Clubs still left in the Premier Division Championship Race.

ALL PREVIOUS FINALS STATISTICS
Championship series deciders ONLY - 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

ELIMINATION FINAL
1989 (Not played - only top 4 qualified for championship series)
1990 Kelmscott Roos 3 vs North Perth Croatia 4
1991 Perth Italia 2 vs North Perth Croatia 0
1998 Sorrento 1 vs Floreat Athena 0
2009 Mandurah City 1 vs Stirling Lions 0
2010 Floreat Athena 3 vs ECU Joondalup 2
2011 Sorrento 3 vs Western Knights 2
2012 Inglewood United 1 vs Perth 2

QUALIFYING FINAL
1989 (Not played - only top 4 qualified for championship series)
1990 (Not played - 3rd played winner of EF, 2nd went to the Major SF)
1991 Stirling Macedonia 4 vs Kingsway Olympic 2 (AET)
1998 (Not played - 3rd played winner of EF, 2nd went to the Major SF)
2009 Perth vs Floreat Athena 2-1
2010 Stirling Lions vs Perth 2-3
2011 Perth 4 vs Inglewood United 2
2012 Floreat Athena 3 vs Sorrento 1

MINOR SEMI-FINAL
1989 Sorrento 0 vs Stirling Macedonia 0 (6-5 pens)
1990 Stirling Macedona 6 vs North Perth Croatia 1
1991 Kingsway Olympic 0 vs Perth Italia 2
1998 Joondalup City 2 vs Sorrento 6
2009 Floreat Athena 2 vs Mandurah City 1
2010 Stirling Lions 1 vs Floreat Athena 1 (9-8 pens)
2011 Inglewood United 1 vs Sorrento 3
2012 Sorrento 3 vs Perth 1

MAJOR SEMI-FINAL
1989 Floreat Athena 2 vs Perth Italia 1
1990 Floreat Athena 1 vs Perth Italia 3
1991 Floreat Athena 6 vs Stirling Macedonia 1
1998 Western Knights 2 vs Fremantle City 0
2009 Western Knights 2 vs Perth 3
2010 Western Knights 2 vs Perth 0
2011 Balcatta 1 vs Perth 2
2012 Bayswater City 1 vs Floreat Athena 3

PRELIMINARY FINAL
1989 Perth Italia 2 vs Sorrento 1
1990 Floreat Athena 1 vs Stirling Macedonia 2
1991 Stirling Macedonia 2 vs Perth Italia 3
1998 Fremantle City 1 vs Sorrento 2
2009 Western Knights 2 vs Floreat Athena 1
2010 Perth 4 vs Stirling Lions 1
2011 Balcatta 0 vs Sorrento 3
2012 Bayswater City 1 vs Sorrento 2

GRAND FINAL
1989 Floreat Athena 0 vs Perth Italia 1
1990 Perth Italia 4 vs Stirling Macedonia 2 (AET)
1991 Floreat Athena 0 vs Perth Italia 1
1998 Western Knights 3 vs Sorrento 1
2009 Perth 2 vs Western Knights 0
2010 Western Knights 1 vs Perth 3
2011 Perth 7 vs Sorrento 0
2012 Floreat Athena 3 vs Sorrento 4 (AET)

On October 5th, the Grand Final winners will lift the Premier Division State Championship trophy. It will only be ninth time that a finals series will determine the best team in the state. This will also be the fifty-fourth edition a club will be crowned champions since semi-professional football in Western Australia commenced. In the early years, three clubs dominated the local scene with the traditional first past the post system deciding how the league title was won. Windmills, Tricolore and Azzurri claimed thirteen titles between them from 1960 to 1973, with only Cracovia's legendary team breaking the mould in 1966. There was also a finals series that started in 1961, however this was regarded as a separate competition, and was simply known as the "Top Four Cup". But due to a lack of interest, this was cancelled in 1973, only to come back a season later.

In 1974, a new team would emerge as league winners. Ascot (now known as Forrestfield United) was to claim the honours. Winning the championship with players such as Ray llott, Bret Kirkpatrick and John Davidson. A familiar name in Azzurri would once again be league winners in 1975 and 1976, before new names were to be engraved on the trophy in the late 1970's and 1980's.

Floreat Athena was to win it in 1977, before the great sides of Kingsway Olympic and Spearwood Dalmatinac swapped honours from 1978 to 1980. In 1981, Perth Azzurri claimed the championship by going through the league season undefeated, and also won the D'orsogna Cup before losing the Top Four Cup to Forrestfield United. By 1983, a younger club, with massive support, had entered the frame and were to win three championships in a row. That team was West Perth Macedonia (now Stirling Lions), who had a team of champions at their disposal, with the likes of Steve Tombides, Steve Green, Jim Davies and Neil Blunt. Spearwood Dalmatinac who was runners-up on all three occasions took revenge and won the title in 1986 before Macedonia were once again victors in 1987. Floreat Athena was the first winners of the brand new Super League in 1988.

1989 was to be the start of a new era in WA football. For the first time in the competition's history, a top four finals series would determine the championship. It caused uproar amongst the traditionalists, but it was decided in the best interest of the game, to bring in the "Australian style event". It was an instant success, with big crowds watching all four games. Sorrento and Stirling Macedonia met in the Minor Semi-Final, a do-or-die clash for both sides. After a torrid encounter it was Sorrento who took the honours, which signalled the end to Macedonia's 1989 campaign. In the Major Semi-Final, Floreat Athena stamped their usual dominace of the game, taking the match 2-1 and forcing Perth Italia into the Preliminary Final with a determined Sorrento. From the outset, Sorrento looked a more complete side, rested after a two week break and desperate for victory. The Percy Doyle side took the lead in the first half fron a flat-footed Italia, when Cliff Collins found the net. However, Italia fought back in the second half, Roy Hogan equalising after 10 minutes and Oriano Colli made it 2-1 midway through the term, giving Italia the match.

Athena went into the Grand Final short-priced favourites after beating Italia in the Major Semi-Final and thrashing them 3-1 in the D'orsogna Cup Final the previous week. However Italia dominated for the better part of the 90 minutes in front of packed crowd of 5,500, marching forward through Joe Vecchio and Gerry Christie, winner of the inaugural Chris Gogos medal. It was Peter Murphy to open the scoring, after a number of early chances went begging, when he headed home from a Joe Vecchio cross which beat Alan Davidson. Athena's forwards were unable to stamp their influence on the game with Dave Evans and Robbie Dunn dominating at the back. As much as they tried, Athena could not find the equaliser and Italia took the match and the championship 1-0.

Not only was the finals series to determine the championship to stay in 1990, but also it was expanded to five teams after the top flight changed from eight to ten clubs.

Floreat Athena had a magnificent regular season, finishing top of the table, without losing game. Defending Champions Perth Italia finished second, while Stirling Macedonia, Kelmscott Roos and North Perth Croatia made out the top five.

The first game of the finals was an elimination final between the fourth and fifth placed clubs Kelmscott and Croatia, with Croatia winning a very exciting contest by 4 goals to 3. They went on to play Stirling Macedona in the Minor Semi-Final where they received a 6-1 drubbing, with Macedonia's Frank Bate scoring a hat trick. In the Major Semi-Final Athena should have felt fairly confident having beaten Italia in both league games. But the tables were turned and it was the Championship holders who won, and took the honours by 3 goals to 1. So to the Preliminary Final at Dorrien Gardens and Athena fighting to prove that they were the ones who should be contesting the grand final, but it wasn't to be, goals from the Macedonian youngest and oldest players, in Keagan and Garvey respectively saw Athena's hopes dashed and a goal from Ronnie Campbell could not save the Minor Premiers from being eclipsed.

With the pre-match build up heightened by a controversial decision to allow suspended Robbie Dunn to play for Italia then the grand final was set up for a fiery encounter between two strong sides. And so it turned out, a crowd of some 4,000 were left breathless with excitement as the play flowed first one way then the other, something had to give, unfortunately it was players tempers that cracked under the red hot pressure and when a couple of fists flashed, referee Andy Hassle had no alternative but to send Alan Armstrong of Macedonia, and Mel Brown of Italia from the field of play. The first goal did not come until the 70th minute when Italia's Collova converted a tiltman cross, and Italia must have thought the cup and the championship was as good as theirs, but with seconds to go Macies Alan Herscher levelled the score and so it went into extra time. The extra time was as nail bitingly tense as the previous 90 minutes. It was Hersch who scored again for Macedonia putting them in front for the first time, but the lead was short lived as the tall Dave Evans scored with a glorious header from a corner. It was super sub Tiltman who regained the lead for his team, and a further goal was scored by Italia's captain and former socceroo Robbie Dunn with a shot that the diving McNally could only carry into the net. So with this 4-2 victory, Italia as a club took their second step into the most successful season in its history.

In 1991, Perth Italia were hoping to win a hatrick of championship titles, however this looked unlikely during the course of the season, as the club only just limped into the top five. Once again Floreat Athena finished as Minor Premiers and were favourites to go all the way. All eleven Super League clubs broke away from the Soccer Federation during this season, to form the new "Professional Soccer League".

For the first time, championship play-off games were played mid-week, with defending premiers Perth Italia defeating North Perth Croatia 2-0 in the Elimination Final, while Stirling Macedonia beat Kingsway Olympic 4-2 after extra time in the Qualifying Final, both teams were locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes. Three days later, Athena moved straight into the Grand Final after defeating Macedonia 6-1 in the Major Semi-Final. While Perth Italia then went on to beat Olympic 2-0 in the do-or-die minor semi.

It was the 1990 Grand Finalist's Perth Italia and Stirling Macedonia that met in the Preliminary Final for the right to meet Floreat Athena in the league decider. In a torrid encounter, it was Italia that won the game 3-2.

Perth Italia then completed a remarkable hat-trick of State championships when they defeated minor premiers Floreat Athena 1-0 in the Emu Export Pro League grand final at Dorrien Gardens. It was a great result for Italia as it put the club's name alongside that of Stirling Macedonia and their own predecessors, Perth Azzurri, in the record books for achieving the feat. For Athena, it was a bitter disappointment to once again fall at the final hurdle after winning the minor premiership so well.

On this occasion, however, there was few excuses for Athena. For a team that had come to this final with a 6-1 thrashing of Stirling Macedonia a fortnight before, they never really threatened a solid Italia defence until late in the game when Stan Lazaridis proved some strong runs. The Floreat club was missing Ronnie Campbell and John Dimitriou and their absence gave a sense of vulnerability to their line-up, a vulnerability that should have been capitalised on by Ori Colli in the first minute.

Colli found some space on the Athena six-yard line and with defenders looking at each other, he miss-hit his shot giving Alex Lackovic the chance to clear. A minute later Athena survived another crisis when Peter Murphy cleverly controlled a well-flighted pass and drove across the face of goal leaving Lackovic desperately scrambling along his goal line.

In the 19th minute Lazaridis curled in a free kick that Tommy Maras safely gathered after a slight fumble and then Shaun Murphy was shown his sixth yellow card for the season for felling Mike Roki. Just past the half-hour Lou Collova robbed John Saunders of possession, passed inside to the waiting Peter Murphy who, from the edge of the penalty area, sent the ball wide.

By half-time the game was crying for a goal and it nearly came in the 55th minute. Dean Nicolaou, playing well before his usual standard, hammered a 2-metre shot that Maras managed to control after the ball had bounced. That was Maras' first and only serious save of the game. A minute later Saunders sent a long lob forward that found Patrick David, but he was too slow and the Italia defence recovered to deny him a direct shot at goal.

In the 64th minute Colli, the villain of the first minute, made himself an instant hero by putting Italia in front. Collvoa was the architect when he chased a ball that Lackovic appeared to have covered. The ball escaped from the keeper's grasp, Collova gathered just inside the by-line, and passed to Colli who gleefully thumped it into the roof of the unguarded net.

Athena rallied for Lazaridis to shoot over the crossbar and then head wide before he fired straight at Maras from a Jeff Faulkner corner kick. Next up was Roki, also wide with a header, but the last word came from Peter Murphy who hit a past with just two minutes remaining. It was a well deserved win for Italia who had played the more constructive football, though more goals would have pleased the big crowd in attendance.

Perth Italia: Maras, Willey, S. Murphy, C. Naven, Brown, G.Naven, Collova, Pottier, P. Murphy, Colli, Carbone. Subs: Costa, Wingell
Floreat Athena: Lacovic, Sweeney, Faulkner, Saunders, Nicolaidis, Roki, David, Davis, Lazaridis, Nicolaou, Duddy. Subs: Dunseath, Dafinkas

2nd October, 1991

Elimination Final
Perth Italia 2 vs North Perth Croatia 0

2nd October, 1991

Qualifying Final
Stirling Macedonia 4 vs Kingsway Olympic 2

5th October, 1991

Major Semi-Final
Floreat Athena 6 vs Stirling Macedonia 1

6th October, 1991

Minor Semi-Final
Kingsway Olympic 0 vs Perth Italia 2

13th October, 1991

Preliminary Final
Stirling Macedonia 2 vs Perth Italia 3

20th October, 1991

Grand Final
Floreat Athena 0 vs Perth Italia 1
Attendence 4,000

Perth Italia celebrate the 1991 Championship win.

In 1992, the league decided to revert back to the traditional first past the post system for the league title. A top five was still played, this time as a separate competition. With no championship having a bearing on it, clubs and supporters showed little interest in the post-season competition. Italia, however, this time did it the traditional way, finishing top in both 1992 and 1993, and claiming a record five championships in a row. Stirling Macedonia were to go back to back in 1994 and 1995, before Inglewood made history by finishing top in the last minute of their game against Bayswater City to win their first ever title. In 1997 it was Floreat Athena's turn, who won both the league and cup double.

In January 1998, Soccer West Coast General Manager, Paul Tombides, announced in the media, that the league would once again be decided by a top five finals series. With the team that finished top to officially be called "Minor Premiers" and the Grand Final winners known as "Champions". For sponsorship reasons, the finals series would be coined the "Champion of Champions Series". Unlike the previous 3 championship series in 1989, 1990 and 1991, Floreat Athena did not finish on top. It was the Western Knights that won the Minor Premiership, with Fremantle City, Joondalup City, Sorrento and Floreat Athena rounding out the top five. To defend their title, Athena had to do it the hard way from fifth spot. But their season ended after their 1-0 defeat to Sorrento in the Elimination Final. This meant a new team were to be Champions, as the remaining four clubs had never won the title before.

After winning three consecutive sudden death games to reach the Grand Final, Sorrento ran into a red-hot Western Knights outfit in the final. The Knights, playing for the triple were awesome, especially the man of the match Eugene Singerozan. Singerozan scored two and Trim Morgon added a third all in the first 25 minutes of the match to sink any sky blue dreams of a first championship. Ross Greer did manage to pull one back just before half time but his side could not sneak a second after the interval to give the Knights a few last minute jitters. But the Western Knights hung on to win the 1998 title.

19th September, 1998

Elimination Final
Sorrento 1 vs Floreat Athena 0

20th September, 1998

Major Semi-Final
Western Knights 2 vs Fremantle City 0

27th September, 1998

Minor Semi-Final
Joondalup City 2 vs Sorrento 6

4th October, 1998

Preliminary Final
Fremantle City 1 vs Sorrento 2

11th October, 1998

Grand Final
Western Knights 3 vs Sorrento 1
Attendence 1,200

Western Knights - 1998 Champions

During the 1999 season, it was decided to call the team that finishes top Champions once again. However, the "Champion of Champions" title remained for the Grand Final. This at times did confuse who actually were the State's best. As the team that finished first past the post from now on were called Champions, it seemed obvious to most that finishing on top was once again regarded as the major prize. ECU Joondalup won it for the first time that year, while Fremantle City and Sorrento were to claim the Championship in 2000 and 2001 respectively. It's interesting to note that the league champions in 1999, 2000 and 2001 failed to reach the Grand Final. In 2002 and 2003 Perth did both the League and Top Five double, as did the Western Knights in 2004. Perth reclaimed the Championship in 2005, with Sorrento winners in 2006 and Floreat Athena in 2007. During those three seasons (2005 to 2007) there was no finals series. Sorrento won the championship in 2008 and it was decided that a Top Four Cup was to be played. It was the success of this series that prompted Football West to reintroduce a Championship Play-Off Series for the fifth time in the state's history in 2009.

After eleven years, finals to decide the league championship was back, this was the fifth time in State League history. Western Knights went into the finals series as favourites after they finished the regular season as minor premiers. Perth were second, followed by Floreat Athena, Mandurah City and the Stirling Lions. Defending Champions Sorrento just missed out on a chance to defend their title after finishing the regular season in sixth position. It ended up being a Western Knights vs Perth Grand Final.

Perth captain David Onoforo turned in a best on ground performance to guide his team to a 2-0 Grand Final victory - and the title of State Champions for 2009 - over Western Knights on a sunny afternoon at Clipsal Stadium. Ian McMurray put one Perth hand on the trophy when he opened the scoring early in the second half with Onoforo sealing the win after 72 minutes. “It was a great all-round team performance from us today,” said Onoforo, clearly delighted with his teams performance. “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.”

The bumper crowd of 1,720 had hardly time to settle into their seats when the Knights threatened for the first time through Anthony Campbell whose cross-shot from the right drifted wide of the post. Perth weren’t to be outdone and four minutes later a crisp first time shot by Matt Danskin brought a good low save out of Frazer Siddall. There was no let up in the tempo with the two teams trading attacks in search of an opening goal. On the quarter hour Andy Bourakis’ long-range attempt was held by the Knights custodian, the ball was quickly spirited to the opposite end where Campbell flashed a header wide from Barry Devlin’s cross.

Perth had the benefit of a swirling breeze for the first half and in the 30th minute Bourakis’ 25-metres free-kick was caught by the wind, forcing Siddall to back pedal and tip the ball on to the crossbar at the last moment. Five minutes later Siddall again came to his sides rescue, saving well from Danskin’s long-range shot. At the other end, Perth youngster Luke Martino had to be alert to punch clear a David Micevski in-swinging corner. But it was Perth who ended the half on top with another Bourakis’ free-kick tipped over by Siddall, then minutes later Danskin’s shot from the right whistled narrowly the wrong side of the upright.

The second half was given a crackerjack start with Dom De Felice crashing the ball into the base of the post with Siddall well beaten, and soon after Greg Sharland’s first time strike whizzed just wide. The Knights should have taken a 53rd minute lead through Devlin but after driving inside the 18-yard box the midfielder blazed high from 10-metres. It was a costly miss as, three minutes later, Bourakis’ superbly released Onoforo whose low centre from the by-line was rammed into the net at close-range by McMurray. Controversy reigned soon after when Stuart Ferguson’s header was prevented from entering the net by De Felice, despite Knights’ claims the Perth midfielder was over the line.

With the Knights committing players forward they were always running the risk of being caught out at the back. And that’s exactly what happened on 72 minutes when Sharland’s terrific diagonal long ball found Onoforo, who expertly skipped around Ivan Zuvela before angling his low shot beyond Siddall’s reach to double Perth’s lead. Campbell and Danskin were fortunate to remain on the park following a heated clash that sparked an ugly melee, however, referee Mathew Cheeseman was quick to defuse the situation. Craig Simpson had a header clear off the line by Zuvela as Perth attempted to add a third to their tally

The Knights weren’t ready to throw in the towel by any means and bombarded their opponents’ goal throughout the closing stages. Marco Warmt-Murray’s low shot was well saved by Martino, then David Annall should have done better that lift over the bar from 8-metres. 82 minutes were on the clock when Daniel Micevski teed up brother David but the midfielder blazed disappointingly high from the edge of the box. David Micevski almost made amends soon after with a cracking volley from 15-metres which cannoned back off the bar, before the final chance of the day saw Martino deny Daniel Trim.

With the final whistle came the beginning of a long night of celebrations for Perth, whose coach Graham Normanton was over the moon with his team’s performance. “We played really well today. We were primed for it and ready to go,” he said. “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!”

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,” said Price, who rued the decision not to award a goal for Ferguson’s second half header. “The boys 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.”

2009 Flexible Signage Solutions Championship Series

Saturday 10th October, 2009
Elimination Final
Mandurah City 1 vs Stirling Lions 0

Saturday 10th October, 2009
Qualifying Final
Perth 2 vs Floreat Athena 1

Saturday 17th October, 2009
Minor Semi-Final
Floreat Athena 2 vs Mandurah City 1

Sunday 18th October, 2009
Major Semi-Final
Western Knights 2 vs Perth 3

Saturday 24th October, 2009
Preliminary Final
Western Knights 2 vs Floreat Athena 1

Saturday 31st October, 2009
Grand Final
Perth 2 vs Western Knights 0
Attendence 1,720

Perth - 2009 Champions

After the success of the 2009 finals series, Football West decided to continue with the format. Western Knights once again finished minor premiers, with the Stirling Lions a close second. Defending champions Perth were third, while Floreat Athena and ECU Joondalup rounded out the top five.

Once again, it was to be a Western Knights versus Perth Grand Final.

Graham Normanton brought the curtain down on a remarkable coaching career by guiding Perth to a 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Western Knights in the All Flags State League Grand Final at 6PR Stadium. It was the twenty-second trophy Perth had won under Normanton in eleven years. First half goals by Dom De Felice and Ian McMurray set the scene with David Onoforo converting a stoppage time penalty to secure the trophy, but only after Simon Versaico had pulled one back for the Knights.

After a relatively even start Perth gained the ascendency amid some controversy. Referee Mathew Cheeseman dismissed appeals for a penalty despite Garth Lecky appearing to handle a Hayden Doyle cross. The drama didn’t end there are minutes later Knights goalkeeper Frazer Siddall escaped without so much as a booking after handling the ball outside his 18-yard box. Antonio Naglieri stepped up to take the resulting free-kick which crashed into the upright, much to the relief of Siddall who was well-beaten.

Perth deservedly took the lead on 32 minutes when Dom De Felice was on hand to tap in from close-range after an exquisite Robbie Puca free-kick had been nodded down by McMurray. Falling behind may have spurred the Knights into life, however, genuine chances on goal were few as they struggled to break down a resilient defence. The pendulum swung back in Perth’s favour after McMurray was on hand to fire into an empty net after Siddall did well to save but was unable to hold onto a David Onoforo shot a minute from the interval.

Needing a goal to get back in the game, Knights coach Carl Medica threw caution to the wind by bringing on attack-minded Daniel Trim for Lecky just before the hour. That move paid dividends eight minutes later when Stuart Montgomery crossed for Simon Versacio to head in at close-range and half the deficit. Medica did his best to inspire his troops to a second goal and the introduction of David Micevski, who was suffering a severe bout of flu, had a noticeable effect on the Knights attacking impetus.

David Micevski had been on the park only a few minutes when he took the ball deep inside the area before squaring across the face of goal only to see Shaun Kilkelly set in and clear the danger. As the Knights threw everyone forward in a desperate attempt to send the game to extra-time, Perth delivered the knock-out blow. Referee Cheeseman had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot after Jack Doyle brought down Onoforo, who picked himself up to fire past Siddall and seal the State Champions title.

2010 All Flags Championship Series

Saturday 11th September, 2010
Elimination Final
Floreat Athena 3 vs ECU Joondalup 2

Saturday 11th September, 2010
Qualifying Final
Stirling Lions 2 vs Perth 3

Saturday 18th September, 2010
Minor Semi-Final
Stirling Lions 1 vs Floreat Athena (9-8 pens)

Sunday 19th September, 2010
Major Semi-Final
Western Knights vs Perth 2-0

Sunday 26th September, 2010
Preliminary Final
Perth 4 vs Stirling Lions 1

Saturday 2nd October, 2010
Grand Final
Western Knights 1 vs Perth 3
Attendence 1,400

Perth win back to back titles - 2010 Champions

A finals series was once again used to decided the championship, and for the third year running, it was Perth who took out the big one.

Going into the finals series, Balcatta who finished Minor Premiers, were heavy favourites to take out the major crown. However, they went out in straight sets, losing to to rivals Perth 2-1 in the Major Semi-Final, and then going down 3-0 to Sorrento in the Preliminary Final.

Sorrento came from fourth place to make it into the Grand Final, and the chance of winning the cup/championship double, however it was not to be.

Perth completed a hat-trick of State Championships by thrashing Sorrento 7-0 in the State League Grand Final at Frank Drago Reserve. David Onoforo and Andreas Oliveira put the blues into a comfortable half-time lead then struck again after the interval along with Robbie Sciascia, Josh Wilkins and Adam Bachiller to seal a historic win. “I can’t say enough about the players who played today and all that have given everything all season for our football club,” said captain Onoforo. “We were great today and to win the Grand Final for a third time is very special, and we’re going to enjoy it tonight.”

The first opening of the afternoon came on 3 minutes when Greg Sharland picked out Onoforo whose shot on the turn was deflected just wide. Sorrento failed to heed the warning and nine minutes later they went a goal down, Onoforo firing low past Curtis Aspden at close-range after receiving Sharland’s quick free-kick. Two minutes Shaun Timmins took the Gulls forward, crossing from the left to Joe Allanson whose header flashed just high of the crossbar. Sorrento’s search for an equaliser continued with Ryan Pearson’s long ball released Todd Harnwell but he was denied by a smart save from Jason Saldaris.

Perth couldn’t believe their luck in the 23rd minute when poor marking gifted them a second goal, a totally unmarked Oliveira lashing into the net from 7-metres after meeting Trent Kay’s low centre from the left. A spiteful clash between Matt Danskin and Timmins sparked an ugly melee involving both sets of players, referee Mathew Cheeseman eventually restoring calm to issue his first booking. Sorrento were unlucky not to reduce the deficit on 39 minutes, Pearson’s shot deflecting off the crossbar and retrieved by Timmins whose cross was met by Todd Harnwell but his header landed on the top netting.

The second half began positively enough for Sorrento but Timmins’ shot was blocked by Shaun Kilkelly and a few minutes later Todd Harnwell threaded through a crowded 18-yard box only for Saldaris to make the save. The floodgates were pushed fully open in the 56th minute, Sharland getting clear down the left to deliver a pinpoint cross which an unmarked Sciascia converted from 7-metres. Sharland was again provider two minutes later, this time picking out Oliveira who made no mistake at the back post. Sorrento were exposed for a fifth time on 70 minutes, an unmarked Wilkins converting from an Onoforo cross.

Perth clearly had no intention of ending things there, Wilkins shot was blocked by Aspden with Onoforo’s follow-up cleared off the line by Jared Love. Goal number six arrived in the 82nd minute, Bachiller applying a clinical finish from the left of the penalty area after being found by Onoforo. The icing was put on the cake seven minutes later when Onoforo placed into an empty net after Oliviera’s attempt at a hat-trick was thwarted by Aspden. Post-game, Perth attacker Greg Sharland was awarded the ‘Gary Marocchi Medal’ as the best on ground.

The 7-0 trouncing was equal to the largest Grand Final winning margin, recorded in 1972 when Perth, or Azzurri as they were then known, battered Bayswater United. “Any final I don’t think should finish 7-0 and obviously everything went right for us and something went wrong for them,” said Perth boss Gianfranco Circati. “We were a little bit worried after the final of the Cup and we didn’t want to lose this game … we had a little bit of luck but we played very well. I don’t think it was the best Sorrento today but it was definitely the best Perth of the season.”

2011 All Flags Championship Series

Sunday 11th September, 2011
Elimination Final
Sorrento 3 vs Western Knights 2

Sunday 11th September, 2011
Qualifying Final
Perth 4 vs Inglewood United 2

Saturday 17th September, 2011
Minor Semi-Final
Inglewood United 1 vs Sorrento 3

Sunday 18th September, 2011
Major Semi-Final
Balcatta 1 vs Perth 2

Saturday 24th September, 2011
Preliminary Final
Balcatta 0 vs Sorrento 3

Sunday 2nd October, 2011
Grand Final
Perth 7 vs Sorrento 0
Attendence 2,000

Perth make it three in a row - 2011 Champions

Sorrento went one better in the 2012 Grand Final, winning their fourth Premier Division title.

Going into the play-offs, it was Bayswater who finished on top, and most experts expected them to go all the way. However, just as Balcatta did in 2011, they went out in straight sets, losing to to Athena 3-1 in the Major Semi-Final, and losing again this time to Sorrento 2-1 in the Preliminary Final.

Sorrento completed a historic League and Cup double by coming from behind to triumph 4-3 over Floreat Athena in this afternoon’s pulsating Grand Final at Frank Drago Reserve. Retiring great Johny Mirco opened the scoring for Sorrento from the penalty spot on half-time only to have Benny Kovaoio and Mark Pritchard turned the game in Floreat’s favour. A final minute equaliser by newly introduced substitute Jamie Harnwell sent the game to extra-time where Jason Mirco and Ryan Pearson put Sorrento’s hands on the trophy. Jack Allen grabbed Floreat’s third goal in the closing stages of the game.

Johny Mirco could not have wished for a better end to his career. “It was a really good game and to get on the score sheet and be part of the third goal it’s a great way to go out,” said the Sorrento striker. “We really like to do things the hard way but it was terrific, we’ve done the same for the last three weeks. To end my career like this - I’m really delighted.” Floreat captain Pritchard was awarded the Gary Marocchi Medal for his best on ground performance.

Floreat made clear their intentions from the get-go with Pritchard putting a rising 1st minute strike over the crossbar. Six minutes later Ludovic Boi flashed just over the top after brilliantly swivelling onto a David Heagney throw. With Pritchard and Jon Brooks bossing the midfield Floreat were well in the ascendancy. On the quarter hour Pritchard unleashed a fierce drive from 15-metres which Curtis Aspden was grateful to see go past the post. Sorrento eventually settled and should have taken a 22nd minute lead through an unmarked Brodie Martin, who skied from 8-metres after meeting a ball in from Jason Mirco.

Michael Aspin joined the attack six minutes later to deliver a low cross which passed through a crowded goalmouth, just out of reach of several team mates. Floreat sustained a body blow on 37 minutes when Boi, who came into the game with a hamstring injury, signalled to be replaced, coach Chris Barbas doing so by bringing on club stalwart Jarrad Smith. Half-time was a minute away the deadlock was broken by Johny Mirco, who got his angles right in beating Brad Eiffe from the penalty spot following a harsh handball decision against Bobby Wilson.

Smith was presented a chance to level three minute after the restart but Aspden battered away his attempt after Steve McDonald coughed up the ball to Heagney. Jack Allen got away down the right only to pull his shot across the face of goal as Floreat turned the heat up on their opponents. The goal they sought came via a swift counterattack on 58 minutes, Pritchard and Heagney combining to release Kovaoio who rounded Aspden before stroking a low shot inside the far post. The roles were reversed off soon after with Kovaoio teeing up Pritchard whose angled strike flashed across the face of goal.

Pritchard got the goal he was after on 76 minute by converting from the penalty spot after referee Josh Manella blew for McDonald’s trip on Heagney. Sorrento needed a quick reply and almost had one when James Morgan’s free-kick was flicked on by McDonald to Daryl Platten whose close-range effort brought a superb reflex save from Eiffe. Heagney and Brooks were both presented chances to secure the game but the former placed high and the latter wide. Jamie Harnwell needed just six minutes to make his mark, the Sorrento veteran rising high to nod Gavin Knight’s clipped cross into the top corner from 5-metres.

Sorrento came out swinging for extra-time. On 95 minutes John Mirco’s angled strike was parried by Eiffe, Knight crashed the rebound into the post and with the third opportunity Jason Mirco lashed into the net from 12-metres. Aspden denied Mikey Roberts an equaliser by tipping the striker’s fierce strike from just outside the 18-yard box. Sorrento strengthened their grip on the game in the 105th minute when Pearson played out wide to Knight who got deep down the right before delivering the ball back into the middle where Pearson made it four-two with a terrific diving header.

Knight looked to extend Floreat’s woes after the turnaround but Spencer Harris deflected his shot wide, and from the partially cleared corner Reece Vittiglia curled over. Aspden ensured his team’s two-goal buffer remained intact with a tidy save to Heagney’s low long-range shot, and a minute later he did even better in tipping over Roberts’ powerful strike. Time was running out for Floreat when Allen’s cross from the right drifted over Aspden and snuck inside the far top corner. There were no risks taken in the final couple of minutes by Sorrento, who did what was needed to secure their first ever double.

2012 All Flags Championship Series

Sunday 15th September, 2012
Elimination Final
Inglewood United 1 vs Perth 2

Sunday 16th September, 2012
Qualifying Final
Floreat Athena 3 vs Sorrento 1

Saturday 22nd September, 2012
Minor Semi-Final
Sorrento 3 vs Perth 1

Saturday 22nd September, 2012
Major Semi-Final
Bayswater City 1 vs Floreat Athena 3

Sunday 30th September, 2012
Preliminary Final
Bayswater City 1 vs Sorrento 2

Sunday 6th October, 2012
Grand Final
Floreat Athena 3 vs Sorrento 4
Attendence 2,534

Sorrento win their fourth Premier League championship

Bayswater City went all the way in 2013, winning their first ever Premier Division Championship. The Stirling Lions finished top, but it was Bayswater that thrashed them in the Major Semi-Final 4-1. The Lions then beat defending champions Sorrento 3-1 in the Preliminary Final before facing a showdown with Bayswater in the Grand Final.

A late Todd Howarth strike proved the difference as Bayswater City beat Stirling Lions 2-1 in this afternoon’s State League Grand Final at Litis Stadium. Irish midfielder Gareth McGlynn had given Stirling a first half lead before Gustavo Giron-Marulanda equalised and Howarth struck in the dying minutes to give Bayswater their first ever State Championship. “It was a fantastic finish to a successful season for us,” said Howarth. “Credit to Stirling, they made us work extremely hard. They probably had the better of the first half but I feel we over ran them in the end with a bit of extra desire.”

There was a big crowd on hand at kick-off and it was Bayswater that opened the brighter. With only 5 minutes gone Giron-Marulanda put a free-kick just past the post following a handball decision against Stirling custodian Aleks Vrteski outside of his 18-yard box. Bayswater were well on top and on the quarter hour Adrian Caceres picked out Brian Farrell, who cut past James Cogley only for Vrteski to produce a smart low save to deny him. Stirling settled and went close to the opener two minutes later, Miki Vujacic’s cross headed over by Rory Grant from 6-metres.

Vrteski twice came to the rescue, saving in each occasion from Gustavo Catarcione as Bayswater pressed to make something of their dominance. So it was against the run of play that Stirling went ahead on 29 minutes, Dean Evans playing down the left for Daniel Micevski whose cross was dummied by Phil Arnold and fired in from 18-metres by McGlynn. This gave Stirling the lift they needed and five minutes before the break Evans close-range shot was met by the gloves of Devon Spence after Arnold had skipped past Chris Saldaris on the right.

Stirling carried on after the break where they left off, Rory Grant centring for Arnold to neatly roll the ball back for Evans whose fierce strike from the edge of the area was well-saved by Spence. Giron-Marulanda restored parity in the 53rd minute by tucking into an empty net after Howarth’s low shot was parried by Vrteski, who was helpless at the follow-up. It was now Bayswater that was dictating terms and Jamie Coyne’s long-range effort drifted just wide before Andy Brown’s last gasp tackle denied Giron-Marulanda. Stirling, too, had their chances but shots from Andy Todd and Arnold were taken by Spence.

The game looked destined for extra-time when Farrell, from his position on the left, delivered the ball into Howarth who slid past his marker and fired low into the net. Stirling pushed men forward late in a desperate attempt to equalise, and they would have had one deep in stoppage time had Spence not brilliantly turned away Evans’ powerful header at the far post from a Matthew Harold cross. The final whistle sounded shortly to trigger scenes of jubilant celebration in the Bayswater camp. Howarth’s afternoon was made complete when awarded the man of the match honours, the ‘Gary Marocchi’ Medal.

2013 All Flags Championship Series

Saturday 14th September, 2013
Elimination Final
Cockburn City 6 vs Floreat Athena 1

Sunday 15th September, 2013
Qualifying Final
Bayswater City 3 vs Sorrento 0

Saturday 21st September, 2013
Minor Semi-Final
Sorrento 2 vs Cockburn City 0

Sunday 22nd September, 2013
Major Semi-Final
Stirling Lions 1 vs Bayswater City 4

Sunday 29th September, 2013
Preliminary Final
Stirling Lions 3 vs Sorrento 1

Saturday 5th October, 2013
Grand Final
Bayswater City 2 vs Stirling Lions 1
Attendence 2,700

Bayswater City win their first state championship.

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This page was last updated on the 11th March, 2013