Onoforo Leads Perth SC to Grand Final Victory Over The Knights
November 1, 2009 by simmo
Filed under State League, headlines
A man of the match performance from Perth SC skipper David Onoforo has led his side to a 2-0 Flexible Signage Solutions victory against Western Knights at The Clipsal Stadium on Saturday.
Onoforo picked up the man of the match trophy and the new Top Five Grand Final winners trophy’s and he was delighted with his side’s performance on the day. “It was a great all-round team performance from us today; we spoke about it in the week about being focused and every player, including the subs contributed to a great victory for the club today,” said Onoforo.
The Knights’ went into the game unchanged from the side that beat Floreat Athena 2-1 last week, with Daniel Micevski passing a late fitness test to take his place in the starting line up.
Perth made one forced change to their starting line, with Phil Arnold missing the game due to suspension, he as replaced by Ian McMurray.
Post Match Audio Interviews
David Onoforo Man of the Match and Perth SC Captain
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Graham Normanton Coach Perth SC
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Paul Price Coach Western Knights
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Ian McMurray Perth SC goalscorer
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Matt Danskin Perth SC Defender
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Stuart Ferguson Western Knights Defender
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Micheal Icanovski Perth SC Defender
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Andy Bourakis Perth SC Midfielder
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It was a great opening to the game, in front of a big crowd, and the Knights went close in the opening minute. Barry Devlin found Anthony Campbell on the right and his cross shot drifted wide of the post.
Perth settled and went close themselves on four minutes, Greg Sharland’s cross from the left picked out Matt Danskin and his first time shot was saved low by Knights keeper Frazer Siddall.
With the crowd still pouring into the ground, the tempo of the game picked up and there were chances at both ends. First on15 minutes Perth’s Andy Bourakis’ long-range shot was saved by Siddall, and moments later Devlin picked out Campbell in the box but the Knights striker’s header flashed wide.
The swirling wind was causing problems to the players, but on the half hour Perth almost used it to their advantage. A free kick from 30-yards from Bourakis was caught in the wind and it was almost mis-judged by Siddall who did well to back pedal and tip the ball on to the crossbar at the last minute.
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Then five minutes later Siddall came to his sides rescue again saving well from Danskin’s long-range shot, but at the other end Perth keeper Luke Martino had to be alert to punch clear a David Micevski in-swinging corner five minutes later.
Perth ended the half on top and Bourakis’ free kick was tipped over the bar by Siddall and Danskin’s shot from the right went inches past the post, but it was 0-0 at the break.
The second half started like the first with a chance in the opening minutes, this time for Perth. McMurray crossed from the right and Dom de Felice’s shot crashed off the base of the post with Siddall well beaten.
Moments later Danskin’s cross from the right picked out Sharland who’s first time shot went inches past the post.
The Knights best chance of the game came on 53 minutes, a great run by Devlin took him into the box but the midfielder blazed over from 10-yards.
That miss came back to haunt the Knights as three minutes later Perth hit the front. A great through ball from Bourakis sent Onoforo clear down the right. His low cross from the bye-line beat Siddall and McMurray fired home from close-range.
Paul Price’s side looked to hit back immediately and they thought they had levelled four minutes later. A corner from the right by David Micevski was headed goalwards by Stuart Ferguson, it beat Perth keeper Martino but de Felice was well placed to head the ball off the line, The Knights players were convinced the ball had crossed the line but referee Mathew Cheeseman waved away their protests.
With the Knights pressing for the equaliser they were pushing men forward and on 72 minutes they were caught short at the back as Perth made it 2-0.
Perth SC Premier League Champions 2009
The game became heated and after a clash between Knights striker Campbell and Perth midfielder Danskin, both received a yellow card, and were lucky not to see red for the incident.
Perth continued to attack and on 76 minutes Sharland’s corner from the right was met by Craig Simpson, whose header was cleared off the line by Ivan Zuvela.
With their crown slipping the Knights pressed forward and two minutes later Marco Warmt-Murray’s low shot was well saved by Martino and moments after Annall volleyed over from eight-yards.
It was the best period of the match for the Knights and on 82 minutes Daniel Micevski sent his brother David clear, but the former Perth Glory midfielder blazed over from the edge of the box.
The Knights continued to press and on 86 minutes David Micevski’s volley from the edge of the box crashed off the crossbar, and moments later Daniel Trim’s slow shot was saved at the second attempt by Martino.
At the final whistle the Perth players celebrated their Grand Final victory and Coach Graham Normanton was pleased with his side’s excellent performance.
“We played really well today; we were primed for it and ready to go. The conditions were difficult; the wind caused us problems. But we played some good football and the goals really speak for themselves, both were well set up and well finished. We could have scored a couple more but to win 2-0 in a final I’m delighted,” said Normanton.
Knights Coach Paul Price was disappointed to have fallen at the last hurdle. “Perth was the better side on the day, we had some chances but it wasn’t our day. The boy’s were convinced the ball was over the line which would have made it 1-1. Those things can change matches, but to be honest we had a few players that didn’t perform particularly well today, and Perth deserved their win,” said Price.
PERTH SC: GK Luke MARTINO, 2 Trent KAY, 4 Craig SIMPSON, 6 Michael ICANOVSKI, 7 Matt DANSKIN (11 Andres OLIVEIRA 84’), 9 David ONOFORO (c), 10 Greg SHARLAND, 14 Gary GREENHILL (5 Michael BLACK 75’), 16 Ian MCMURRAY, 18 Dom DE FELICE, 19 Andrew BOURAKIS
Substitutes not used: RGK Simon MADASCHI, 3 Gianfranco CIRCATI, 17 Tristan BEKKOUCHE
Yellow Cards: Matt DANSKIN 75’
Red Cards: nil
WESTERN KNIGHTS: GK Frazer SIDDALL, 2 Barry DEVLIN, 3 Stuart FERGUSON, 4 Ivan ZUVELA, 5 David ANNALL, 6 Cormac DAWSON (14 Stanford HEPBURN 70’), 7 Daniel MICEVSKI, 8 Daniel TRIM, 10 David MICEVSKI (c), 11 Anthony CAMPBELL, 13 Marco WARMT-MURRAY (9 Karl O’REILY 87’)
Substitutes not used: RGK David KHUEN, 12 Sebastian TRIM, 15 Ryan SHACKLETON
Yellow Cards: Barry DEVLIN 41’, Anthony CAMPBELL 75’
Red Cards: nil
Referee – Mathew Cheeseman
Attendance - 1,720
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