Football West News
Bayswater City got their Australian Championship campaign off to the perfect start on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Marconi Stallions.
Goals from Pat Loughrey, new signing Chok Dau and Cameron Teece kept Bayswater’s perfect record at Frank Drago Reserve in the competition intact, adding to their three home victories in 2025.
It was an outstanding display from Matt Sparrow’s side against a team that finished third in NPL NSW.
Yet it was Marconi who had the first real chance in the 10th minute, with the alert Loughrey clearing off the line after Bayswater had struggled to deal with a free-kick. The Irishman then made a telling contribution at the other end to put his side ahead.
Bayswater were awarded a free-kick on the corner of the box, and while everyone expected the right-footed Teece to strike it, the forward ran over the ball and Loughrey whipped in a low shot around the nearside of the wall and into the bottom corner.
“I told the lads I thought I’d seen a gap and I found the corner thankfully,” Loughrey said.
Stallions levelled just after the half-hour with Bayswater failing to heed their earlier warning and allowing Damian Tsekenis to head home uncontested from a free-kick.
Back came Bayswater and they almost had a second just before half-time as Daniel Stynes put over a brilliant ball which Teece met, only to see his header cleared off the line by Camron Windust.
The action continued after the interval and Baysie skipper Luke Palmateer was next to go close as his header was palmed over by Joel Wade.
But the Marconi keeper could do nothing to stop Bayswater retaking the lead two minutes later. Aidan Coyne put the ball to the edge of the visitors’ box and Dau turned and fired a fantastic shot into the top corner. It was the ideal way for the 2023 NPL WA Gold Medal winner to mark his return west after two seasons in Melbourne.
“We conceded a sloppy goal from a set-piece but ‘Spadge’ gave us a good team talk. We come out second half and we never looked back,” Loughrey said.
Ten minutes from the end Teece got the goal his performance deserved, latching on to a flick-on and lifting the ball over the stranded Wade.
“It was great to get on the scoresheet,” Teece said.
“I think the whole game was very physical and both teams were up for it.
“I just think it’s a hard place to come and play here … we gave it a good crack and I think we were the better team overall and deserved the win.”
Marconi finished the game with 10 men after Teng Kuol was dismissed late on for two yellow cards. But that should not detract from Bayswater’s showing.
“I thought we fully deserved the win,” head coach Sparrow said.
“Marconi, a really, really quality outfit and in the first half, we were a bit naive at times. We had a few words at half-time, and second half, we were outstanding. Our work ethic has got us over the line for the last two years, but we also showed a lot of quality all over the pitch. We defended superbly and always looked a threat.”
Next for Bayswater is an away game against Sydney Olympic on Sunday 25 October (12pm WST). Olympic were beaten 4-2 by Oakleigh Cannons in Round One.
Baysie then return to ‘Fortress Frank Drago’ to take on Oakleigh on Sunday 1 November (3pm WST).
“For the neutrals that came down today, I thought it was great value and an entertaining game, plenty of good goals and three points for us on our home soil.” Sparrow said.
“It was a brilliant turnout today. It really spurs on the boys and hopefully they’ll be back in two weeks’ time.”
Match details
Bayswater City 3 (Loughrey 10, Dau 61, Teece 80)
Marconi Stallions 1 (Tsekenis 32)
Bayswater City: 1. Lewis Italiano (GK), 2. Brent Quick, 4. Luke Palmateer (C), 5. Patrick Loughrey, 6. Declan Hughes, 8. Daniel Stynes, 9. Cameron Teece, 10. Chris Jackson, 11. Chok Dau, 16. Jonathan Corness, 18. Aidan Coyne.
Subs: 14. Oli La Galia, 17. Sean O’Connor, 20. Sam Mitchinson, 21. Joel Anasmo, 23. Jahce Novello, 25. Jason Saldaris (GK), 29. Ethan O’Sullivan.
