A day to remember for State League Division Two Ashfield after they sent NPL side Inglewood United out of the Australia Cup.
Inglewood, who represented WA on the national stage of the competition last year, looked to have rescued themselves with Christopher Tilson’s late equaliser at Paintseal Arena. But Ashfield, who had led thanks to Hanani Ndebele’s 28th-minute effort but then played all of extra-time with 10 men following Conor McCann’s second yellow card, held on to take the tie to penalties. And it was the home side who prevailed 6-5, with Jared Flavel converting the decisive spot-kick.
Another NPL team beaten by lower division opposition were Fremantle City, who were turned over 4-1 at home by Sorrento FC.
It was all square at the break, Keegan Chambers’ early strike for the Gulls cancelled out by Patrick Loughrey’s penalty. Chambers restored Sorrento’s advantage on 61 minutes but the game was in the balance until stoppage time when the visitors netted twice more through Andrew Maranta and Dario Tettamanti.
Olympic Kingsway, Perth SC and Perth RedStar all avoided a similar fate as their NPL rivals with relative comfort.
Olympic were 2-0 up inside 24 minutes at Poolmart Stadium, with Joe Hobson scoring twice. Hobson was dismissed minutes later. However, the red card had little effect on David Tough’s side, and by the hour it was five as the outstanding Joe Knowles grabbed a hat-trick. Fionn Faherty got Mandurah on the board near the end but the game ended 5-1.
Sam Cook scored two as Perth SC won 7-2 away to Wanneroo City. Ethan Banks, Gordon Perkins, Judd MacDougall, Joshua Cala and Franc Gamiz-Quer got the others for the Azzurri, with Sebastian Munoz and Kane Fitch Wanneroo’s scorers.
RedStar saw off Gwelup Croatia 3-0, the goals coming in the opening half from Daryl Nicol (2) and Bryce Bafford.
In the two all-NPL matches, Western Knights won 2-1 at Bayswater City while Stirling Macedonia defeated neighbours Balcatta Etna 1-0.
Joshua Anasmo opened the scoring for Bayswater at the break, only for Knights to respond through Kristian Santich and Jesse Lazzaro.
At Macedonia Park, Joshua Bilaloski got the only goal as Stirling edged out neighbours Balcatta 1-0.
Finally, Wembley Downs, the last Belt Up Amateur team still involved, went down 3-0 at Division One Rockingham City. Shane Boyle, Cory Mcnelis and Matthew Evans got the goals.
The draw for the preliminary quarter-finals will take place this week.
WA last eight: Ashfield, Olympic Kingsway, Perth RedStar, Perth SC, Rockingham City, Sorrento FC, Stirling Macedonia, Western Knights.
