La Fiamma go undefeated against Perth but promotion battle now out of their hands

Ugle Fabrications La Fiamma earned a hard-fought point on the road to Perth AFC, earning their second draw with the side to be the only team not to lose to the ladder leaders this season.

It was going to be a huge crunch clash against the leaders for La Fiamma’s hopes of promotion from Belt Up Amateur Division 3 as the Reds needed to grab something on the road to keep their dream alive.

But Perth has not lost a game all season, drawing three times (including earlier with La Fiamma) to go with their 14 wins, and had the opportunity to sew up the league title with a win over La Fiamma.

The Reds could take heart from the knowledge they were one of those three teams to grab a draw but an away trip in the worst time slot was a very different challenge.

Perth have scored 11 goals in their past three matches and while La Fiamma has also been in good attacking form, their defence has been leaky at times throughout the season.

It was an inauspicious start as La Fiamma reserves’ three-match winning streak was brought to a halt in emphatic fashion, going down 8-0.

Perth striker Bozo Ramic scored five goals in that win and no doubt would’ve rocked the group’s confidence.

But the Reds were able to hang with Perth in the league match.

While both sides have deadly attacks it was defence that dominated the game with neither side able to find a way through in the opening exchanges.

When they did find a way through it was quickly answered as nothing could separate the two sides as it ended 1-1.

It is a fine result but with Forrestfield and Cracovia both scoring big wins the Reds sit five points out of second place with just three rounds left in the season.

La Fiamma captain Lachlan Gray was circumspect about the result.

“It was not quite the fairytale result we wanted but to be the only team undefeated by Perth is a big effort,” he said.

“Forrestfield will be hard to catch now; a lot of results need to fall our way.”

La Fiamma will be back at home this weekend, after consecutive away trips, against Kalamunda United at 6pm Saturday night.