Two first-half goals helped defending champions Floreat Athena move to the top of the NPLWA – Men’s competition as they won 2-0 at Perth RedStar on Saturday.
It was a third victory in a row for Vas Vujacic’s team, while RedStar sit ninth with just one win from their first four games.
Phil Arnold put Athena in front after a quarter-of-an-hour when he collected Noah Shamaki’s cross and rifled past Riley Stephenson from close range.
Arnold then swung in the corner which led to a second visitors’ goal. Jesse Fuller’s initial effort was blocked but the defender looped in a header on the follow-up to double his side’s lead on 25 minutes.
And that was how it would finish, even though both teams ended the game with 10 men. Riley Warland was shown a second yellow card for a high boot on Alex Christodoulakis before Bayley Brown-Montgomery collected a second caution late on for delaying the restart.
Balcatta Etna joined Floreat on nine points after a 2-1 win at Stirling Macedonia.
Veteran Adam Tong was the hero with both goals as Glenn Grostate’s side won a third game on the bounce away from home.
Tong’s first was a near-post header from Jon Corness’ corner, while his second just before the break came when his free-kick from distance beat Stirling keeper James Bosdet’s dive.
Daniel Zivkovic prodded home his first goal in Stirling colours, but it was not enough for Ian Ferguson’s team who suffered back-to-back defeats following wins in their first two games.
At Dorrien Gardens, a late Jeremie Mba strike gave Perth SC a come-from-behind 2-1 win over previous leaders Perth Glory in an entertaining contest.
Glory’s Jayden Gorman had a couple of great chances against his former team which he failed to get on target, while at the other end goalkeeper Robert Cook made two terrific saves to deny Paul Zimarino the opener for the Azzurri. Indeed, both keepers were standing tall, and Gorman was again frustrated as Luke Radonich kept him out.
However, it was Glory who found the breakthrough seven minutes after the restart. Jordan De Leo made an excellent last-ditch challenge to deny Joshua Anasmo a clear strike at goal, only for the ball to eventually fall for Corey Sutherland who scored for the fourth time in four games.
The lead would last only five minutes though as Federico Achilli was fouled in the penalty area and Sam Cook tucked away the spot-kick for 1-1.
Glory were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining when Sutherland was shown a straight red card for a last-ditch challenge on Gordon Perkins. Despite being a man light, John Walmsley’s side almost won it when Daniel Bennie was thwarted by Radonich.
Instead, the Azzurri stole it when another save from Robert Cook fell to Mba, and the forward struck the winner to put Perth fourth and end Glory’s unbeaten start.
Sorrento hit back from last week’s home thrashing to RedStar by winning 3-0 against Cockburn City at Dalmatinac Park.
Gustavo Marulanda got the opener three minutes before the interval, cashing in on a defensive error and rounding keeper Michael Craggs before slotting into a vacant net.
The Colombian then made it six for the season to lead the Golden Boot race, as he nodded in a back-post cross from Dean Cummings.
Alex Morgan scored a stylish third from Jaxon Temata’s reverse pass to wrap up the result and put the Gulls on six points, the same as the Cockerels.
Bayswater City are off the mark at the fourth attempt after they won 3-1 at Inglewood United.
Samuel Dweh scored for a second successive week after Ndumba Makeche put it on a plate, and the winger doubled the lead for Gareth Naven’s side with his second when his cross-shot deceived Alex Dunn early in the second half.
Harry Evans pulled one back for the hosts minutes later as he touched in following good work from Chad Nilson. But former Gwelup forward Dweh was in sparkling form, and his assist was finished at the near post by Makeche to give Bayswater the three points. Inglewood’s third loss in a row leaves them bottom of the league.
Olympic Kingsway got their first top-flight victory in 24 years as they won 2-1 at home to Armadale.
Former Glory academy player Joe Hobson scored his first goal for the club with a tap-in following good play on the right from Sasa Njegic.
Ciaran Byrne got on the scoresheet from the penalty spot on 55 minutes as David Tough’s side edged closer towards three points.
Pieter Jacobsz’s thumping header halved the deficit, but the result means fifth-placed Armadale are one of four sides with two wins and two losses.
Results
Cockburn City 0-3 Sorrento
Inglewood United 1-3 Bayswater City
Olympic Kingsway 2-1 Armadale
Perth RedStar 0-2 Floreat Athena
Perth SC 2-1 Perth Glory
Stirling Macedonia 1-2 Balcatta Etna