Four-goal Despotovski keeps Glory on Baysie's tail

Sebastian Despotovski starred with four goals as Perth Glory cruised to a 5-0 win at Perth RedStar in Round Five of the NPLWA Men’s competition.

Four goals in the first 37 minutes set up the victory as unbeaten Glory made it 20 goals from their opening five matches.

Joe Heath’s side had the ball rolling inside five minutes when Nathaniel Blair teed up Despotovski to finish crisply from 18 yards.

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It was 2-0 on 14 minutes when Adrian Pini slipped in Blair to round the goalkeeper and score, before the Despotovski show continued from the penalty spot after Blair was fouled in the box.

Despotovski’s stunning curler completed his hat-trick for 4-0 at the interval, before making it a league-leading seven goals for the season early in the second period as Glory’s excellent start to the year continued.

Glory are two points behind league leaders Bayswater City, who made it five wins from five with a 4-1 victory over Armadale on Thursday night.

Bayswater scored early for the third round in a row when Jon Corness’ ball into the box was headed across goal by Jackson Stephens and Sean McManus eventually turned in from a tight angle to net for a fourth successive game.

The hosts' run of scoring from a set-piece in every league match continued on 15 minutes when Declan Hughes’ free-kick was headed at goal by Luke Palmateer and Oli La Galia followed in to convert from the goalkeeper’s save.

A third arrived before the half-hour mark when McManus went on a mazy run and pulled back for Cameron Teece to finish emphatically as Bayswater held a commanding lead at half-time.

Amir Ajan scored directly from a corner 30 seconds after the restart to give Armadale hope and the visitors nearly grabbed another following an intricate passing move, which ended with reigning Golden Boot winner Pieter Jacobsz lifting over from close range.

But Bayswater restored their three-goal buffer moments later when Pat Loughrey’s free-kick wasn’t dealt with and Teece couldn’t miss from a few yards out.

Reigning champions Olympic Kingsway are up to third after defeating Western Knights 3-0 at Kingsway Reserve.

Harley Orr got the opener midway through the first half when nodding in Mitch Oxborrow’s corner from six yards and David Tough’s side were in control at the break when Laat Mathiang’s curled effort from 20 yards went in off the post.

They added a late third when Joe Hobson shrugged off his marker and slotted in from a tight angle as Kingsway bounced back from defeat last time out to stay three points off top spot.

At Dorrien Gardens, Perth SC were denied a come-from-behind win by 10-man Floreat Athena as the pair drew 2-2 after a dramatic finale.

Floreat led inside seven minutes thanks to Noah Shamaki’s penalty. But Ali Mohamed picked up two first-half bookings to see the visitors reduced to 10 men for a fourth time in five games.

Despite the setback, Floreat held out until the final seven minutes when Sean O’Connor coolly finished his first goal for the Azzurri. And it looked like Perth would win it in the 93rd minute when Gordon Perkins leaped to head home Ethan Banks’ inswinging cross.

But Athena showed late character to nab an even later equaliser as Jack Sprigg’s cross from left looped up and in off an unfortunate Sam Riak for an own goal. Perth are fourth and three points clear of fifth-place Armadale, while Floreat are one of three teams on two points at the bottom of the division.

Stirling Macedonia registered their first win of the campaign, with two late goals helping them come from behind to defeat Balcatta Etna 2-1.

Jesse Fuller turned home after Declan Hargreaves’ corner broke his way to give Etna a 24th-minute lead. But Stirling equalised with seven minutes remaining when Dejan Spaseski headed Calvin Whitney’s corner back across goal for Danny Douglas to finish.

And Ago Mujic’s side won it three minutes into stoppage time as Samuel Dweh raced down the right-hand side and into the box to strike home and move Stirling up into mid-table.

Finally, Fremantle City and Sorrento FC are still awaiting their first wins of the season after sharing the points in a 1-1 draw at Hilton Park.

Keegan Chambers’ looping header from Nate Wilson’s corner with 20 minutes left seemingly had the Gulls on course, but they were pegged back from another set-piece as Ben Steele met Charlie Chechlacz’s free-kick and Charlie Betts forced in from close range to earn Freo a point.