Western Knights maintained their lead at the top of the NPLWA men’s competition after six rounds despite being held in an entertaining 3-3 draw with Olympic Kingsway at Nash Field.
On a Saturday where the top four sides were in action against each other, Adam Kostrencic’s side sit one point clear of Floreat Athena.
Kingsway remain third and three points off the pace following a match which saw both sides give up winning positions.
Knights were looking to extend their unbeaten start to 2024 and after Jack Bardsley forced Adrian Sinagra into an early save, they went in front when Alex Da Rocha’s long-range drive found the back of the net.
Da Rocha came close again from a similar position when forcing Sinagra into a low save, but Olympic grew into the contest and turned the game around to lead at the half-time break.
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Joe Knowles made it four goals for the season with a left-footed effort which squirmed past Sam Reilly, before Ryan Lowry bundled in at the back post from Mitch Oxborrow’s corner.
The hosts would rally as the game was turned on its head once more by the hour mark. Kristian Santich finished at third time of asking following clearances off the line from Aryn Williams and Calum O’Connell, and moments later Owen Goodliffe capitalised on a mistake from Lowry to roll in and net for a third successive game.
David Tough’s side pressed for a leveller and equalised five minutes from time when Liam Boland stayed onside from a set-piece to chest and volley home and earn Olympic a point.
Kingsway are now four games unbeaten while Knights are six without defeat in the league. But breathing down their necks are Floreat who stayed second with two late goals giving them a 2-0 win over rivals Stirling Macedonia.
After a goalless first half, the opener arrived on 68 minutes when Nick Ambrogio’s left-footed cross picked out Guy Davies, who side-footed home for a third goal in two games.
The second was scored deep in stoppage time as Kyle Murray’s spectacular free-kick saw Vas Vujacic’s side record a third successive win.
Rounding out the top four are Bayswater City who rediscovered their scoring touch with a 5-2 victory against Perth Glory at Frank Drago Reserve.
City struck early when Cam Teece’s shot was deflected into his own goal by former Baysie junior Daniel Jankuloski, before Glory recovered to lead 2-1 courtesy of two goals in four minutes.
Sebastian Despotovski volleyed home midway through the first half, then Sam Barry continued his fine form in front of goal with a low finish across Lewis Italiano.
Unfortunately for John Walmsley’s side they conceded four goals after the interval for the second week in a row, as Bayswater ran away to a big win.
Cameron Teece’s smart looping header from Alex Ishida-Livings’ long throw made it 2-2 early in the second half, before Jon Stynes’ penalty restored Bayswater’s lead.
Chris Jackson came off the bench in the final 10 minutes and beat the offside trap twice to score with two stylish finishes, as Gary Williams’ side moved from eighth to fourth.
Fremantle City’s impressive start to the season continued as they came from behind to win 3-2 at defending champions Perth RedStar, lifting them to fifth and outside of the top four on goal difference only.
City made a fast start and led inside six minutes when Ollie La Galia placed a penalty straight down the middle of Liam Reddy’s goal.
RedStar were given their own spot-kick two minutes later which Daryl Nicol converted into the bottom corner, and the Scot’s first goal of the season from open play seven minutes into the second half put the holders ahead after a Hayden Stevens mistake.
Chasing the game, Fremantle upped their intensity, and it was two goals in two minutes midway through the second period which saw Matty Sparrow’s team win on the road for the first time in 2024.
Charlie Chechlacz’s corner was headed in by La Galia to square it up before the English midfielder’s deflected long-range effort wrong-footed Reddy to put Freo on the fringe of the top four.
Elsewhere, the bottom four sides also met as Armadale and Perth shared the points in a 1-1 draw following two late goals.
The deadlock was broken on 85 minutes at Alfred Skeet Reserve as David Ninkovich’s 30-yarder found the bottom corner to seemingly send the Azzurri towards three points.
But the hosts were given a penalty in stoppage time which Ryley Wishart-Stephen dispatched to earn Armadale a share of the points.
The point edged Perth a little clearer of danger, while Armadale’s fourth draw of the season dropped them to 11th place after Balcatta Etna’s 3-1 win over bottom side Inglewood United.
Glen Grostate’s side recovered from an early set back as Jordan Brown’s long throw was helped on by Harry Evans who was credited with the goal for an Inglewood lead.
Balcatta hit back as Rostyn Griffiths rose highest to plant a firm header from a free-kick for 1-1, and they led on 25 minutes when the ball fell nicely for Ben Hinshelwood to stroke home his fourth of the season.
Etna had led in all five of their previous NPL games without taking three points so far this season, but they wouldn’t make the same mistake at the sixth time of asking.
They were given a leg up as Elliott Ireland collected a second yellow card past the half-hour mark, before Japanese import Shogo Osawa finished Liam Hudson’s cross from close range to give Balcatta a five-point buffer on Inglewood who remain without a point so far.