Baysie celebrate title triumph, Balcatta stay up on last day

Perth SC failed to dampen Bayswater City’s NPLWA - Men's title celebrations, although they did pull off one of the more unlikely victories on the final weekend of the league season.

The Azzurri won 3-2 at Frank Drago Reserve despite goalkeeper Mateusz Zaniewski and his replacement Marino Gojak both going off injured in the first 10 minutes. Midfielder Abdul Osman put on the gloves and played his part as Kenny Lowe’s side ended the season on a high.

Elsewhere, Balcatta Etna stayed up on the last day with a late winner at Floreat Athena, which means Fremantle City must come through the play-offs if they are to extend their two-year stay in the top flight.

At Frank Drago Reserve, the party was already booked for champions Bayswater after they clinched the league in midweek with a draw against Stirling Macedonia.

NPLM RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS

And they could have been forgiven for thinking they were in for a comfortable afternoon as opponents Perth lost not one, but two goalkeepers early in proceedings. But deputy stopper Osman came to the rescue, including an early one-on-one save to deny Gordon Smith.

Perth took the lead on 40 minutes when Michael Scafetta cut in from the left and put into the bottom corner. However, they were pegged back a few minutes later when the visitors got into a predicament playing out from a goal-kick and Oli La Galia levelled.

A nicely worked move down the left resulted in Scafetta pulling across for Jamie McNelis to tuck away for a second Perth goal of the afternoon. And they made it three when Scafetta’s flick released Sam Riak to score his third goal of the campaign.

Bayswater battled to get back in the game only for Osman to twice deny Chris Jackson before the midfielder-turned-goalkeeper had his angles right to block La Galia’s shot from a narrow angle.

Osman then saved a penalty from Jason Mirco only for the veteran to put in the rebound as he marked a decade at Bayswater with a goal.

Despite losing for only the second time this season, the Bayswater title party was soon in full swing as captain Smith and head coach Matty Sparrow received the NPL league title from Football West Chair Sherif Andrawes. 

"It's been an incredible season from start to finish," Sparrow said.

"We brought in a lot of good characters, combined with the good characters that stayed from last season, and they've just been sensational. 

"I'm a bit emotional ... first season at the club, this is what you dream of and it's come true."

Bayswater now turn their attention to the Top Four Cup, which starts on 6 September, then the inaugural Australian Championship in October which they begin away to Sydney United.

At the other end of the table, there was late drama as Balcatta scored a last-gasp winner to defeat Floreat 1-0 and maintain their NPL status.

Etna knew a win would guarantee their safety after picking up a handy point against RedStar during the week. But with Fremantle leading in their match at Armadale, Terry Nicolaou’s side found themselves in the bottom two going into stoppage time.

However, Declan Hargreaves stole possession off Cameron Murray and squared for Hasani Sinclair to bundle in for Balcatta to survive on the final day. The defeat for Athena means they became the first side to go through a men’s NPLWA season without a win and will be playing State League football next year.

Balcatta’s win meant Fremantle City’s 2-1 success at Armadale proved to be in vain as they finished second bottom. They will face Kingsley Westside over two legs in the inter-divisional play-off semi-finals.

Freo were awarded a penalty after 55 minutes when Will Hayes brought down Nick Ambrogio with the playmaker stepping up to convert from the spot.

Armadale were given a spot kick of their own soon after when Ben Steele tangled with Pieter Jacobsz, who dispatched emphatically from 12 yards. That strike saw Jacobsz move to 16 goals for the season which saw him share the Golden Boot with Perth RedStar’s Daryl Nicol.

A third penalty of the afternoon went to Fremantle with 13 minutes remaining after Yanick Dao handled Taj Bingwa’s cross. Ambrogio kept his cool from the spot again to give Scott Miller’s side the win. Armadale, meanwhile, finished eighth.

Elsewhere, Sonny O’Shea scored a stoppage-time goal as Perth RedStar beat Sorrento FC 1-0 at RedStar Arena. Former Socceroo midfielder Neil Kilkenny was playing his final game for Sorrento before retiring, but it was a RedStar debutant who helped set up the winner. Taj Felipe combined with Liam Murray and pulled across for an unmarked O’Shea to sidefoot home.

RedStar finished third and go into the Top Four Cup on the back of a 14-game unbeaten run. They will host Perth Glory in an elimination final after the youngsters ended the season in fourth following a 3-2 loss at Olympic Kingsway.

Louis Sollitt timed his run perfectly from Giovanni De Abreu’s through ball to slip past Adrian Sinagra and give Glory a lead inside seven minutes.

Kingsway responded to sit 2-1 up at the break with Luke Hewings striding onto Ryan Lowry’s pass to score, before Tyler Garner teed up Josh Samson to whip home from 18 yards beyond an outstretched Ryan Warner.

The Green Machine extended their lead from the penalty spot midway through the second half with Joe Hobson squeezing under the goalkeeper. It proved to be the winning goal despite Adam Bugarija netting late after Max Naylor’s effort from Khoa Ngo’s cutback came back off the bar.

Finally, Stirling Macedonia warmed up for next week’s State Cup Final against Olympic by beating Western Knights 2-1 at Nash Field.

Stirling opened the scoring five minutes before the interval when Joshua Bilaloski’s clever flick released Leigh Griffiths, who ran in to score his eighth goal of the campaign.

Substitutes Luca Morelli and Samuel Dweh combined for Stirling’s second, the latter firing in at the near post to bring up a dozen goals in an impressive first season at Macedonia Park.

Kosta Sparta’s stunning free-kick was too little, too late for Knights who finish seventh, while Stirling finish fifth and miss the Top Four Cup for the first time since returning to the top flight in 2022.