Report by Tommy Doleman
Olympic Kingsway stayed in touch with the top two in the New Balance NPL WA Men’s competition after Bryce Bafford’s stoppage-time goal gave them a 5-4 win over Balcatta Etna.
Olympic had to come from behind three times before overcoming bottom-of-the-table Etna. The Green Machine’s victory means they are three points behind leaders Bayswater City with a game in hand, while Balcatta are now five points adrift at the bottom with only six matches to play.
Saturday’s helter-skelter affair at Madman Arena saw four goals scored in the opening 20 minutes. Adrian Pini clipped to the back post for Darius Ghinea to net smartly for Balcatta on the half-volley, only for Liam Boland to reply when heading in Tyler Garner’s corner at the near post.
Etna led for a second time when Adrian Sinagra clattered into Ghinea and Nicolas Falco sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot. But Boland equalised for a second time when planting home after being teed up on the edge of the area by Garner.
Kingsway went in front for the first time before half-time when Sam Kamper’s cross was met sweetly at the back post by Joe Hobson. It was then Balcatta’s turn to fight back and on 52 minutes the hosts failed to clear a corner and Luke Alessandrino’s header was helped on by Charlie Betts for 3-3.
On the hour mark, Betts controlled and finished Ghinea’s low cross to put Basil Lenzo’s side in front once again. However, despite another spirited showing, Balcatta could not hold on for a result and substitute Bafford played a big part in decisive comeback.
First, the winger crossed for Boland to complete his hat trick from six yards on 77 minutes. He then got on the end of Noah Ieraci’s cutback to close out one of the games of the NPL season.
Reigning champions Bayswater returned to the top of the league on Friday evening following a 3-0 win over Perth RedStar, who drop to second place.
Matt Sparrow’s side came from two goals down to defeat RedStar 10 days prior in the Hahn Australia Cup and another strong second half showing at Frank Drago Reserve saw them inflict the visitors first league loss in nine matches.
Coby Sutton, who struck twice in the cup win, broke the deadlock on 65 minutes when getting on the end of Cameron Teece’s nod-down from Pat Loughrey’s corner. This was the third consecutive game he had netted.
Teece then scored twice in the final eight minutes to ensure Bayswater extended their unbeaten streak to six matches. A RedStar mistake in midfield saw Ollie La Galia square for Teece to finish emphatically past Liam Reddy.
Another Loughrey corner was headed home by the striker late on to wrap up the win, which leaves them two points clear of RedStar having played a game more.
Fourth-placed Perth Azzurri are also in the title picture after winning 4-1 against 10-man Armadale at Alfred Skeet Reserve.
Michael Scafetta put Perth ahead after quarter of an hour when collecting Sam Riak’s pass on the turn and finishing past Alfie Brincat into the bottom corner.
Pieter Jacobsz doubled the lead against his former side two minutes later with an acrobatic finish on the volley from inside the box.
Corey Sutherland’s second yellow card on 61 minutes made a fightback difficult for the home side. And soon after the game was all but decided when Jacobsz latched onto David Ninkovich’s pass and slotted in for 3-0.
Jacobsz completed his hat-trick after excellent work from Zayd Farah down the right as Perth ended the week four points off the leaders after an eighth game without defeat. Substitute Yannick Dao pulled one back for Armadale, who sit two points clear of the relegation play-off spot.
Elsewhere, Fremantle City made it three wins in a row after a 3-0 defeat of Western Knights at Hilton Park.
In the first half, Freo’s Josh Risdon had an effort cleared off the line by Woon-Sub Sim, while at the other end Kosta Sparta rattled the crossbar before the unmarked Aaron Pike headed the rebound over.
Freo went in front on 55 minutes when Charlie Chechlacz arrived to poke in after Iljas Ahmedov’s shot was blocked.
There was no denying Ahmedov nine minutes later when he put in Chad Nilson’s cross from close range, before Taj Bingwa bagged his second goal of the campaign off the bench to continue Freo’s good form.
Fremantle go fifth and are five points off the top four, while Knights are winless in six and are six points ahead of the bottom two.
Stirling Macedonia are a point behind Freo after being held to a 1-1 draw by Perth Glory, who remain second bottom.
Ollie Evans ran unchallenged to the edge of the area and curling brilliantly into the bottom corner to put Glory into a 13th-minute lead.
But Stirling struck back on 71 minutes when Jamie Bilaloski’s close range effort was saved by Tomi Petkovic with the rebound crashing in off Glory defender Malise Mpunga.
Finally, Dianella White Eagles gave their survival hopes a boost as they came from a goal down to defeat Sorrento FC 2-1 at home.
Skipper Dean Cummings gave the Gulls an ideal start on six minutes when turning home Rene Kisesa’s cross from inside the six-yard box.
Heavy rain made conditions tough for both sets of players in the second half. But Dianella got themselves back on level terms on 47 minutes when Cory McNelis’ cross held up on the heavy surface and Daniel Zivkovic was on hand to hit the scoresheet.
Franc Gamiz Quer got the winner 10 minutes from time when meeting Zivkovic’s free-kick at the near post. That goal saw Ian Ferguson’s side move six points clear of the 11th-placed Glory with Sorrento two points further ahead.
