with indoor soccer, the main difference being that when the ball goes out of play in Futsal there are corners and kick-ins, whereas in indoor soccer the ball never goes out play as you can play it off the walls. Like outdoor soccer in Futsal players - including the goalkeeper - can go anywhere on the court but with indoor soccer the goalkeeper is not allowed out of his area and field players are not allowed inside the goalkeeper's area. The other major difference between the two games is the size of the ball, Futsal uses a size three ball which is small and doesn't bounce very high whereas indoor soccer is played with a size five ball."

Played on a basketball-sized court but without the use of sidewalls, the origins of Futsal stem back to Uruguay in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of soccer for youth competition. The game rapidly gained popularity throughout South America, particularly in Brazil where players including Pele, Zico, Socrates and Bebeto regularly played Futsal as part of their development. Not surprisingly Brazil were the winners of the first three FIFA sanctioned Futsal World Championship's with victories over the Netherlands (1989), the United States of America (1992) and Spain (1996) with Spain taking out the 2000 tournament courtesy of a thrilling 4-3 defeat of the reigning world champions. Australia have competed at each of the four finals tournaments but are yet to progress from the initial group stage.

31.10.2003

N.S.L. CALL FOR TOMICH

Melbourne Knights coach Ian Dobson has asked the clubs' board to begin negoitating for the transfer for goalkeeper Tommi Tomich from Western Knights. The young 'keeper has been trialling in the east for the past fortnight and Dobson is confident Tomich is ready to step up to the National Soccer League. "He has the ability to compete for a first-team spot," the Knights coach told Peter Desira of the "Sun Herald". "He's big and strong, he commands his area, he's a good shot-stopper and he kicks a good ball, something that has been a weakness for us." Speaking yesterday, Tomich said he was ecstatic at the prospect of playing in the national competition.

30.10.2003

NEW COACH FOR WINDMILLS

First Division club Morley Windmills have announced the appointment of James Herbert as first team coach for 2004. Herbert spent several years with the club as a player during the 1990’s and, upon hanging up his playing boots, coached the clubs’ reserve side with much success. An excellent communicator, Herbert assisted John Castrelli, who has stepped down from the helm, at Windmills during the recently completed winter season. With the existing squad already looking forward to working with their newly appointed coach, Windmills are seeking to strengthen their stocks for next season and invite interested players - including those eligible to player Under-18’s - to contact Herbert on 0418 957 846.

30.10.2003

PERTH FAREWELL FAVOURITE SONS

The curtain has come down on the playing careers of three of the favourite sons of Premier League champions Perth S.C. Having been part of the set-up at Dorrien Gardens since their teenage years, Gareth Naven, Stephen Willey and Vince Tana decided a few months back that season 2003 would be their last as players, the trio citing a combination of personal, family and work commitments for their decisions. In an era where club loyalty means little to many players, Naven, Willey and Tana collectively spent in excess of thirty-years entertaining not only the crowds at Dorrien Gardens but also the wide soccer loving public of West Australia.

There is little doubt that Naven is one of the all-time greats of West Australian soccer. A State junior and Australian youth representative, Naven stepped up to senior ranks at Perth in 1988 and wasted no time in carving out his reputation as a hard-working, no-nonsense midfielder. Winner of the top flight's Player of the Year award in 1992, Naven spent time with Adelaide City and the short-lived Perth Kangaroo's before being named captain of the inaugural Perth Glory squad. In six seasons with Glory Naven made 142 appearances, lead the club to two Minor Premierships, two heart-breaking Grand Finals and was recipient of several individual awards including the 1999/2000 Most Glorious Player. The veteran returned to Dorrien Gardens last year and at the age of 34 was an influential figure in Perth winning back-to-back Premier League titles.

A product of Perth’s fertile youth development system, Willey first experienced senior team football in 1991 at the age of 18. Possessing a strong work ethic the youngster enhanced his reputation with some standout performances in the local competition which lead to his inclusion in the Perth Kangaroos squad that took out the S-League championship in 1994, as well as senior State representative honours. Although he proved himself early on in his career as an accomplished defender who keeps his cool no matter how intense the pressure, Willey’s versatility has been put to good use in an attacking capacity on the right flank as well as playing a creative role in the centre of midfield. In latter years his experience and natural leadership qualities have served Perth well as they re-claimed their mantle as the top flight’s premier club. While his final season was hampered by injury, Willey is one of the local games’ most respected players and his on-field presence will be sadly missed by his teammates next year.

Tana made a name for himself in Perth’s youth ranks before establishing himself as a mainstay of the senior squad. With State junior representative honours to his credit, Tana’s career took off following his inclusion in the Australian Schoolboys squad which toured the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland in early 1992. A hard-working midfielder with great ball skills and superb distribution, Tana spent over a decade playing for the Perth first team which was interspersed by single season stays with the Perth Kangaroos (1994) and Floreat Athena (1997). While Tana’s contributions were often over-shadowed by some of Perth’s flashier midfield players, his commitment and reliability made him a firm favourite with the Dorrien Gardens faithful. Having missed much of 2003 due to a knee reconstruction Tana worked hard over the winter months to get back to full fitness only to succumb to another serious knee injury in his final outing for the club on home soil.

29.10.2003

JUNIORS INVITED TO JOIN THE KINGS

Coaching director for the Kings Academy, Mitch Doherty, today released the grading (i.e. trial) dates for the 2004 season. Grading will be held over four consecutive Saturday mornings, in November, starting on the 8th and the club invite quality players aged 10 through to 15 to trial. With the continuing success of the Academy’s program it is expected grading for next season will be very competitive. All grading sessions are to be held at the Academy’s new training ground at Rickman Delawney Reserve in Balcatta, the same venue at which many of next season’s squads will play their league games.

As well as being Manchester United’s youth development partners in Western Australia, the Kings provide the Junior Champions League teams for Premier League club Stirling Lions. Since being formed the Academy have gone from strength to strength with a progressive and innovative training program that includes the specialized SAQ (quick feet) methodologies. Full details of the grading, along with the summer clinics being held by the club, can be found online at www.kingsacademy.com.au . The Academy’s website also features a complete listing of coaching and administration staff and their contact details.

29.10.2003

OLDFIELD BAGS DOUBLE FOR RESERVES

David Oldfield bagged a brace as Oxford United’s reserves ran riot in the second half of their Pontins Holiday Combination meeting with Swansea City to claim victory by 5-1. Midfielder Mark Rawle opened the scoring from close range after 50 minutes, and six minutes later Oldfield go in on the act by clipping the ball into the net from 22-metres following a scuffed clearance by goalkeeper Ryan Harrison. It became 3-0 in the 58th minute when Rawle bent the ball in from an impossible angle. Swansea pegged back the gap via Jamie Rewbury, however, just a minute later Derek Townsley flicked in Oxford’s fourth goal. With eight minutes left Oldfield neatly tucked away a low cross from Josias Carbon to complete the scoring.

29.10.2003

OLYMPIC CELEBRATE FIFTY YEARS (club history reproduced with permission from Richard Kreider’s excellent book “A Soccer Century”)

Kingsway Olympic invite all former and current players, officials and supporters to attend celebrations this weekend honouring the clubs’ 50th anniversary. Kingsway Sporting Complex will be abuzz come Saturday afternoon as Olympic hold their Reunion Carnival Day with a full days’ activities planned. Kicking the entertainment off will be a game between the fabled ‘Green Machine’ and former players from other by-gone eras. Following this the current Olympic side, which features the talents of Alan Nanini, Jason Stern, Alan Henderson, Andy Brown and Scott Evans amongst others, take on another team of former players, this time drawn from those still playing locally including Ryan Newhill, Kosta Kalavroutziotis, Jamie Trandos, Steven MacDonald and Daniel Stoitis.

Olympic started in 1956 at Wellington Square, East Perth, and immediately won the Third Division North section. They were third in the 1957 Second Division, and gained promotion to the main league the following year as runners-up to Windmills. In 1959 Olympic impressed the local soccer fraternity by again coming second, this time to Azzurri in a neck-and-neck battle that wasn't decided until the final round of fixtures. Forwards Mike Ireson, Bev Allen and Bobby Varlow were three of their match-winners. Ireson won the competitions Fairest and Best award in 1966 and jointly in 1967, while Varlow took out the honour as the local games best player two years later.

After the 1959 bridesmaid placing, Olympic had to wait nineteen years before winning a championship, and it was only goal difference that separated 'The Green Machine' - as they were now known - from Dalmatinac in 1978. Ironically, it was again decided on the final weekend of fixtures, when the two sides met at Kingsway Reserve and Olympic made sure of the title with an emphatic 5-2 victory. Prior to the match, Spearwood striker Frank Smerilli had been leading the goalscorers' board with 14, but the diminutive dynamo Len Dundo stormed past him after netting four in the last game to give him a third consecutive top goalscorer award. Dalmatinac made amends the following season by winning their first title, two points ahead of Olympic. In 1980 goal difference was again used to determine a league champion and again it was Olympic that emerged triumphant over Spearwood.

After stays at Memorial Park, Mount Yokine, as Olympic Macedonia, and at the Velodrome, Kingsway Olympic moved to their current home, Kingsway Reserve, in 1974. They were the first soccer club to build a clubhouse in nearly 30 years. Olympic played an effective team game under coaches John Ward and Mike Leigh, with names like creative midfielder Stephen Sceats who represented the State on 40 occasions which included twelve as captain, Willie McNally, Steve Tombides, Paul Tombides, Keith Blunt, Neil Blunt, Bill Murray, Chris Proctor, Neil Garvey, Arthur Sharp, Paul Terpkos and Steve Callaghan. Since then Olympic have not seen much in the way of silverware and, after single season stays in the second tier in 1986 and 1995, Olympic took up residence in the First Division following relegation in 1999.

Some of the players to spend time at Olympic during the 1990’s have been Martin Guilfoyle, Andy Wright, Scott Racey, Graham Normanton, Stan Lazaridis, Tom Kilkelly, 1994 Player of the Year Ricky Davis, Michael Vassiliou, James Afkos, Steve Riberi, Dean Nicolaou, Terry Nicolaou and Jamie Kuzmanovich, son of Olympic stalwart Danny Kuzmanovich. Apart from Dundo, both Paul Middleton (1985) and Scott Racey (1991) have won the top flights’ leading goalscorer award while playing for Olympic, with Ivica Markovic taking out the trophy as the First Divisions’ top marksman in 1995. Their coach for the 1996 season was John Coyne, a former Australian representative with nine appearances, and who once played alongside Pele with the New York Cosmos in 1973.

28.10.2003

MEMBERS EQUITY STADIUM IT IS! (courtesy www.perthglory.com.au)

Members Equity Stadium will be the home of Perth Glory following the announcement of a three-and-a-half-year deal with the financial institution to secure the naming rights to the new venue. The stadium, formerly known as Perth Oval, will also provide a purpose-built arena for other rectangular sports and will be a major Western Australian home for cultural and social events. Until now Members Equity has remained one of the best kept secrets in the Australian financial services industry, however the new stadium sponsorship combined with a major branding campaign, is expected to raise their profile and lead to increased awareness amongst the Australian public.

Perth Glory Chief Executive Officer Jeff Dennis said he was delighted with the partnership, which is worth over half a million dollars. “This arrangement will help ensure Western Australians have a professionally run, state of the art, boutique venue which will attract events of great cultural and economic benefit to the State, as well as providing a fitting and permanent home for one of the State’s most successful and well-supported sporting organisations. Members Equity is a company with great integrity and an enormous amount of respect. It was important to us that this fantastic new stadium should bear the name of a respected organisation. We are delighted with this announcement.”

Members Equity also shares the delight. Anthony Wamsteker, chief executive officer of Members Equity, said he was excited by this sponsorship opportunity, a first of this kind for the bank. “Perth Glory, as the major tenant of the Members Equity Stadium is a community-focused, member-oriented and progressive organisation. These are qualities both companies have in common. With Members Equity Stadium as its home base, Perth Glory is set to play a strong role in leading soccer to the front ranks of Australian sport and Members Equity looks forward to that. Members Equity Stadium is also set to provide a great venue for other social and cultural events and over time will play a major role in the life of many Western Australians. As an organisation with its origins and culture firmly linked to the Australian community, this is a natural linkage for Members Equity”.

27.10.2003

WOMEN’S BEST HONOURED!

The W.A. Italian Club in North Perth was the venue for the Women's Soccer West Australia annual Gala Presentation Dinner on Friday evening. To a packed house the association paid tribute to the games' championship winning teams and honoured the best individuals from each of the five divisions. Having lost just once in twenty home-and-away games, Northern Redbacks were crowned Premier League champions with Balcatta taking out the runner-up spot. Redbacks striker Lisa De Vanna, currently playing in the Women's National Soccer League for Adelaide Sensation, was named the Premier League's Top Goalscorer after finding the net 32 times over the home-and-away campaign. Lindsay Jobling (Balcatta) was a distant second with 15 goals. State representative Sarah Cunningham (Balcatta) backed up the Premier League Fairest and Best award she won last season by claiming the trophy again in 2003 with Lynwood's Penny Hoath coming in as runner-up.

UWA were installed as Division One champions ahead of Cockburn City. A 27-goal winter meant Jessica Hunter (Cockburn) went home with the Top Goalscorers award ahead of Kelly Baker (Cockburn City) and Joanne Steer (Murdoch) who both ended two goals off the pace. Emily Granger (UWA) was named the Division One Fairest and Best with Noranda's Cherise Graneri in second place. Beckenham Angels were runaway winners of the Division Two championship as F orrestfield United claimed the runner-up spot. Angels' striker Lisa Tomney took home the Top Goalscorer award with 33 goals as her teammate's Elizabeth Scott and Corinne Pidala shared second with 28 goals each. Scott was named the divisions' Fairest and Best player and Tomney ended the polling period as runner-up.

In Division Three, Bassendean won the championship by finishing three points clear of Balga. It was a night to remember for Ashfield Swans attacker Nathalie Ferraz who took out both the Top Goalscorer (53 goals) and Fairest and Best trophies for the competition. Runners-up in the Top Goalscorer was Ballajura's Bethanie Melis (39 goals) while and Amy Yong of Noranda claimed second in the Fairest and Best count. Armadale were crowned Division Four champions with The Jacks finishing in second place. Carol Howes (CN Canning Inter) was the Top Goalscorer courtesy of her 61 goals with Anna Pawlowski (The Jacks) five goals behind. Barbara Cundall (Gosnells City) was named the competitions' Fairest and Best player ahead of Howes.

27.10.2003

NOT SO HAPPY DEBUT FOR MADASCHI (courtesy www.tribalfootball.com)

It was an unhappy Scottish Premier League debut for former Perth S.C. junior Adrian Madaschi on Saturday as his club, Partick Thistle, went down 1-4 at home to Hearts. “We were caught out in the first-half,” Madaschi told www.tribalfootball.com yesterday. “Their lad Andy Kirk gave us some problems and we just struggled to get hold of the ball. We were 3-0 down at the break and the boss wasn’t happy. But as he pointed out after the match, we can take something out of the second-half. We started getting at them and created some good chances. Ricky Waddell scored a great goal and at 3-1 we were still in it. But their last finished it.”

After six years at Atalanta where he played predominantly youth team football, Saturday’s game was Madaschi’s first start at senior level. “I’m grateful to the boss for letting me have the 90 minutes,” he added. “It’s certainly a step up from the Under-21 match I played last week. The pace and the tackling was unbelievable … it was very intense.” During the match Madaschi came face-to-face with fellow Australian youth international Patrick Kisnorbo who featured in the hearts defence. “atrick was very supportive when I was trialling with Scottish clubs and we’re good mates. He’s going great guns at the moment and deserves his success. Hopefully the next time we play the scoreline will be a lot closer!”

26.10.2003

GLORY GO TOP

Six weeks into the 2003/04 National Soccer League season and Perth Glory have claimed top spot courtesy of a 2-0 away defeat of Sydney Olympic. With both teams taking their time to settle, the games first opening came the way of Glory after 14 minutes when Bobby Despotovski’s shot on the turn end just wide of the target. On the half hour Brad Hassell forced a diving save from Olympic’s debutant goalkeeper Glenn Moss, and moments later at the opposite end Paul Kohler burst through the middle but his fierce shot on the run whizzed narrowly the wrong side of the upright. Olympic’s inexperience at the back was exposed in the 37th minute when Iain Fyfe failed to clear from inside the 18-yard box and quick-thinking Matt Horsley unselfishly squared to Damian Mori who made no mistake from 12-metres.

After the interval Glory defender Mark Byrnes pushed forward to fire into the side netting after Jamie Coyne headed the ball down into his path. Olympic continued their search for an equaliser but Michael Baird’s disappointing finish after 74 minutes failed to call Jason Petkovic into action. Two minutes later the visitors sealed victory with a fine counter-attacking goal. Despotovski threaded a great 30-metre pass out of midfield to Mori who drew the defence before laying the ball off to Tom Pondeljak with a cheeky backheel, Moss blocked the midfielder’s shot but the loose ball fell perfectly for Mori who stroked it across the line for his and the teams second of the game. The win moved Glory to the top of the N.S.L. standings, undefeated after five outings and with 13 points, two more than their nearest rival.

26.10.2003

CRAMPTON COLLECTS “SUNDAY TIMES” AWARD

State striker Shane Crampton has capped a fairytale debut season with Perth S.C. by taking out The “Sunday Times”/West Coast Surgical and Medical Player of the Year award. Crampton, who found the back of the net in excess of thirty times during the winter, polled 29 votes to claim the trophy ahead of Western Knights defender Evan Wallace on 27 votes. “It’s definitely been the season of my life, for sure,” Crampton told Braden Quartermain of the “Sunday Times” on receiving the award. “But I’ve been part of a great side with good quality of service behind me.” Finishing joint third and two votes behind Wallace were Adrian Sutton (Floreat Athena), Jamie Kuzmanovich (Inglewood United) and Elton Holmes (Swan I.C.). Cockburn City’s Michael Mirco polled 24 votes to come in ahead of Craig Surtees (Fremantle City), Todd Howarth (Perth) and Carlo Scali (Swan) on 23 votes. Rounding out the leader board were Cockburn veteran Boza Erakovic and Knights midfielder Claus Nielsen with 22 votes each, defender Dusan Macura (Cockburn) was a further vote off the pace with Aaron Cole (Perth) and Shaun Kilkelly (Inglewood) ending equal eighth on 20 votes.

25.10.2003

LIONS FITTING TRIBUTE TO DEBARRO

Stirling Lions have introduced a Courage Award to their roll of honour in tribute to the fighting spirit shown by committee member Erin Debarro, who was struck down by a brain aneurysm earlier in the year. Debarro, whose three sons Christian, Matthew and Mitchell play for the Lions, underwent surgery and fought her way back to health before continuing her work for the club. “Erin’s story should prove inspirational to anyone battling adversity on or off the field,” said Lions president Don Evans. The commitment and contributions of Debarro didn’t go unrecognised at the clubs annual trophy night on Friday when Debarro was awarded a federal government Volunteer of the Year Certificate from senator Jann McFarlane.

Against the odds Debarro survived a brain aneurysm to continuing working regularly in a voluntary capacity for the club with husband Richard. Her plight started on a Sunday night in February. “I did everything absolutely normal that afternoon, but I said to my husband ‘I’ve got a really bad headache’,” she said. “By four that Monday afternoon I was having brain surgery. Debarro spent fifteen days in hospital following the surgery before embarking down her miraculous road to recovery. The Lions committee member still finds to difficult it difficult to comprehend what she went through. “You would be amazed how many people it happens to ... Most people die of it, I still can’t believe I went through that.” Debarro attributes part of her successful recovery to her fellow committee members, “They have been a huge help and support,” she commented.

24.10.2003

REDBACKS ARE NUMBER ONE

Northern Redbecks A have completed the local women's season as the games top side, claiming both the Premier League and play-off tittles. Lisa De Vanna bagged a hat-trick and Kim Mickle scored twice for the Redbacks in their 5-0 Grand Final triumph over Queens Park. The Division One play-off title was won by Cockburn City with goals from Jessica Hunter, Kelly Baker and Tiffany Eyre to down East Fremantle 3-1, Sarah Hughes the scorer for the port side. Lisa Tomnay and Sandy Rowles were on target for Beckenham Angels who defeated Forrestfield United, Leeanne Keary their scorer, 2-1 to claim the Division Two play-off trophy. Balga accounted for Ashfield Swans 5-2 in the Division Three Grand Final, Vanessa Mitchell-Anyon, Karen Eason (2), Claire Archdeacon and Anne Archdeacon netting for Balga as Ashfield scored via Monique Wiggers and Leagh Taylor. The decider of the Four Division play-off series went to Armadale courtesy of goals from Gabriella Kist and Christine Finucane which enabled them to defeat The Jacks 2-1, Kristina Oxley scoring for the northern suburbs side.

The regular season Premier League crown was taken out by Northern Redbacks A who ended the winter four points clear of Balcatta A with Queens Park B a distant third. The Redbacks ended their campaign on a high by defeating bottom side Subiaco United A 4-0 courtesy of a Lisa De Vanna hat-trick and Carys Hawkins also finding the target. Deb Gorton scored twice for Balcatta in their 2-0 final round victory over Queens Park. The race for the Division One crown went down to the wire with three teams in the hunt. In the final round of fixtures UWA A thrashed Northern Redbacks B to overtake leader Cockburn City at the top of the standings. Emily Granger (3), Lauren May, Lynne McGowan, Marcia Norrish and Margaret Gaucci were on target for UWA in their 7-1 win over Redbacks B for whom Lara Jones and Ayshar Arslanosky were the scorers. Cockburn City ended the winter as runners-up after suffering a surprise 1-2 loss to Noranda A with Murdoch University claiming third place.

Beckenham Angels A were the runaway winners of the Division Two title, ending the season a massive fourteen points clear of runners-up Forrestfield United with Subiaco United B third. It was a great achievement for the Angels who went the winter undefeated in the home-and-away series in which they conceded just 15 goals. Top honours in Division Three weren't decided until the last round of the season. Goals from Blair Walsh, Tara Jemmeson and a hat-trick by Novella Avezzu gave Bassendean the trophy by three points courtesy of a 5-0 thumping of Rose and Shamrock. In the runners-up spot were Balga who went down to Ashfield Swans 1-0 in the last game of the season, Tina Lawson the scorer. Ballajura B took out third place. The honour of the competitions highest scoring team went to Division Four champions Armadale A who amassed 135 goals over the course of the 22-game season. Thirteen points behind Armadale were The Jacks A who edged Kingsley B out of the runners-up spot on goal differnce.

24.10.2003

SIGNS PROMISING FOR TOMICH

Tommi Tomich has impressed in his two training runs with Melbourne Knights this week and, according to Peter Desira of the "Sun Herald", is likely to be offered a playing contract at the end of his two-week trial. "He's a solid lad, probably about 95kg. You wouldn't want him coming at you at full pelt," said coach Ian Dobson, who is on the look-out for a tall goalkeeper. "He's also very agile, so the first impressions have been good." Tomich's arrival is expected to have current Knights custodian Martin John looking over his shoulder, but Dobson stressed competition for places was part and parcel of the modern game.

The 29-year old goalkeeper headed east in search of National Soccer League action having continually produced the goods for the Western Knights only to be unable to pique the interest of hometown side Perth Glory. "There's a lot of young players who Glory just ignore," Tomich said, who spent the 1999/2000 campaign with Glory. "I played in scratch matches and was on the bench plenty of times, but I don't think Jason Petkovic has had an injury or suspension ... Don't get me wrong. He's a top-class keeper and I learnt a lot as his understudy. I am a much better player for the experience."

23.10.2003

INJURY FORCES MILLER OUT

An injury set-back to defender Scott Miller has soured Perth Glory's preparations for Sunday's National Soccer League clash with Sydney Olympic. Having only last week made his return from a knee injury, the 31-year-old failed to see out today's training session because of back, hip and groin tightness. Miller's place in the line-up is expected to be taken by another local product in Jamie Coyne who played well in Glory's three N.S.L. outings before Miller fought his way back into the side for last weekend's defeat of Northern Spirit.

Three players that were key features of the Olympic side over the past few seasons will be plotting the clubs' downfall this weekend. Central midfielders Tom Pondeljak and Wayne Srhoj and defender Jade North have settled quickly into the Glory side since their arrival over the off-season. Although Olympic lost the majority of their playing staff over the winter, Pondeljak is sure the healthy rivalry between the clubs will be as strong as ever come matchday. "A lot of players have left and Olympic have pretty much got a whole new squad," he told "West Australian" reporter Jonathon Cook. "But I think there's still that rivalry between the clubs, which has been built over the past couple of years."

23.10.2003

SWAN AIM TO STRENGTHEN FOR 2004

After a season of success for Swan I.C. in which they captured the Boral Cup, the Swan Valley outfit is looking forward to a bright future and is preparing for season 2004. With Gary Marocchi and Carlo Scali at the helm of the senior side, the black-and-whites are hoping to attract new players to the club at all levels. The club have received applications from a number of quality coaches for the Junior Champions League Director of Coaching position and are hopeful of announcing the successful applicant shortly.

In the meantime trials for the 2004 J.C.L. teams are about to commence. Try-outs for the Under-11 and Under-12 teams take place on 29th and 31st October as well as 4th and 6th November. Following these are sessions for the Under-13 and Under-14 teams on 10th, 12th, 14th, 17th, 19th and 21st November with trials for the Under-15 and Under-18 squads being held on 28th October. All trials will be held at La Salle College, Muriel Street, Middle Swan between 5.30pm and 7.30pm on the allotted days. For further details contact Cos (041 1872 247), John Muriale (040 7987 771) or Peter Simcox (041 8941 583), or email the club via ramsdownunder@hotmail.com

"The profile of the club has been lifted with the Boral Cup win", said recently appointed reserve team coach Peter Simcox. "The professionalism of the club has been greatly improved and that's got a lot to do with Gary and Carlo and the first team squad. The younger boys have developed their skills and the club has put faith in these boys. State Schoolboys goalkeeper Chris Ramsey made his League debut this season along with W.A. junior representatives Scott Paterson and Daniel Simcox. The club is aiming high and we hope to attract players to the club and bring more success to the Swan Valley." Any players interested in joining Swan for season 2004 are asked to contact the club via ramsdownunder@hotmail.com or visit the Swan website.

22.10.2003

STATE SQUAD NAMED FOR IRAQ

There were more than a few raised eyebrows this week following the announcement of the provisional State squad for the up-coming friendly series with the Iraq national team. While the bulk of the 24-player squad is drawn from that which played Perth Glory six weeks in the annual Charity Shield clash, it was the inclusion of The City defender Keith Brown and out of contract attacker Kevin Correia that grabbed the headlines. A former trainee at Blackburn Rovers, 24-year old Brown made 19 appearances for Scottish club Berwick Rovers in 2002/03 only to be released at the end of the season. Correia spent a year in Portugal with Maritimo before returning to Perth to play for his former club Fremantle City followed by a spell with Sorrento.

The State side is scheduled to play two games against the touring Iraq national team. The opening fixture is on 16th November at Arena Joondalup with the second game taking place the following weekend in Albany. The provision State squad for the series is Alan Dunlop (Bassendean Caledonian), Jeff Bright (Cockburn City), Anthony Jones, Andreas Oliveira, Adrian Sutton (Floreat Athena), Craig Surtees (Fremantle City), Shaun Kilkelly, Jamie Kuzmanovich (Inglewood United), Darren Broxton, Scott Bulloch, John Higgins (E.C.U. Joondalup), Adam Bunce, Aaron Cole, Shane Crampton, Todd Howarth (Perth S.C.), Simon Harland, Andy Mason, Dale McCulloch, Glen Thomas, Neil Young (Sorrento), Cory Hugo (Swan I.C.), Leon Russell, Daniel Trim (Western Knights), Keith Brown (The City) and Kevin Correia.

22.10.2003

TWO CALLED-UP FOR WORLD CUP

Local products David Tarka and Anthony Danze have been named in the Australian Under-20 squad for next month's Under-20 World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. The pair featured in last week's two-game friendly series with the United Arab Emirates which started with a scoreless draw on Friday. Tarka, who recently signed for English club Nottingham Forest, played a full game and was named one of the best on ground for the Young Socceroos while Danze came off the bench after 70 minutes. In Abu Dhabi on Monday Australia controlled the match to claim a 2-0 victory courtesy of first half goals from Vince Lia and captain Scott McDonald. Perth Glory midfielder Danze, who represented Australia at the 2001 Under-17 World Youth Championships, was introduced into the game in the 58th minute.

National youth coach Ange Postecoglou announced a 20-player Australian squad for World Youth Championship which run from 27th November until 19th December. The Young Socceroos Group C opponents are the Czech Republic, Canada and Brazil with all games to be played in Dubai. Prior to the Championship Australia will participate in a four-nation tournament in South Korea where they'll meet Colombia, Slovakia and the host nation before a friendly against Japan. The Australian Under-20 squad is Wayne Heath, Matthew McKay (Brisbane Strikers), Nathan Coe, Carl Valeri (Inter Milan), Alex Brosque (Marconi Stallions), Steve Pantelidis (Melbourne Knights), Jobe Wheelhouse, Tom Willis (Newcastle United), Mark Milligan, Jonathon Richter, Alex Wilkinson (Northern Spirit), David Tarka (Nottingham Forest), Anthony Danze (Perth Glory), Spase Dilevski (Rot Weiss Essen), Massimo Murdocca, Vince Lia (South Melbourne), Michael Baird (Sydney Olympic), Mile Jedinak (Varteks), Scott McDonald (Wimbledon) and Dustin Wells (Wollongong Wolves).

21.10.2003

PARTICK COACH HAPPY WITH NEW SIGNING

There was little for the Partick Thistle coaching staff to complain about when new recruit Adrian Madaschi made his first appearance for the club in the Under-21's 3-2 win over Dundee last night. "I know it is an Under-21 game but you can only go with what you are playing against and he was playing against a very experienced side," Jags manager Gerry Collins said after the game. "I thought the big guy did great and without getting carried away he made a very efficient debut for his first game for the club. He looks comfortable on the ball, he is prepared to pass the ball, he is not a bad header of the ball, he reads the game quite well and in the 90 minutes he only got caught out once. I said we had taken a gamble in signing him but hopefully it will be one that will pay off."

21.10.2003

SIX OF THE BEST

Six of West Australia's best players will represent the State in the 2003/04 Women's National Soccer League which kicked-off over the weekend. Under contract to Adelaide Sensation are Australian youth internationals Lisa De Vanna, who ended last season as the clubs leading goalscorer, and 17-year old midfielder Collette McCallum. The pair worked tirelessly on Friday night but were unable to prevent the Sensation from going down 1-4 to Queensland Sting at Hindmarsh Stadium. Defenders Candice Townsend and Tanya Oxtoby will spend the season with Northern New South Wales Pride along with talented young goalkeeper Ashley Bennett. Townsend was replaced 78 minutes into the opening round match by Oxtoby as Pride crashed 0-9 to New South Wales Sapphires. Having turned out for Australia at the recent Women's World Cup finals tournament in the United States of America, 21-year old Tal Karp played a full game for Canberra Eclipse in their scoreless draw with Victoria Vision on Sunday afternoon.

20.10.2003

DAVIES RETURNS TO BRADFORD

An injury crisis to the goalkeeping stocks at First Division Bradford City has led the club to recall Clint Davies from his loan period at non-League Halifax Town. Davies started the season as Halifax's fist choice 'keeper, making eight appearances before finding himself out of favour following the arrival of Mark Cartwright. With Alan Combe injured and the club unable to agree terms with Marlon Beresford, 20-year old Davies is expected to provide cover for New Zealand international Mark Paston who joined the club little under three months ago. Adding to the Bantams woes is a broken fingers to youth team custodian Aaron O'Malley which is likely to keep him sidelined for about six weeks while 15-year old schoolboy Nathan Thackeray is still not 100% fit having himself been out injured.

19.10.2003

CHAMPIONS OF CHAMPIONS, WEEKEND FIVE

A quality days entertainment is always assured when traditional rivals Perth S.C. and the Western Knights go head-to-head, and the Final of the 2003 Champions of Champions promised to be no different. A fortnight ago the Knights progressed to the series decider courtesy of a 2-1 defeat of Perth who were keen to make amends for being forced to take the long route. The Premier League champions would be looking for big efforts from goalscoring sensation Shane Crampton as well as creative midfielder Robbie Puca in order to add to their trophy cabinet. Crowned winners of the Night Series in pre-season, the Knights were at full-strength with Alex Christie and Paul Cooke proving their fitness in the days leading up to the game. Both clubs possess impressive play-off records, Perth aiming to capture the trophy for the fourth consecutive year while the Knights were making their fourth Final appearance since their triumph in 1998. In case either side needed added incentive to win there was the retirements of Gareth Naven, Stephen Willey (Perth) and Paul McVittie (Knights) - three of the local games' loyalists servants - to take into account.

Perth got underway a fast and furious opening period in which chances on goal presented themselves at both ends of the ground. The first came via a Knights free-kick which teenage midfielder Luka Jukic curled narrowly wide of the upright from 30-metres. Some hesitancy in the Knights defence allowed Mark Pottier in after 8 minutes but he sliced the ball wide, and shortly after Rhys Graham sent a low cross into the path of Robbie Puca only to have goalkeeper Tommi Tomich come quickly off his line and snuff out the move. With several overly-enthusiastic and late tackles going unpunished by the referee it was surprising that Jukic received the first of the days yellow cards for a seemingly harmless challenge. Having found their rhythm early Perth were by this stage going forward at will courtesy of some crisp first time passes only for strikers Shane Crampton and Adam Bunce to find themselves out-numbered by the Knights four-man backline. But after 20 minutes the Blues persistence paid off as Crampton fended off Claus Nielsen as he raced onto Bunce's clever header over the defence before calmly slotting past the advancing Tomich to open Perth's account.

Stringing together some lovely exchanges when going into attack Perth looked to consolidate their position. In the 24th minute Tomich read the play brilliantly and moved quickly off his line to smother at the feet of Puca, and shortly after the 'keeper made a similar save to deny Graham from rifling off a shot. With an elegant counter-attack the Knights got themselves back in the game after 29 minutes as Paul Cooke created space for himself wide on the right to send a low cross to the top of the 6-yard box where Daniel Trim nipped in between two defenders to slide the ball past goalkeeper Rob Scarparolo. The game threatened to boil over minutes later following Scott Devine's crunching tackle on Pottier but referee Michael Nugus was able to maintain control and restore calm despite a war of words erupting between the coaching benches. Seven minutes from the break Perth were awarded the softest of penalties for Tomich's innocuous push on Aaron Cole who, it could be strongly argued, had impeded the 'keeper as they competed for a high ball. In any event there was no doubt over the outcome as Puca drilled it low and to the left of the 'keeper to restore his sides' lead. Totally contrasting with the penalty decision was Graham's rash late challenge on Leon Russell two minutes into stoppage time for which play wasn't even halted let alone a card issued.

The second half began similarly to the first as opportunities came the way of both sides. A well-weighted pass from midfield by Gareth Naven found Graham who lifted his shot high under pressure from Nielsen. Carl Medica knocked the ball on to Cooke to slipped in behind the Perth defence and the midfielder delivered a low cross to Trim whose powerful strike on goal looped over the crossbar via the boot of Stephen Willey. Tomich came to the Knights rescue by smothering a close-range strike from Crampton after Pottier's shot in a crowded area was blocked by a desperate Alex Christie. Having won possession in midfield Graham raced through on goal only to have Nielsen to get the slightest of touches to send the ball into the waiting arms of a relieved Tomich. With the pendulum beginning to swing in Perth's favour Knights coach Ronnie Campbell sacrificed the creative Jukic and introduced a third striker in John Nicolaou. The move almost produced immediate dividends as David Annall pumped the ball long into the heart of the 18-yard box where Nicolaou rose above the defence to glance on target only to have Scarparolo steal it on the line at the second grab.

Both teams resorted to playing the long ball into attack over the closing stages in the hope of catching the other out. With the respective defences battening down the hatches and playing it safety first, the ball was turned over with regularity with neither Perth nor the Knights managing much in the way of shots on goal. As the clock ticked down it became apparent that the Knights had nothing to lose by throwing extra men forward, forcing their opponents onto the back foot in a tense final few minutes. Paul McVittie played a free-kick short to Medica just outside the area which he slammed under the defensive wall only to find Scarparolo positioned to save. Early in stoppage time Nicolaou stabbed the ball just wide of the far upright after Steven Zuvela swung a free-kick from the right flank into the dangerzone. A minute later Nicolaou featured again, this time controlling the ball just outside the box before turning towards goal and shooting past the 'keeper as well as the far post. In the dying moments Neilsen shrugged off an opponent and sent the ball goalward but on this occasion Michael Icanovski thrust out a leg and deflected it wide for a corner.

With the final whistle came the official end to on-field activities for the 2004 State League season. Few would deny that Perth deserved to lift the trophy at the end of 90 minutes, but had luck been on their side the Knights could just as easily gone home with the silverware. The Blues win came about through a very structured performance in which there were key contributors all over the park. Having kept a tight reign and limited their opponents to only scattered goalscoring opportunities it was the defensive combination of Cole, Icanovski and Dino Djulbic that were Perth's unsung heroes. By no means out-played, the Knights were equal to their opponent in many respects but a lack of penetration in their attacking third proved to be the difference between two very evenly matched sides. From his position wide on the right Cooke was the instigator of the Knights best attacking moves with a lively display, while the central defensive pairing of Nielsen and Evan Wallace worked tirelessly for the duration.

Perth S.C. : Robert Scarparolo, Dino Djulic, Aaron Cole, Michael Icanovski, Todd Howarth, Rhys Graham, Gareth Naven (Paul Natale 84), Mark Pottier, Robbie Puca, Adam Bunce (Steven Willey 45), Shane Crampton
Western Knights : Tommi Tomich, Alex Christie (Steven Zuvela 87), Evan Wallace, Claus Neilsen, Leon Russell, Paul McVittie, Scott Devine (David Annall 41), Luka Jukic (John Nicolaou 60), Paul Cooke, Carl Medica, Daniel Trim
Cautions :Jukic (13), Christie (21), Devine (35), Annall (56), Graham (71), Howarth (83), Pottier (89)
Dismissals : None
Referee : Michael Nugus
Attendance : 1,800 (approx.)

The Final of the Under-18 play-off series pitted Premier League champions E.C.U. Joondalup against a red-hot Perth S.C. line-up which ended the regular season in third place. In a physical opening it took the northern suburbs side just two minutes to open their account with a long ball into attack which fell perfectly for Daniel Waind who coolly converted the opportunity. The goal acted as a wake-up call for Perth who responded twelve minutes later via Nikita Rukavytska following a fine run by the youngster down the left flank. With the game back on level terms the two sides battled unsuccessfully to take control of proceedings. A long ball from David Micevski in the 32nd minute found Rukavytska out wide and his return pass was superbly struck by Micevski into the top corner from 16-metres to make it 2-1. Joondalup's ploy of playing the ball over their opponents defence rarely caused concern for the Perth rearguard as the inner-city club upped the tempo. Perth increased their lead via a fine Micevski free-kick that Craig Simpson nodded in from an acute angle at the back post after 39 minutes. The second half started with both teams trying desperately to seize control only to be met with strong resistance from the respective defences. Twelve minutes into the period Perth increased their grip on the trophy when Steven Worthy's long-range shot was parried by goalkeeper Jakub Chudy who could only watch on as Cormac Dawson raced in to slam the loose ball over the line from 2-metres. Joondalup threw everything at their opponents as their sought a way back into the game but with Perth holding firm at the back they were forced into shooting from distance more often than not. The final whistle set off scenes of wild jubilation in the Perth camp as they celebrated the Under-18's first trophy since claiming the Premier League title in 2001.

19.10.2003

SPIRITED WIN BY GLORY

Perth Glory have extended their unbeaten start to the season - and celebrated Scott Miller's 250th national Soccer League outing - with a 5-3 defeat of Northern Spirit at Pittwater Park in Sydney's northern suburbs. The small crowd of 2,867 had to wait just six minutes for the opening goal which arrived via Wayne O'Sullivan whose low, curling shot beat Glory custodian Jason Petkovic. The visitors responded with a three goal spree in four minutes. Brad Hassell teed-up Tom Pondeljak to side-footed into the net after 11 minutes, Damian Mori slotted the ball into the same spot minute later, and Bobby Despotovski made it 3-1 by pouncing upon some hesitant defending to round goalkeeper Paul Henderson before clipping into the empty goal. In the 34th minute Petkovic parried a powerful Stuart Petrie header and O'Sullivan was on hand to reduce the gap, then four minutes later Dylan MacAllister's low shot on the run was spilt by Petkovic and this time Mathew Osman was there to level the game. Hassell chased a long, hopeful ball in the 43rd minute and rounded Henderson to put Glory back in the lead two minutes from half-time. Three minutes after the interval Hassell added to his and Glory's tally when he converted a through ball from Pondeljak. The visitors created numerous opportunities over the remainder of the match but were unable to extend their lead.

19.10.2003

STANGE RETURNS TO PERTH (courtesy www.tribalfootball.com)

Former Perth Glory coach Bernd Stange returns to West Australia this week to promote his Iraqi team's World Peace Game tour. The popular German will be in charge of Iraq's national team for two games - at Arena Joondalup on 14th November and in Albany eight days later - against a representative State team. Former Blackburn Rovers and Australian midfielder Robbie Slater will guest for the State along with several players form the Australian Institute of Sport. The West Australian government and the Australian Sports Commission have joined funded the Iraqi tour. "There are currently no facilities to play sport in Iraq and any assistance in the rebuilding process is greatly appreciated," Stange told the "West Australian."

19.10.2003

GLORY MAY OPT TO POSTPONE

Perth Glory may be forced to postpone their move to a redeveloped East Perth Oval because of construction delays. The National Soccer League champions were scheduled to occupy the venue, which has been renamed Multi-purpose Stadium until a naming rights sponsor is secured, for their Round 12 fixture with game Sydney United. But any hiccups in the tight construction schedule are likely to mean a bring about change to Glory's plans. Town of Vincent chief executive John Giorgi told Jonathon Cook of the "West Australian" the redevelopment would not be complete in time for the game on 6th December, but that it would go ahead as the ground was safe for supporters. "If there are any further industrial disputes or inclement weather then it will be unlikely the game will be played there on the sixth," commented Giorgi before adding that the Town of Vincent would make Leederville Oval available to Glory for the game. Glory chief executive officer Jeff Dennis said the club would look to postpone the match rather than find an alternative venue if the ground was not completed on time. "At the moment we would like to think the stadium will be ready in time but on the off chance that it isn't we are exploring back-up strategies," he commented. Dennis said the club would look at swapping the Sydney United fixture so that the December game was played in the east with the return match, in February, in Perth.

19.10.2003

WEEKEND IN SUMMARY

For the fourth successive year, Perth S.C have been crowned Champion of Champions. The Blues took out today's series Final at a packed Litis Stadium by 2-1 over the Western Knights. Shane Crampton put Perth in front after 20 minutes, but their lead was short-lived with Daniel Trim equalising nine minutes later. Robbie Puca decided the game when he converted a hotly-disputed penalty seven minutes from half-time. The win completed a memorable day for Perth whose youth team won the Under-18 play-off title by defeating E.C.U. Joondalup 4-1.

17.10.2003

WEEKEND IN PREVIEW

Seven weeks of finals action come to a head this Sunday with the Champion of Champions Final and the deciders of the Junior Champions League play-offs at Litis Stadium. Regular season champions Perth S.C. meet old foes Western Knights, winners of the pre-season Night Series, in the final of the top five series which kicks-off at 3.00pm. Preceding this is the final of the Under-18 play-offs in which Perth take on E.C.U. Joondalup from 1.15pm.

Providing the perfect finale to the inaugural Junior Champions League season are the finals of the Under-13, Under-14 and Under-15 play-offs. The on-field action gets underway at 9.00 am when Stirling Lions, who claimed the regular season trophy, and Fremantle City meet in the final of the Under-13 series. Following at 10.20am is the decider of the Under-14 play-off's in which Fremantle City take on Sorrento. And in the Under-15's league champions Cockburn City are up against runners-up E.C.U. Joondalup from 11.40am.

17.10.2003

OLD RIVALS TO SLUG IT OUT FOR PLAY-OFF TITLE

Another chapter will be added to the long history between Perth S.C. and the Western Knights when they meet in the Final of the Champion of Champions series at Litis Stadium on Sunday. Over the years the two clubs have developed a very healthy rivalry as they've constantly battled eachother for silverware come seasons' end. Looking at the immediate past, the clubs have squared off four times already this year with the ledger slightly in the Knights favour. Dorrien Gardens was the venue for the Round Five Premier League clash which ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, while in the return meeting Paul Cooke scored the only goal to hand the Knights victory. The two clubs next met in the Semi-Finals of the Boral Cup when Perth triumphed 2-1 courtesy of a controversial golden goal from star striker Shane Crampton, and a fortnight ago it was the Knights that came out on top by a 2-1 scoreline in the Major Semi-Final of the top five series.

Knights coach Ronnie Campbell will leave it until late before naming his matchday squad with Alex Christie and Paul Cooke racing against time to prove their fitness. Christie missed the Major Semi-Final win over Perth because of suspension, but Campbell revealed this week that the defender has been battling to overcome ankle ligament damage that was sustained during a training incident a few weeks ago. "We didn't make it public at the time, but Alex went over on an ankle in training and he's been having treatment ever since," commented Campbell. "His chances of playing on Sunday are probably 50-50." Right-sided wingback Cooke has been missing for a few weeks because of hamstring trouble. "Paul is probably a 50-50 chance as well, but we'll certainly give both players every opportunity to prove their fitness and make the squad. I know they are both desperate to play."

While Perth coach Graham Normanton expects to name the same squad that beat Cockburn City in last Sunday's Preliminary Final, he will give classy midfielder Robbie Giorgi every opportunity to overcome a troublesome thigh strain and make the match list. "Robbie hasn't trained for nearly three weeks and I doubt if I would put him in the starting line-up even if he were to shake off the injury," said Normanton. "But he would certainly be a valuable player to have on the bench. We'll wait and see what happens." The Perth coach also has anxieties over the fitness of key players Rhys Graham, Aaron Cole and Mark Pottier who all picked up knocks against Cockburn. Graham hobbled off with a knee injury but the club physio is hopeful the youngster will make a full recovery in time for the match, while Pottier and Cole are both expected to line-up against the Knights after responding well to minor thigh problems.

Campbell believes this years Final has all the making of a classic. "I think the best two teams in the competition are in the final - and it should be a fantastic Grand Final," the Knights boss said. "We've got a lot of respect for Perth, they are a quality team. They won the league title and they've got two players in great form in Shane Crampton and Robbie Puca. But we believe we are a good side as well. We'll try not too worry too much about Perth and focus on ourselves. We are fresh after a week off and believe we have a good chance." Under Campbell and his assistant Willie Kelly, the Knights have made the top five Final four times in the past six years. Their only victory came in 1998 when the club also lifted the Premier League title and the West Ham Cup in what was a memorable year for the club. Having taken our the pre-season Night Series and finished the regular season in third place, Campbell's side are keen to end their season on a high.

Like Campbell, Normanton reckons the contest has the potential to be a crowd-pleaser. "I said at the start of the year that we were the two best teams in the league, so I'm looking forward to this game," he commented. "I think we deserve another chance after losing to the Knights in the semis. We created a lot of scoring chances in that game but, as has happened to us in a lot of fixtures this season, we just couldn't put them away." The Perth coach believe the difference on Sunday will be which team wants victory the most. "At the end of the day it won't matter what you do tactically, it will be down to how much the players want it. It may come down to someone's desire or who puts in that extra yard." He may be in just his fourth full season at Perth but Normanton is already amongst the clubs most successful coaches. Under Normanton Perth have won an amazing 10 trophies and are aiming for their fourth successive top five series crown. Already this year they've taken out the Premier League crown and were runners-up to Swan I.C. in the Boral Cup.

17.10.2003

COACH PONDERS MILLER'S RETURN

Perth Glory's Scott Miller has indicated he's ready to return to National Soccer League action following a three week absence because of injury. But the left-sided defender won't simply walk into the squad for Sunday's fixture with Northern Spirit at Pittwater Park. "I want to get back in but the boys are playing well. We'll have to see," Miller told Jonathan Cook of the "West Australian" before yesterday's training session at Arena Joondalup. "It doesn't affect my movement at all now ... I can do anything I want without any pain." Coach Mich d'Avray will wait until late before deciding whether Miller, a 200-game veteran for the club, will travel to Sydney this weekend. "I'm still chewing it over," the coach said. "It's a scenario where you're damned if you do, and damned if you don't. We know what Scotty can do and how vital he is to the team, and yet we've got a defence that has conceded one goal in three games." In Miller's absence Jade North has established himself in the left back position to partner the central pairing of Shaun Murphy and Mark Byrnes with local product Jamie Coyne on the right.

17.10.2003

MADASCHI JOINS SCOTLAND'S THISTLE (courtesy www.tribalfootball.com)

Partick Thistle have signed Australia Under-23 international defender Adrian Madaschi. Out of contract from Serie B Atalanta, Madaschi was snapped up by Jags boss Gerry Collins after less than a week's trials at Firhill. Collins made up his mind after playing Madaschi in a friendly at Clydebank on Sunday and intends to throw the youngster into first team action immediately. "He had spent four weeks at Barnsley, who couldn't sign him and Ronnie Glavin was very impressed with him and recommended him to us," Collins told the official Jags website. "We saw him play against Clydebank where he looked very sharp and has looked very good in training as well. He has a good pedigree and has played in a World Cup final and I am sure that he will force his way into the first team reckoning before too long."

Madaschi is delighted to have won a contract with the Scottish Premier League outfit. After negotiating a release from his contract with Atalanta over the summer, Madaschi and his agent, Lou Sticca, were determined to launch the young defender's senior career in the United Kingdom. "I'm as relieved as I am excited to finally sign a concrete deal," Madaschi told www.tribalfootball.com early this morning. "I had offers from other clubs, but things just kept dragging on for one reason or another, but I kept my focus and I'm just so pleased to be joining Partick Thistle. The Jags are well known in Italy because of how well Daniele Chiarini did at Firhill in the first-half of last season. It's an honour to be pulling on the Jags strip."

Sticca paid tribute to Madaschi's determination after the youngster signed his Jags deal yesterday. "The lad wanted to play in the UK - simple as that. It was all about winning a deal either in England or Scotland and he never lost focus of what he wanted to achieve. Adrian had a short-term offer from Burnley, which didn't suit him and Barnsley manager Gudjon Thordarson wanted to sign him - but it was just taking too long for them to come out of administration. The international week fell at the right moment for us and allowed Adrian to play in a fully-fledged practice game at Clydebank. By all accounts it was a tough, gritty sort of game and Adrian proved that he could handle those sort of conditions. It's a great tribute to the lad's professionalism and application that he's won a contract with a top-flight club after leaving Atalanta before the start of the season."

16.10.2003

FIRST DIVISION ALL-STARS NAMED

The First Division season came to a close several weeks back with Bayswater City pipping Mandurah City on goal difference to claim promotion to next seasons' top flight. With many clubs currently in the midst of handing out their annual awards (more details on the winners of those in coming weeks), www.soccerwa.com this week acknowledges those players that consistently turned on the style over the winter months with the announcement of the inaugural, unofficial 2003 First Division All-Stars squad.

16.10.2003

MELBOURNE KNIGHTS SEEK OUT TOMICH

Western Knights goalkeeper Tommi Tomich has accepted an invitation to trial with National Soccer League side Melbourne Knights. At the end of a season in which he has already helped the club to the Night Series title, Tomich heads to Melbourne following Sunday's Champion of Champions series finale with Perth S.C. "He's the most outstanding keeper in the state," coach Ronnie Campbell told Peter Desira of Melbourne's "Sun Herald" newspaper. "He has really matured after coming back to the club from spending a frustrating season with Perth Glory, where he was not given a chance like most of the promising young players that Glory signs." Tomich made his senior debut for the Knights at the age of 17 and was a key figure in the clubs' Premier League and Champion of Champions successes of 1998. Seen as a player for the future Perth Glory signed the youngster shortly before the 1999/2000 season only to release Tomich some twelve months later. Successive seasons with Cockburn City and Bassendean Caledonian followed before his return to the Knights camp at the start of 2001.

15.10.2003

FIFTY UP FOR OLYMPIC

To celebrate their 50th anniversary, First Division club Kingsway Olympic are hosting a day of activities on Saturday 1st November at their home ground of Kingsway Sporting Complex. From 1.00pm there will be a match between former players and 'Green machine' players, with those interested in taking part in this match asked to click here for further details. The on-field action concludes when the current Olympic first team play a combination side featuring former State team players starting at 3.00pm.

15.10.2003

GOALS! GOALS! GOALS!

Solidly built striker Shane Crampton claimed the Premier League Golden Boot award in his first season for Perth S.C., while big Christian Paschkewitz did likewise for Mandurah City in what was a very tight finish to the First Division season. Jake Harman, a product of the Sorrento youth system, came in as the Premier League reserves top scorer, while State Under-16 representative Mo Atak ended well in front of his nearest rival to claim the under-18's trophy. Stevica Petrovic (Dianella White Eagles) and Julio Barrendilla (Canning City) ended level in the race for the First Division reserves award. The honour of the local seasons' highest individual goalscorer of 2003 went to Southside United's Simon El Chami who found the back of the net an amazing 44 times during the winter months. All goalscorer tallies are courtesy Soccer West Coast.

Courtesy of a 21-goal winter, Crampton took out the top flights' Golden Boot by finishing streets ahead of Inglewood United youngster Louis Parkinson whose 11 goals were enough to give him the runners-up spot. Despite missing the tail end of the home-and-away campaign with a broken leg Stuart Montgomery (Western Knights) was amongst a group of six players that netted 10 times, the others being Paul Lincoln (Swan I.C.), Eugene Singeorzan (Stirling Lions/E.C.U. Joondalup), Andy Mason (Sorrento), Andy Cornmell (Bassendean Caledonian) and Andreas Oliviera (Floreat Athena). Knights captain Carl Medica was a further goal off the pace, while finishing with 8 goals were Scott Bulloch (Joondalup), Ryan Newhill (Inglewood), Michael Mirco, Johnny Mirco (both Cockburn City), Elton Holmes (Swan) and Craig Young (Fremantle).

20-year old Harman claimed the award as the reserves leading scorer with 16 goals, two more than John Greenwood of Joondalup. Close behind in joint third were Perth teammates Vlad Milasinovic and Albert Osei-Tutu with 12 goals, while big Inglewood striker Lee Haienko was a further two adrift on 10 goals. Having made his first team debut towards the end of the season Damian Catalano (Perth) ended the season with 9 goals for the reserves, which was one more than Petar Mrdja, Jason Dos Santos (both Cockburn) and Jarrod Smith (Joondalup). Knights attacker Stipan Majic ended level on 7 goals with Fremantle's Joe Liguan and Demir Arslanoski (Inglewood), and one goal behind that trio were Saul Contera (Fremantle), Michael Baczynski (Inglewood) and Farrell Hedges (Sorrento).

The under-18 scorers award was taken out by Fremantle striker Atak who ended the regular season with 27 goals, nine ahead of Phillip O'Callaghan of Joondalup. Sorrento's Dejan Gurovski came in third on 17 goals with Perth striker David Micevski hot on his heels with 16 goals. Although he left Fremantle mid-season Marc Sim finished joint fifth with Steve Worthy (Perth) on 14 goals, which was one more than Cormac Dawson (Perth). Level with 10 goals were Athena's Troy Dott and Jan Zablocki (Perth), with Rostyn Griffiths (Joondalup) and Matt Ullbricht (Swan) having found the net 9 times each. Mladen Kovacevic (Inglewood) bagged 8 goals along with Kevin Carmona (Joondalup), Justin De Abreu (Cockburn) and Gerald O'Brien (Athena).

Mandurah may have dipped out on the First Division title but 23 goals put Paschkewitz two ahead of Mohamed Komadaric (Ashfield) and Boima Karpeh (Bayswater City). Leeming Strikers young gun Lucas Whitehouse ended the winter with 19 goals and was hotly pursued by Jordan Rhodes (Mandurah) and Brian Robertson (Queens Park) on 18 goals each. Kingsway Olympic's Steven Bretti and Michael Bobridge (Mandurah) came in with 17 goals, one more than Steven Suttie (Mandurah) and The City's Mark Cox. One-time State representative Scott Broadley netted 15 times over the winter with David Rodgers of South West Phoenix a further goal off the pace. Kevin Henderson (Bayswater), Greg Newcombe (Armadale) and Alex Jankulovski (Stirling Suns) bagged 12 goals each, one ahead of Glen Hallums (Rockingham City), Dennis Lee (Armadale) and Bayswater teammates Sal Marrapodi and Andew O'Neill.

The trophy for the First Division reserves leading scorer was shared between Petrovic of Dianella and Canning forward Julio Barrendilla who both found the net 21 times during the winter. Olympic's Hill Regan ended with 18 goals to claim the runner-up spot ahead of the Suns' Slobodan Njegic and Steven Choate of Mandurah who scored 17 and 16 goals respectively. Mandurah players dominated the next four positions, Jake Loretto (13 goals), Gary Atrill (12), Steven Rhodes and Adam Boone (both 11). Dianella's Stefan Smiljanic ended the season with 10 goals along with The City teammates Scott Ferguson and Gary Kent, Josef Tomancak (Strikers) and Bobby Ristevski (Suns). A further goal off the pace were Armadale pair Peter Taylor and Darren Kingston, Mark Cox (The City), Christian Dolva (Canning) and Aaron Platten (Olympic).

Southside youngster El Chami took out the First Division under-18 scorers award with 44 goals top come in eleven ahead of State representative John Thornley who left Southside mid-season to join Fremantle in the top flight. 27-goals gave Balcatta's John Aitken third place ahead of Jack Kearns (Mandurah) on 26 goals, Jarryd Thraves (Strikers) on 25 goals and Daniel Trevisiol (Canning) on 24 goals. Three players - Simon Versaico (Strikers), Jason Maiola (Southside) and Gino Comito (Phoenix) - were a further goal behind. Strikers pair Shirash Sasikumar and Gordon Hind netted 21 and 20 times respectively to finish ahead of Luke O'Neill (Bayswater) and Daniel Narandzic (Dianella) with 19 goals. With 17 goals was Balcatta attacker Tony Canzurlo, while Zorgan Alsamani (Bayswater) netted 16 times, Stefan Smiljanic (Dianella) 15 times and his teammate Igor Novakovic 14 times. Ending the season with 13 goals apiece were Todd Dwyer, David Hall (both Phoenix), Matt O'Brien (Mandurah) and John Mansaray (Suns).

14.10.2003

ONE MORE GAME FOR KNIGHTS VETERAN (courtesy West Coast Bugle)

Western Knights stalwart Paul McVittie is expected to announce that he is hanging up his boots following Sunday's Champion of Champions series final. The veteran midfielder had intended to retire at the end last year but changed his mind. "This has been a bonus year for Paul and it would be great if he went out with another title under his belt," said Knights coach Ronnie Campbell. McVittie was part of the Perth Kangaroos team that won the Singapore League in 1994 and was an inaugural member of the Perth Glory squad of 1996/97. In a lengthy playing career he won numerous trophies with Stirling Macedonia, Fremantle City and the Knights.

14.10.2003

STATE TEAM TO PLAY IRAQ (courtesy West Coast Bugle)

The State team's international friendly challenge with the Iraq national team, coached by former Perth Glory boss Bernd Stange, has been given the green light. The match will take place at Arena Joondalup on Sunday 16th November with an afternoon kick-off. State coach Paul Simmons is set to announce a squad of twenty players following this weekend's top five Final which will go into training next week. "I just want to make sure there are no late injuries before naming the players," he said.

14.10.2003

PERTH COACH FINED (courtesy West Coast Bugle)

Perth S.C. coach Graham Normanton has been fined after being sent off following an exchange of words with the Cockburn City coaching bench in the final minutes of Sunday's top five Preliminary Final at Litis Stadium. His comments were overheard by referee's assistant Tom Klaver and reported to referee Steve Muldoon, who sent the coach behind the fence. Normanton forfeited a $100 good behaviour bond he had been on following an incident in the Night Series in March, was fined an additional $150 - and has been placed on a further $150 bond. The Perth coach has since written to both Cockburn and Perth to apologise for the incident. The outburst occurred after Normanton, who claimed he had been provoked, approached the Cockburn bench following his team's third goal.

13.10.2003

AUSTRALIAN PREMIER LEAGUE A STEP CLOSER

The new hierarchy of the Australian Soccer Association have taken the first steps towards formation of a new national competition with the announcement of a seven-person task force to oversee the establishment of the Australian Premier League. The task force is due to report back to chairman Frank Lowy on 1st December with submissions to join the new league expected to be called for by the end of the year. The inaugural A.P.L. season is likely to comprise of eight, ten or twelve teams with a kick-off of either late 2004 or early 2005. The task force have been asked to consider the best playing season (ie summer or winter) for the national competition along with the introduction of a second tier competition from which teams would be promoted and relegated.

Perth Glory chairman Nick Tana has welcomed the formation of the task force. "This is the news we have been waiting for and takes us another giant step forward towards reform and a secure, bright and exciting future for the game in Australia," he said. "The principle of the new competition being established as a separate entity operating under licence from the Australian Soccer Association is one we heartily endorse. Perth Glory has long stated the need for an independently run, fully funded and professionally marketed national competition and the formation of this task force brings that closer. Australian soccer fans have been demanding action for decades and it is very exciting that the action is now underway."

12.10.2003

CHAMPIONS OF CHAMPIONS, WEEKEND FOUR

The Preliminary Final of the Champion of Champions series threw together home-and-away season champion Perth S.C. and runner-up Cockburn City on a wet and miserable Sunday afternoon at Litis Stadium. With a place in the top five series decider against Western Knights on offer, coaches Andy Thorburn and Graham Normanton opted for a spot of mind games on the eve of the do-or-die fixture. "We are very confident," commented Thorburn via the "West Australian" newspaper. "I thought Perth looked a bit flat last week and they have now lost three in a row. I think that will work well for us." The Perth coach agreed but said his side would be focused on one thing only come kick-off time. "In fact, we have won just two of our last seven but we should have won six of them and don't think they didn't cop a blast at training on Thursday. You will see a fired up, passionate Perth on Sunday." Perth's only absentee for the outing was midfielder Rob Giorgi due to injury, while Cockburn welcomed back Jeff Bright and Shane McNally from suspension as well as attacker Dean Wallace who missed the past few weeks with an ankle complaint.

Light drizzle greeted the players as Perth got proceedings underway. The opening period produced little in the way of attractive football as the respective midfields unsuccessfully attempted to seize control of play by out-bullying their opposite number. With the rain increasing in intensity, the scrappy nature of the game became established as passes often failed to hit their mark and other unforced errors resulted in the ball being turned over with monotonous regularity. It took 14 minutes for the first attempt on goal, Aaron Cole rifling wide from distance after Boza Erakovic headed a dangerous cross from Rhys Graham clear of the 18-yard box. Two minutes later Mario De Felice lifted the ball over Perth's backline as John Mirco raced through, but goalkeeper Robert Scarparolo read play well to quickly race outside his area to nullify the attack. Cockburn's next chance came via a free-kick from the top of the area which Jeff Bright played short to John Mirco whose stinging shot whizzed just the wrong side the upright. Shortly after and down the opposite end Shane Crampton cut in from the right to weave past two defenders before a no-nonsense challenge from Steve Adam halted the attack.

On the half hour Cole propelled his side into attack with a superb pass to the top of the area which just evaded the out-stretched leg of Gareth Naven in a desperate attempt to deflect the ball past Dino Pacella who was rooted to his line. Two minutes later - controversy. Latching on to a long ball from defence John Mirco went past the last defender only to have his heels clipped by Naven as he raced through on goal, but the foul - which would have resulted in a red card - was not given and play continued much to bewilderment of the Cockburn players and staff. A few minutes later Peter Petkovich should have done much better than blaze high from 12-metres after Perth sweeper Dino Djulbic accidentally deflected a cross into his path. With the half looking likely to end scoreless, a quick counter-attack down the left saw Perth break the deadlock with a quality move. Playing his side out of defence, Todd Howarth sent a long ball down the flank where Crampton headed past Adam and made his way to the by-line before playing it square into the area for Adam Bunce to side-foot home from close-range in the 41st minute.

Perth began the second half fired up and determined to add to their tally with a string of attacks only to be let down by poor delivery to their attackers. After weathering the onslaught Cockburn pushed forward in the 54th minute through Shane McNally who played an elegant one-two with Bright to go past the defence only to scuff his shot as the ball bobbled awkwardly. Not long after John Mirco robbed Michael Icanovski of possession to embark on a weaving run than ended with his shot from a narrow angle spinning away from goal and out of reach of the in-rushing Michael Mirco. But any thoughts Cockburn may have entertained about clawing their way back into the game were put on hold as Perth launched another wave of attacks. Adam kept a cool head to thwart Crampton after he looked certain to score on the hour, a two minutes later Robbie Puca blasted over the crossbar from 10-metres in a crowded penalty box. Crampton raced on to a long ball played over the defence after 67 minutes but with only the 'keeper to beat he hesitated to fire to allow Pacella to close the angle and kept out the eventual shot. The Cockburn 'keeper was in the thick of the action a minute later to deny Bunce with a fantastic reflex save. Having quickly turned the ball over in midfield Perth streamed straight back into attack but they could find no way past Pacella who thrust out a glove to paddle Crampton's low strike around the post.

With the clock ticking down Cockburn had little option but to throw caution to the wind. Perth failed to deal sufficiently with a Bright corner from the left which fell to Domenic De Felice whose smashing volley was somehow cleared off the goal line. Scarparolo was called into action after 72 minutes when he dived full-length across the face of goal to tip a fine free-kick by the same player wide of the target. Cockburn were sure they'd equalised a minute later through Bright whose flick went past the Perth 'keeper but was ruled to be hooked off the line by Mark Pottier. In a tense finish Pacella twice foiled Crampton within minutes as the pendulum swung back in Perth's favour. Five minutes from full-time Crampton finally broke through after Bunce's shot from 12-metres was blocked by Erakovic and the Perth striker crashed the loose ball over the line. The result was put beyond doubt in the 87th minute when Crampton snared his second of the day by glancing Puca's cross from the left past the 'keeper. Following the goal celebrations Perth coach Graham Normanton was sent from the bench for a heated exchange with the Cockburn coaching staff. The southerners were fortunate not to have McNally sent off shortly after when frustrations got the better of the midfielder as he steam-rolled Howarth well after he'd played the ball.

From a match that had a touches of everything - controversy, tension and some fine individual performances - Perth progression to next week's series decider came courtesy of a three-goal margin that belied the closeness of the two teams. Although Perth and Cockburn both struggled to get going early on, once they did find their rhythm the crowd was treated to a tight, entertaining match which could quite easily have gone either way. Puca and Bunce combined to great effect for Perth in creative roles in the centre of the park, while Crampton was unlucky not to end with more than the two goals he tucked away late in the game and . But the man-of-the-match was undoubtedly Cockburn custodian Pacella with a fantastic display of agility and lightning reflexes to continually thwart the Perth forwards, and in particular Crampton. For the southerners there were also impressive showings from Bright, who basked in the opportunity of a more attacking role on the left flank, and central defender Erakovic.

Cockburn City : Dino Pacella, Boza Erakovic, Steve Adam, Mario De Felice, Josh Pescud (Dean Wallace 62), Domenic De Felice, Jeff Bright, Shane McNally, Michael Mirco, John Mirco, Peter Petkovich (Roberto Colalillo 78)
Perth S.C. : Robert Scarparolo, Dino Djulbic, Aaron Cole, Michael Icanovski, Todd Howarth, Rhys Graham (Stephen Willey 70), Gareth Naven, Mark Pottier, Robbie Puca, Adam Bunce, Shane Crampton
Cautions : Djulbic (22), Graham (37), Erakovic (56), Pottier (75), Crampton (80), J.Mirco (86), McNally (89), Naven (90)
Dismissals : None
Referee : Steve Muldoon
Attendance : 600 (approx.)

Perth S.C. are through to next weekend's final of the Under-18 Champion of Champions series after defeating Floreat Athena with a late goal at Litis Stadium amidst overcast conditions. In an entertaining match both team created several good openings in a free-flowing first half but neither was able to capitalise and the game remained scoreless at half-time. Perth started to gain the upper hand after the interval only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Alex Dunn and a well-organised Athena defence. The deadlock was finally broken after 73 minutes when David Micevski put Perth in the box seat. Over the closing minutes Athena threw everything into getting back on level terms but it wasn't to be as the final whistle signalled Perth's safe passage into the decider next weekend against E.C.U. Joondalup.

12.10.2003

KINGZ NO MATCH FOR GLORY

Three second half goals have enabled Perth Glory top return from New Zealand with all three points from their clash with Kingz F.C. Played on a waterlogged Ericsson Stadium pitch in front of a disappointing crowd of just 1245, the home team had a good first half but were unable to convert a number of chances to go in after 45 minutes on level terms. Three minutes after the re-start Bobby Despotovski opened his seasons' account by knocking in a pass from Matt Horsley three minutes after the re-start. In the 57th minute an error in midfield by the Kingz saw Glory stream into attack with Tom Pondeljak, Horsley and Despotovski combining before Pondeljak extended the margin. Harry Ngata gave the hosts some hope by heading in a cross from substitute Jeff Campbell shortly after, but that hope was extinguished three minutes later when Pondeljak provided the build-up and Damien Mori the finish to make it 3-1. Post-match Glory coach Mich d'Avray admitted he had concerns about the state of the pitch, the long trip to New Zealand, the early kick-off and the tiredness. "I thought the team played much better here than against Brisbane last week," he said. "You have got to be happy with a result like that and the fact we now have seven from a possible nine points."

12.10.2003

BAYSWATER SEEK COACHES

Recently crowned First Division champions Bayswater City are seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified individuals to coach their reserve (under-21) and under-18 teams for the 2004 season. Next year marks Bayswaters' return to the top flight following a three year absence and the club are keen to cement their place in the Premier League by bringing on the many talented youngsters in their ranks. All interested parties are to contact head coach Salv Todaro via todars@perth.training.wa.gov.au or by phone on 0414 696 807.

12.10.2003

WEEKEND IN SUMMARY

On a wet afternoon at Litis Stadium, Perth S.C. defeated Cockburn City to set up a Champion of Champions series decider with Western Knights next weekend. Perth were lucky not to go a man down when 32 minutes when Gareth Naven clipped the heels of John Mirco as he skipped towards goal. Four minutes from the end of an uninspiring first half Adam Bunce broke the deadlock by converting a swift counter attacking move from close range. Both teams created some good openings in an entertaining second half but it wasn't until the closing stages that Perth sealed victory with a Shane Crampton double to produce a flattering 3-0 final scoreline. In next Sunday's under-18 final, E.C.U. Joondalup take on Perth who this afternoon accounted for Floreat Athena 2-1.

10.10.2003

WEEKEND IN PREVIEW

A spot in the Final of the Champion of Champions series is up for grabs on Sunday as regular season champions Perth S.C. take on runners-up Cockburn City at Litis Stadium from 3.00pm. In what promises to be a very competitive encounter, Perth will be eager to make amends for last weekend’s disappointing loss to arch-rivals Western Knights. Graham Normanton has played his cards very close to his chest this week with about the only thing the Perth coach has conceded is an injury cloud over dynamic midfielder Rob Giorgi. Having convincingly accounted for Sorrento last week, Cockburn will surely brimming with confidence heading into the game. The southerners welcome back from suspension Jeff Bright and Shane McNally, and have their fingers crossed that experienced defender Dusan Macura will also be available for the clash. The winner will advance to meet the Knights in the top five Grand Final at Litis Stadium the following Sunday, 19th October.

10.10.2003

CRAMPTON AND KARPEH VOTED YOUR BEST

The West Australian soccer community have elected Perth S.C. attacker Shane Crampton and Bayswater City’s Boima Karpeh as winners of the 2003 Premier League and First Division Player of the Year awards respectively. Over the past month readers of www.soccerwa.com were asked to submit their votes for who they rated as the top three performers from the 2003 Premier League and First Division seasons. State representative Crampton took out the unofficial award for the top flight by a landslide margin, while the final gap in the First Division poll was just two votes in Karpeh’s favour. Previous winners of the www.soccerwa.com Player of the Year award, as voted by the website readers, are Branimir Mikulic (2001) and Jamie Coyne (2002). The W.A. Soccer Website would like to thank all players, coaches and supporters of the local game who submitted votes over the past few weeks.

Crampton accumulated 68 votes to take out the www.soccerwa.com Premier League Player of the Year, the striker finishing well ahead of Perth teammate Todd Howarth (51). A distant third was Western Knights Danish midfielder Claus Neilsen (36) with State teammates Aaron Cole (Perth) and Adrian Sutton (Floreat Athena) joint fourth with 24 votes. Three votes adrift of the defensive pair was Scott Bulloch of E.C.U. Joondalup who just pipped Bassendean Caledonian striker Andy Cornmell (20). Sorrento captain Glen Thomas was his clubs highest placed player with 18 votes, the same number as retiring Perth midfielder Gareth Naven. 17 votes were awarded to Michael Mirco (Cockburn City) who came in three ahead of Fremantle City’s Craig Young and Swan I.C. goalkeeper Cory Hugo. Jeff Bright (Cockburn), Louis Parkinson (Inglewood United) and Elton Holmes (Swan) each received 13 votes with Simon Harland (Sorrento) and Jordan Conti (Stirling Lions) rounding out the leaderboard with 10 votes apiece.

In his first season with Bayswater 19-year old Karpeh raced away from the field in the www.soccerwa.com First Division Player of the Year poll only to have his lead steadily trimmed over the past seven days. The young striker ended the polling period with 28 votes to finish, two more than Mandurah City’s teenage sensation Jordan Rhodes who was himself just in front of teammate Christian Paschewitz with 23. One-time State representative Scott Broadley (Balcatta) claimed fourth place with 18 votes which was two more than Queens Park wing-back Lynden Pywell and Bayswater teammates Gareth Healy and Kevin Henderson. Another Bayswater player, young defender Jason Lawton, ended level on 12 votes with Mandurah’s Gary Collins. Veteran Queens Park goalkeeper Darren Williams, David Mrdja (Dianella White Eagles) and Andrew O’Neill (Bayswater) tallied 10 votes, with Queens Park sweeper Grant Learmont one behind that trio.

9.10.2003

ATHENA UPSET FREMANTLE IN UNDER-18 PLAY-OFF

Litis Stadium was the venue on Thursday evening for two catch-up games in the Under-18 Champion of Champions series. The Minor Semi-Final between Fremantle City and Floreat Athena got underway at 8.05pm with the port side quick to assert their authority and forced their opponents on to the back foot. Fremantle's early dominance reaped reward with a delightful attacking move down the fight which resulted in a corner, Ben Howe playing it the near post where the ball was knocked on and Michael Cutri was on hand to score with a close-range header. Desperate defending preventing Fremantle from adding to the tally before, late in the half, Athena made the most of some sloppy defending to level the match. The second half started in the same way as the first with Fremantle well on top as Howe, Mo Atak and John Thronley all went close to restoring their lead. Over the closing stages Athena came back into the contest as their opponents, who had six players attend last weeks Nationals in Sydney, began to tire. A final minute free-kick pumped deep by Athena brought about the deciding goal and bring to an end Fremantle season. "It was really poor to let in two goals in the way we did," said coach Mike Tetlow after the match. "The poor command of our defensive 18-yard box really cost us dearly in our last couple of games."

Earlier in the evening E.C.U. Joondalup became the first team into the final of the Under-18's series when a penalties were needed to separate them from Perth S.C. in the Major Semi-Final. In an even first half both sides squandered several good scoring opportunities which were provided by their hard-working flank players. After the break it was Perth that played the more creative football only to be let down by some poor finishing, while at the opposite end Joondalup were limited to scattered shots from distance. With the match deadlocked at nil-all after regulation time, the northern suburbs side emerged victorious 4-2 in a tense penalty shoot-out. Perth meet Floreat Athena on Sunday from 12.45pm at Litis Stadium to find out who will take on Joondalup in the top five decider next weekend.

9.10.2003

LONG JOURNEY FOR NORMANTON (courtesy www.perthsc.com.au)

Perth Soccer Club, Tuesday night - it’s a cold, rainy mid-July night and the head coach, Graham ‘Normo’ Normanton can be heard from the clubrooms that overlook the pitch at Dorrien Gardens as he puts his charges through their paces. Once upon a time Graham was also on the track - first as an apprentice with Middlesborough before he signed as a professional, and later moving to Hartlepool FC. Normanton first passed this way as a player twenty years ago with the Perth Azzurri team of 1983. “We didn’t win anything that year. We were told that the club was cutting costs.” Since then Normanton has gained considerable coaching experience, first as player-coach of Kingsway Olympic and following that at the helm of the Western Knights.

Nowadays Normanton is in charge of some players against whom he played with passion until he stepped over the touchline to take a coaching role. Perth veteran Gareth Naven recalls Normanton the player, “He was very quick and strong and could pass the ball accurately with both feet - and I’m not talking 20 yards, but 50 or 60 yards. He was an all round good player. He certainly puts his influence on Perth to play good soccer all the time.” Young centre back Dino Djulbic, who is highly rated by Normanton and expects him to one day play in the National Soccer League, has a high opinion of his coach. “He’s one of the best around - as a coach and as person,” said the teenager. “He talks a lot before the game and during training. He has good talking skills I guess!”

Amongst Normanton’s boyhood heroes were England’s 1966 World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore and his West Ham United clubmate Trevor Brooking. Another member of that famous England team was Middlesborough’s manager during Normanton’s stay at Ayresome Park, Jack Charlton, who made a lasting an impression on the now Perth coach. “He always said that the game was simple - a simple game made difficult by players.” Willie Maddren was also playing at Middlesborough with Normanton and both were at Hartepool at the same time. “I always remember his total honesty and that he always impressed a good work ethic on the players,” Normanton said of Maddren, another big influence on his career. “He was different from other English coaches in the fact that he wanted the game to be played on the deck - with a passing game rather than the long ball game that the English teams were famous for.”

Normanton has been in charge at Perth since May 1999 and has become the club’s most successful coach since Gary Marocchi led the club to three championships in 1991, 1992 and 1993, which added to the 1989 and 1990 triumphs of Alan Vest and Kenny Worden. However the team that Normanton inherited was second last on the ladder only managed seventh place the year before and was still suffering from the loss of talent to the newly formed Perth Glory. “We’d only won one game in seven. The morale and the belief in their own ability was at a very low ebb. It took a lot to turn around. That year the team finished eighth, but in 2000 we jumped five places to third and only three points off first place.” How did he do it? “A lot of hard work and perseverance getting the players to believe in themselves.”

“You’ve got to have the ability to manage your players so that you can get the best out of them,” Normanton said when asked to describe his job. “The hardest part is telling a player that he’s not going to make it.” A lot of potential coaches prefer to stay on the sidelines rather than face the pressures involved. This doesn’t trouble Normanton. “The only pressure is the pressure you put on yourself. You have to believe in the techniques that you put in place that will gain you results. As a coach you’ve got to want to be a winner. And if you are a winner that’s the pressure you put on yourself.” Now 43, Normanton’s ambition is to coach at a higher level and have a go in the National Soccer League, “Although the opportunity will probably be very limited,” he commented.

9.10.2003

JONES BACK IN THE MIX AT BORO

Recalled from a loan spell at Rotherham United a fortnight ago, Brad Jones has quickly settled back into life at Middlesbrough. After watching the recent Premier League games with Southampton and Chelsea from the bench, the 21-year old was between the posts overnight as the Boro reserves squandered a 3-1 lead before losing 3-4 to a Leeds United side reduced to ten men for 52 minutes. “It was an unbelievable result,” Jones commented via www.mfc.co.uk “We played so well in the first half then we threw it away in the second … very disappointing.” Amongst the games’ talking points were a couple of debatable goals to the Yorkshire club. “It wasn’t a penalty,” Jones said of the spot kick awarded when Nick Barmby ‘went down’ inside the area. “And I think their fourth was offside, but hey, that’s the way it goes sometimes. I think our young team has held it’s own, they are good enough players, they have proven that in this league … The lads were gutted in the dressing room afterwards, they knew they had thrown it away.”

Jones went to Rotherham at the start of the season hoping to experience first team football but had to be content with playing second string to regular custodian Michael Pollitt. “I was disappointed not to have played at Rotherham,” he said. “It was going to be hard if I stayed at Middlesbrough because Carlo Nash is with us now, so I went to Rotherham and hoped to play but I played reserve league football that’s all. But it was an eye-opener, there is a massive difference between the Premiership and the First Division, I didn’t realise there was that big a gap.” A former Bayswater City junior, Jones said he is glad to be back at the Riverside Stadium and training with current Socceroo No.1 Mark Schwarzer. “It’s good for me to be understudying a ‘keeper of his stature and good for Australian to have two ‘keepers at the same club. But I know when Carlo returns (from injury) I will just have to dig in.”

8.10.2003

GULLS TRIO LOOK AT OPTIONS

Relations have soured between Sorrento and Tony Cumace, Sean Fallon and goalkeeper Gareth Deeg. The trio, regulars for the northern suburbs club during the home-and-away season, were all absent from the Gulls teamsheet for their recent Champion of Champions outings against Inglewood United and, more recently, Cockburn City. With their contracts due to expire at the end of the season, the players are understood to be considering their playing options. 2003 was Cumace’s fifth season at Sorrento after graduating from the youth system at Perth S.C. for whom he represented the State at junior levels. Fallon, who made one appearance in the National Soccer League for Kingz F.C., scored some handy goals for Sorrento in this his second season which comes after a lengthy spell at E.C.U. Joondalup. A former Australian Schoolboys international, 25-year old Deeg played in the National Soccer League for Newcastle Breakers before heading west to spend four seasons with E.C.U. Joondalup and two at Sorrento.

8.10.2003

S.W.C. GO FOR TWELVE AND SIXTEEN MIX

Next year’s Premier League will consist of twelve teams with the promotion of Bayswater City from the First Division. Recent suggestions that one club was to be relegated from the top flight have been proved to be nothing more that scurrilous rumour. The 2004 First Division is expected to feature sixteen clubs, the existing fifteen plus one of three amateurs clubs that have expressed an interest in joining the professional ranks. It is understood Forrestfield United, Shamrock Rovers and Subiaco City are the clubs vying for that remaining place.

8.10.2003

TESTING TRIP TO AUCKLAND FOR GLORY

Perth Glory are in the midst of preparing for what is unofficially the most testing trip in world sport. This weekend’s journey from Perth to Auckland for the National Soccer League fixture with Kingz F.C. rates as the longest domestic league ‘road trip’ in world sport. The one-way trip covers some 5,330 kilometres, not that far short of the 5,560 kilometres covered when flying from London to New York! After midday training sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, Glory leave Perth on Friday morning for Sydney where they’ll stay overnight before flying to Auckland on Saturday. The match itself kicks off the following day at what equates to 7.15am Perth time. Glory return to Perth, via what will be a much-needed Sydney sleepover, on Monday morning.

7.10.2003

FUTURE LOOKS ROSEY FOR MANDURAH (courtesy West Coast Bugle)

Mandurah City president John Fitzmaurice said his club hopes to be playing at their proposed new $2 million facility by the start of the 2006 season. Application for funding will be lodged by the end of the month and it is hoped to be approved by February/March next year. Mandurah currently shares Peelwood Parade Reserve with cricket and this year had to vacate the ground about a month before the end of the season, meaning their last five games were all played away from home. “We’re very ambitious and I think we deserve to be in the Premier League - hopefully we’ll make it next season,” said Fitzmaurice. “The future looks good. We’ve got hundreds of kids coming through, we’ve got good Council support and we have a good administration.” Mandurah’s youngsters won the Under-14 and Under-15 section of the First Division Junior Champions League and were runners-up in the Under-12’s. The club’s women’s team won the South-West league, while the First Division reserves won their league and the Under-18 team ended third.

7.10.2003

PERTH COACH WANTS SECOND GO AT KNIGHTS (courtesy West Coast Bugle)

Perth S.C. coach Graham Normanton is champing at the bit to make the Grand Final of the Champion of Champions series and have another go at long-time rival the Western Knights. On Sunday the Knights progressed to the top five decider with a 2-1 defeat of Perth who have a second bite at the cherry to reach the Grand Final courtesy of having won the Premier League title. “I’m determined to have another crack at Western Knights,” said Normanton. “I still can’t believe we lost to them in the semi-finals. We created the majority of chances but just couldn’t put the ball away. I’d like another go at putting the balance right.”

Midfielder Rob Giorgi faces an anxious week in order to be available for this weekend’s Preliminary Final clash with Cockburn City. Giorgi missed Sunday’s loss to the Knights because of a thigh strain and it’s touch and go if he will be able to shake off the injury. “Rob’s availability depends on what sort of training he can achieve this week, for he hasn’t really done much in the past few weeks and I might not take a chance on his fitness,” commented Normanton. “I’ll probably rely on the same squad from last weekend - and maybe juggle things around a bit … I’m working on something different for this weekend. Anyway, it’s all up to the boys now, we’ll see what they’re made of.”

6.10.2003

BAYSWATER’S SUCCESS BASED ON STRONG WORK ETHIC

Following a three year absence from the Premier League, Bayswater City last weekend re-claimed a place in state's top flight when crowned First Division champions for 2003. "It's a great reward and deserved recognition for all the hard work the players put in this year," said coach Salv Todaro this week. "Over the course of the season they were able to meet the challenges put before them and in the process silence a few critics who said that Bayswater weren't good enough to win the league. As a club it's a fantastic reward for all the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes by the board and other backroom staff. Along with our return to the Premier League, we have given our juniors the opportunity to play against the best the state has to offer in the Junior Champions League next year."

Having completed their league commitments, Bayswater were forced to sweat it out last weekend as Mandurah City attempted to overtake their rivals with a big win over Ashfield. Although they claimed the three points to end on level points, Mandurah's two-goal margin wasn't enough to steal the championship from Bayswater. "Our success was down to plain hard work and a talented player group that were happy and remained focused," commented Todaro. "I was very pleased with the discipline and flair that the players displayed with this year. In the first two thirds of the season we played some exceptional soccer , very exciting with plenty of goal scoring opportunities being created and some excellent goals scored. We also defended well which is evidenced by us only conceding 31 goals all the season. In the run home there were some ugly games, but the boys stuck to their tasks and our game plan to ensure that the right results came about."

The cornerstone of Bayswater's championship season was an amazing 23-game run in which they lost just once to climb up the competition standings and become established at the top of the leaderboard. As the season progressed it emerged the battle for top honours in the First Division would be a two horse race between Bayswater and Mandurah who went match-for-match right up until the end. But despite being under pressure to keep on winning, Todaro's confidence in his young squad never once wavered. "I felt that if the boys kept working hard, remained focused on their jobs and concentrated only on what we had to do then we were in with more than a chance. I emphasised to them to enjoy their game, and to work hard at training and on matchday and if they could do that then I was sure the results would go our way."

Todaro views the clubs' return to the Premier League as "extremely important" for all those associated with Bayswater. "We have first class facilities at Bayswater which are deserving of first class football. The players are a talented group who need to challenge themselves against the best in the state, and our supporters suffered when we were relegated back in 2000 so winning promotion is a way of thanking them for sticking with us through thick and thin. I have to say that we are now better prepared for being in the Premier League then when we were in 2000. We have a number of players that will be competitive in the top flight, however, we will definitely need to strengthen our squad to ensure that we are able to consolidate our position. That said, I'm not about to discuss those areas that we need to strengthen as I don't want to give too much away just yet!"

6.10.2003

WILSON ON TARGET AT CHARLTON

Described by his clubs official website as a "lanky midfielder", Wayne 'Fred' Wilson is quietly going about the business of becoming a regular fixture in the Under-19's at Charlton Athletic. On the weekend the 18-year old scored the only goal of the home game with Ipswich Town to extend the unbeaten run of the Addicks' youth team to five games. Wilson started 2003/04 on a high, scoring the first goal of season for the Under-19 side with a curling long-range free-kick in the 3-0 defeat of Leeds United. Since that opening round win Wilson has turned out against Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Bristol City, Fulham, Leicester City and, most recently, Ipswich. Wilson played locally for Sorrento and was spotted by Charlton scouts at the 2001 National Talent Identification Championship after which he was offered a scholarship with the London club. Last season he made 23 appearances for Charlton's Under-17 side as well as a several for the Under-19's for whom he aims to become established this season with hopes of maybe evening push for a place in the reserve squad.

5.10.2003

CHAMPIONS OF CHAMPIONS, WEEKEND THREE (Perth S.C. vs Western Knights courtesy www.westernknights.web1000.com)

For either Cockburn City or Sorrento, today’s die Minor Semi-Final would be their last competitive outing of the 2003 season. Played on a warm, sunny spring day at Litis Stadium, both teams were missing key players for what loomed an entertaining tussle between two very evenly matched sides. Due to suspension influential Cockburn duo Shane McNally and Jeff Bright were forced to watch from the sidelines along with the injured Dean Wallace, while work commitments kept Dusan Macura out of contention. Balancing the ledger Sorrento’s list of absentees included Steve MacDonald (overseas) and Jake Harman (injury) along with Tony Cumace, Sean Fallon and Gareth Deeg who are all currently in dispute with the northern suburbs club. Little has separated the teams in the two previous meetings this year, the first match ending in a one-all draw with Cockburn taking out the return game by a 2-1 scoreline just over a month ago.

Both teams started out cautiously with Cockburn the more productive when going into attack. John Mirco played a clever one-two with Peter Petkovich to get in behind the defence only to opt for power over accuracy and hit the ball wide of the target. A few minutes later Michael Mirco was allowed to run the ball out of midfield before chancing his luck with a grass-cutter that ended the wrong side of the upright from 20-metres. Petkovich out-jumped Daniel Cain after 13 minutes to nod the ball into the path of Roberto Colalillo who stepped past two defenders but his shot lacked pace and goalkeeper Neil Young made the save with ease. Although Jared Love was proving a handful for the opposing defence, it took Sorrento until the quarter-hour mark before threatening. Having been caught ball-watching as a Glen Thomas free-kick floated into the area, Cockburn breathed a collective sigh of relief when a well-timed Simon Harland volley flashed across the face of goal. Four minutes later the Gulls pushed forward down the right through Todd Harnwell whose low cross was stepped over by James Morgan and Harland's rising shot was acrobatically tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Dino Pacella.

As the half progressed Cockburn were able to influence more of the play coming out of midfield thanks largely to the efforts of Domenic De Felice. Some good lead-up play down the right allowed Michael Mirco to go past the last defender and through with only Young to beat but a perfectly timed challenge from a lunging Richard Watson thwarted the Cockburn midfielder. A few more minutes had elapsed before Daniel Stoitis came to the Gulls' rescue with a strong tackle to foil Petkovich who had found himself in good position and with the ball at his feet. Nine minutes from the interval Cockburn's persistence paid off when Josh Pescud surged down the left and played the ball inside to Petkovich who returned the pass for Pescud to slam his shot between Young and his near post from 9-metres. Not content with taking a one-goal advantage into the break the southerners pushed forward again four minutes later through Colalillo whose delicate chip into the area was glanced narrowly wide of the far post by Michael Mirco. On the back foot for much of the half, Sorrento ended the period with a flourish of activity. Dale McCulloch's stinging shot was sensationally tipped over the bar by Pacella, and from the resulting corner Stoitis' angled header flashed just the wrong side of the back post.

The second half was little more than a minute old when Cockburn doubled their lead. Pescud swung a corner from the left into a crowded 6-yard box and John Mirco's near post flick-on was chested down by Boza Erakovic before the Cockburn captain drilled his shot under the goalkeeper from close-range. Determined to make the most of the situation, the sourtherners proceeded to bombard their opponents goal in an attempt to break Sorrento's spirit. Petkovic's bullet-like shot crashed into the crossbar and ricocheted out of play. A minute later Colalillo worked hard to tee-up Michael Mirco who scopped his shot into the waiting arms of Young from just inside the area. In the 53rd minute Pescud pushed forward before cutting the ball back to Petkovich but he too found the Sorrento 'keeper positioned to make the save. Having weathered the storm, Sorrento slowly but surely worked their way back into the game only to meet with strong resistance from their opponents well-organised defence. All too often Love and Harland were left with little support as they attempted to race onto long passes played over the Cockburn defence who, out-numbering their opponent, dealt comfortably with the danger. Only once did the tactic look like paying off, in the 62nd minute Love broke through only to have Pacella come charging off his line and boot the ball to safety.

Young was again in the thick of the action in the 69th minute, this time keeping out a goalbound John Mirco free-kick which curled around the defensive wall. With victory within reach Cockburn eased off to focus on maintaining their two-goal lead, while Sorrento upped the pace in an attempt to extend their season beyond the afternoon. With fifteen minutes to go Farrell Hedges got the better of Simon Jonas to send an inviting ball into the heart of the 18-yard box only to find none of his teammates on hand to complete the move. Shortly after a booming clearance from the back by Young found its' way to Love who threw off his marker to go through with only the 'keeper to beat, but Pacella held his nerve and turned the shot away with an excellent reflex save. A few minutes later Pacella was again Cockburn's saviour when he courageously dived at the feet of Harland after he slipped past the last defender. With Petkovich off receiving treatment for a knee injury, Cockburn played the last six minutes with ten men but never once were troubled by a Sorrento side who had by this stage run out of ideas. The final whistle signaled the end of a season that began full of promise for Sorrento only to end with disappointment for players, coaches and supporters alike.

Going on today's performance, Cockburn will take some stopping when they meet Perth S.C. in next weekend's Preliminary Final. Under the ever-vigilant eye of Erakovic, they were rock-solid at the back and confidently negated their opponents attacking thrusts with ease. On those few occasions the back-four was breached Pacella was at his brilliant best to keep Sorrento scoreless, while in the engineroom Domenic De Felice worked tirelessly on a day that Cockburn had major contributors all over the park. Not to put too fine a point on it, Sorrento were out-played by an opponent with more structure that was focused solely on victory. Unable to assert influence over what happened in the middle of the park, the Gulls lacked creativity when going forward and all too often relied upon playing a long ball game which quickly became their Achilles heal. With Cockburn creating the better of the scoring opportunities, it’s little surprise that Sorrento’s best players were the defensive combination of Watson, Stoitis and Cain.

Cockburn City : Dino Pacella, Boza Erakovic, Josh Pescud, Steve Adam, Mario De Felice, John Mirco (Petar Mrdja 76), Simon Jonas (Marco Aleksic 84), Michael Mirco, Domenic De Felice, Peter Petkovic, Roberto Colalillo (Mileta Miletic 64)
Sorrento : Neil Young, Richard Watson, Daniel Cain, Daniel Stoitis, David Foster (Farrell Hedges 58), Todd Harnwell, Dale McCulloch (Shaun Bowyer 64), Glenn Thomas, James Morgan , Simon Harland, Jared Love
Cautions : Harland (39), Pescud (41)
Dismissals : None
Referee : Jeremy Oliphant
Attendance : 550 (approx.)

The Western Knights booked their place in the top five series decider for the fourth time in six years following a 2-1 victory over Perth S.C. at Litis Stadium. The game could not have started better for the Knights as a Carl Medica corner found an unmarked Luka Jukic on the edge of the area from where the teenager’s first time shot took a fortunate deflection off a defender to leave goalkeeper Robert Scarparolo with no chance of saving in the 1st minute. Going a goal down so early fired Perth into action and for the next ten minutes they stormed the Knights goal in search of an equaliser. Shane Crampton and the ever dangerous Robbie Puca combined well only for Puca to fired over the crossbar. Then following a well earned corner Crampton rose at the far post and headed across Tommi Tomich who threw out a hand to stop the ball and Claus Neilsen cleared the danger. These two combined again to keep the Knights goal in tact a little later, Puca’s shot on the run blocked by Tomich and the loose ball ricocheted to Adam Bunce who unleashed a thunderbolt that Nelisen courageously headed away to safety. The Knights created a great opening to extend their just before half-time when Leon Russell played a one-two with John Nicolaou to send an inviting cross into the path of Daniel Trim but the move was thwarted by Aaron Cole who miraculously got his foot to the ball first and happily conceded a corner.

After the Trim had a chance to stretch the Knights lead following a mis-kick by Scarparolo but the Knights attacker opted for power rather than placement and shot over the bar. Within three minutes Perth were back on level terms. Following a bizarre decision by the referee to award Perth a throw-in, the Knights were caught short at the back when a quick switch of play found Adam Bunce in the clear and the youngster advanced on goal before delivering the ball to the unmarked Puca who equalised from 8-metres after 54 minutes. However, the Knights response was immediate. Nicolaou nipped in ahead of Dino Djulbic and Scarparolo to collect Scott Devine’s cross from wide on the left, the big striker taking the ball away from goal before swiveling to curl his shot into the bottom corner from the tightest of angles. Perth upped the pace over the final fifteen minutes but, despite the continual pressure applied to their opponents backline, the Blues were unable to muster any clear cut chances on goal as the Knights held on to secure a place in the season finale. The Knights’ central defensive combination of Nielsen and Evan Wallace were outstanding throughout the afternoon while for Perth it was the lively Puca and left flanker Todd Howarth that stood out. Perth must now re-group in time for next Sunday’s Preliminary Final showdown with an in-form Cockburn City, the winner of which advance to the series Final.

4.10.2003

FIRST DIVISION, ROUND THIRTEEN (Ashfield vs Mandurah City by Barry Rennie)

In just their second season with Soccer West Coast, Mandurah City have missed out on promotion to the top flight by the narrowest of margins. Needing victory over Ashfield on Saturday by five goals to rob Byswater City of the First Division title, Mandurah threw everything at the home side but were only able to score twice. In front of a huge crowd at Ashfield Reserve, Mandurah started in an attacking frame of mind that saw some desperate defending and good goalkeeping by the hosts which prevented their opponent from taking an early lead. Although Mandurah were the ones doing much of the attacking, it was Ashfield who nearly took the lead when Gary Collins conceded a free-kick just outside the 18-yard box and, in an attempt to clear the shot, defender Adam Parmenter crashed the ball into his own upright. Much to the delight of the travelling fans Andrew Rennie gave Mandurah the lead by coolly slotting the ball past the Ashfield custodian after some brilliant lead-up work between Jordan Rhodes and the tireless Collins. Despite creating four good chances, Mandurah had to be content with a one-nil half-time lead.

The second half saw some several changes to the visiting line-up with midfielders replaced by attackers as they set about increasing the lead and reducing the slender goal difference advantage Bayswater held over them. The tactic appeared to be paying dividends when Christian Paschewitz rose high above the Ashfield defence to power a header beyond the outstretched arms of the ‘keeper. The goal not only gave Mandurah a spring in their step but also clinched the Golden Boot award for Paschewitz as the competitions’ leading goalscorer, an honour taken out last year by Rennie. The visitors tried desperately to add to their tally over the remainder of the half but Ashfield were not about to roll over and time after time their young backline held firm under increasing pressure. In the end Mandurah had to make to do with a two-goal win, a result that gave Bayswater the title courtesy of just three goals over a thirty game home-and-away campaign. Having clinched the trophy last weekend, Mandurah’s reserves ended their season on a disappointing note with a 1-2 loss to Ashfield who scored twice in the first half before Jake Heathcote pulled one back after the break. The under-18 side fixture also ended in Ashfield’s favour by 1-0.

In their catch-up Round Six meeting at Kingsway Sporting Complex, Kingsway Olympic took out all three points with a 2-1 defeat of Stirling Suns. The hosts club began positively with striker Sota Iwasaki tucking the ball into the back of the net after 8 minutes, and midway through the half Adam Purcell doubled the lead when he beat Suns custodian Jason Razmovski. Ten minutes from the interval the Suns reduced the deficit as Stefan Stolevski knocked the ball past goalkeeper Kalon Tenakov to bring his side back into the match. To add a bit of spice to proceedings Olympic went down a player in the 53rd minute with the red carding of Oli Foster, but the hosts held on despite constant pressure from the Suns to register victory in their final outing of 2003. The result moved Olympic into sixth on the First Division table, although they may finish the season one place below dependent upon the outcome of the Suns Round Eighteen catch-up fixture with Dianella White Eagles.

4.10.2003

POINTS SHARED IN BRISBANE

In front of a crowd of 3,042, Brisbane Strikers and Perth Glory played out a scoreless draw at Perry Park this evening. It took until seven minutes from half-time for the first serious shot on goal to arrive with Strikers midfielder David Pilic unsuccessful in chipping Jason Petkovic. Two minutes later Josh Rose curled his shot high from an angle. Glory's only chance of the half saw Bobby Despotovski raced onto a clever chip from Tom Pondeljak only to blast his attempt high and wide. After the break the two teams were able to conjure up a few more scoring opportunities with Damien Mori and Pondeljak both missed with chances inside six minutes of the re-start. The best opportunity came the way of the home side, a short free-kick finding Pilic whose curling shot was tipped away by Petkovic. Midway through the second half Matt Horsley rifling the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jason Kearton only to end just the wrong side of the upright. Peter Grierson almost became the home teams saviour close to the final whistle with a dipping long-range shot that deceived Petkovic but ended wide of the target.

4.10.2003

WEST AUSSIES STAR AT NATIONALS

For West Australia the 2003 National Talent Identification Championship have been the most successful in years with both the State Under-15 and Under-16 teams making the last four of their age-groups. The Under-16 side progressed from the group stage with just a single loss from five outings. Undefeated in the qualification stage, the Under-15's make the semi-finals with a hard fought victory over Country New South Wales in their final group game. Played at Valentine Park in New South Wales, the Nationals brings together the cream of Australia's teenage talent with the primary goal of identifying players with the potential of one day becoming national team members. It also provides players a chance to display their talents in front of scouts from Australia and overseas clubs, as well as the Australian Institute of Sport.

The West Australian Under-16 team begun their 2003 campaign with a 2-0 defeat of Country New South Wales. It what was an even opening half the team from the west had goalkeeper Tando Velaphi to thank for keeping the score level by producing two great saves. After the break W.A. began to get on top and took a deservedly lead after 64 minutes when Martin Ashworth's fine cross from the left was superbly finished by John Thornley. The goal gave the westerners more confidence and they increased the margin in the 76th minute as a deep Scott Bushby corner was spilt by the goalkeeper and Andrew Brand was on hand to score from close range. "It was an excellent result for the boys", said coach Peter Bliss. "We struggled in the first half, but the boys just stuck at it and the second half was better. A good start to the tournament." In other opening day games South Australia downed Northern New South Wales 4-0 and Country Victoria won 1-0 against the Northern Territory.

The following afternoon at 5.00pm Country Victoria were the opponents in what was expected to be a tight encounter. West Australia could not have got off to a better start, Rodrigo Aguirre finding the back of the net after 5 minutes and on the quarter hour John Thornley putting away a Scott Bushby free-kick to make it 2-0. But the Victorian's refused to conceded defeat and reeled in the margin through Jason Hill in the 36th minute with Michael Peterson putting the two side on level terms early in the second half. Martin Ashworth restored the westerners lead with a great strike after 57 minutes, and in the final minute Aguirre scored his second of the game to complete the 4-2 scoreline. The win leaves West Australia on top of the Group B table as the only team with a 100% win record. Both the other Day Two games - South Australia against Country New South Wales, and the Northern Territory verses Northern New South Wales - ended in scoreless draws.

It wasn't until late on Monday afternoon that the West Australian Under-16 were next in action, their opponents being Northern New South Wales. After a scrappy first half, a Northern New South Wales attack down the right shortly after the break put Troy Hearfield through one-on-one with goalkeeper Mark Bentley who saved well. A through ball by Martin Ashworth three minutes later found Rodrigo Aguirre who finished superbly from a tight angle to give the west the lead. With chances coming at both ends as play swung from end to end, West Australia were served well defensively by Daniel Waind and Mark Darby who worked tirelessly in restricting the opposing attackers. Maximum points were secured in the 73rd minute when a great run and cross from the left by Ashworth was brilliantly headed in by Dejan Gurovski. "The squad has gelled into a great unit," said coach Peter Bliss in praising his side after the game. "We worked really hard today, and got the rewards." In other Day Three games, South Australia thrashed the Northern Territory 7-1, and Country New South Wales defeated Country Victoria 2-1.

The State Under-16's carried their perfect record over into Day Four with a 4-0 triumph over the Northern Territory. The Territorians came close to taking a surprise lead after 3 minutes but goalkeeper Tando Velaphi moved sharply to keep out Matthew Goodwin's strike. As the game progressed the westerners began to assert their authority and in the 9th minute Mustafa Atak's cross was put away by Rodrigo Aguirre. Fourteen minutes later the lead was doubled when a cross from Sebastian Trim was expertly volleyed home by Aguirre. Scott Bushby forced a fine save from goalkeeper Matt Connole as West Australia threatened to run away with the game. Seven minutes into the second half Aguirre completed his hat-trick following a long clearance from the back by Mark Darby which Atak sent into the area. The margin became four goals in the 64th minute as Daniel Waind won West Australia a free-kick just outside the 18-yard box which Aguirre converted for his seventh goal of the tournament. Tim De Souza