Fremantle City have opened the NPLWA – Men’s title race after sensationally ending Olympic Kingsway’s 11-game unbeaten run at Hilton Park on Saturday.
Freo’s 4-2 win over the league leaders provided the perfect response after back-to-back defeats and takes them to within four points of top spot.
Kingsway’s first loss since Round Two means they have been joined on 32 points by Perth RedStar, setting up a tantalising top-of-the-table clash next Saturday at Kingsway Reserve.
SEE SQUADI FOR NPLM RESULTS, FIXTURES & TABLE
Fremantle’s leading scorer Ollie La Galia, back in the starting line-up after suspension, got the scoring under way on 27 minutes with a clever near-post finish from Riley Woodcock’s low cross.
Four minutes later they had a second. Pat Loughrey burst down the left and after he was initially denied by Adrian Sinagra, the Irishman calmly put away the follow-up high into the net.
Mitch Oxborrow’s fantastic free-kick got Kingsway back in the game, but Freo’s two-goal buffer was restored early in the second half when Jesse Fuller’s header from Loughrey’s corner beat the man on the post.
La Galia’s penalty made it four as Freo extended their lead with 25 minutes to play, and despite Joe Knowles responding with a spot-kick it was the hosts who deservedly took the three points to stay in the mix.
That result allowed RedStar to pull level on points with Kingsway at the top following a 3-1 win over mid-table Armadale at RedStar Arena.
RedStar roared out of the blocks and led after 65 seconds when Matty George’s superb cross from the right was met by Daryl Nicol, who could not miss from six yards.
The home side doubled their lead in the fifth minute as they countered from an Armadale attacking set-piece, with Nicol spotting an untracked Bafford who ran in to slot in an early second.
Alun Vernals’ side pulled one back on half-an-hour when Pieter Jacobsz stepped past Blair Govan and scored confidently to continue his excellent season in front of goal.
But a sharp RedStar start at the beginning of the second half ensured they went on to make it eight wins in a row. Bafford’s cross from the left beat Armadale’s defence with Golden Boot leader Nicol unmarked to finish and help the defending champions close in on Olympic.
At the other end of the table, it was a big day at the bottom of the league as Inglewood United breathed life into the relegation battle with a 4-1 win over 10-man Perth SC.
The Azzurri led inside a quarter-of-an-hour at Inglewood Stadium. Nic Speca initially denied both Ethan Banks and Jamie McNelis, before Banks eventually finished.
However, Perth were then reduced to 10 men and Josh Cala’s red card proved to be a turning point as Inglewood blitzed the visitors late in the opening period to set up a big win.
The hosts levelled nine minutes before the interval when Benson Nsegetse found Dhours Chol, who helped on for Kotaro Yamamoto to beat his man, run in and score.
A second goal came a minute afterwards as Perth were caught out by Ciaran Salinger’s ball forward. Yamamoto got in behind and squared for Nsegeste to fire in.
The hosts remarkably had a third in the space of three minutes after a fantastic team goal with Nsegetse on the end of it after interplay between Chol, Thomas Abraham and Yamamoto.
The three-goal salvo gave Inglewood in a match-winning lead, which they added to in second-half stoppage time when Chad Nilson finished a counter-attack as Perth sent numbers forward.
Inglewood are now just five points off safety while opponents Perth drop to 10th and sit just outside of the relegation play-off spot on goal difference.
That position is now occupied by Perth Glory who went down 4-3 to Balcatta Etna, who in turn are now two points clear of safety.
Balcatta broke through on 18 minutes when Khoa Ngo collected Shogo Osawa in the box, allowing Ben Hinshelwood to coolly put his penalty kick down the middle for the opener.
Connor Campbell made a terrific save to deny Sam Barry after he was slipped in by Sebatian Despotovski. Then, the visitors doubled their lead as Liam Hudson’s cross was headed in at the near post by Osawa.
The hosts faced a two-goal deficit at the break but gave themselves renewed hope early in the second half when Barry’s shot was saved by Campbell and Sebastian Despotovski followed in to net for a third successive home game.
Isaac Driessen made a big save to stop Adam Buckingham hitting back immediately after a Jon Corness free-kick broke the defender’s way. Moments later, it was 2-2 after a fantastic free-flowing move from the youngsters which was ultimately finished off by the impressive Barry.
Glory found themselves in front on the hour. Barry again provided the industry down the right and Aiki Tsukamoto found Ngo who picked out the bottom corner.
Glen Grostate’s team did not lie down, though, and rallied in the final 10 minutes to turn the tables on the home side and make it back-to-back away wins.
Hinshelwood headed smartly from Hudson’s cross to bring up his 10th goal of the campaign before Hudson’s solo run saw him reach the penalty area and finish via a deflection to send the Balcatta fans home happy.
Floreat Athena are also two points clear of the relegation play-off spot after their 4-2 home win over Western Knights.
A free-kick from Knights’ Jay Sheridan brought a good save out of Jason Saldaris before Floreat took the lead on 39 minutes when Jesse Lazzaro’s back-pass sold Sam Reilly short and Nick Ambrogio said thank you very much.
Then just before half-time, Noah Shamaki clipped a lovely pass into the path of Shaun McManus, who beat Reilly to the ball and lifted it over the keeper.
Ambrigio added his second 10 minutes into the second half and again it was too easy as the Knights defence opened up for the Floreat man to receive Kyle Murray’s pass and beat the exposed Reily.
At that stage things looked comfortable for the hosts but that changed with Knights hitting back through two Lazzaro goals. First the midfielder met Dylan White’s centre with an excellent scissor-volley. Then he scored at the near post following Owen Goodliffe’s short pass inside.
But deep into time added on Shamaki made the game safe for Floreat when Knights were caught out chasing the game and the striker ran through the middle to net.
Finally, Stirling Macedonia picked up a 4-1 win at Bayswater City which saw them take the initiative in the race for fourth.
Ago Mujic’s side were one up after nine minutes when Brent Quick’s cross was headed in by Ciaran Byrne. And the Irish striker had his second later in the half when Calvin Whitney timed his run to get in behind Bayswater’s defence and roll across for Byrne to tap in.
Stirling ensured they had the game all but won with 20 minutes remaining when Dejan Spaseski was allowed the freedom of Frank Drago Reserve to drive forward and set Louis Hadfield in his stride. The former Perth RedStar youngster held off his marker and slotted into the corner for 3-0.
A late free-kick was headed in by Cameron Teece as Bayswater pulled one back, but there was still time for Hugo Snowden to beat the offside trap and run in to score from an acute angle. The victory means Stirling now hold a four-point lead over fifth-place Bayswater with eight rounds to play.