Fremantle City celebrated the 70th anniversary of East Fremantle Tricolore in style as a 4-3 win over Perth SC reignited a historic rivalry and saw Matty Sparrow’s side prevail despite a late fright at Hilton Park.
The hosts were in cruise control as City led 4-0 with 82 minutes played, only for the Azzurri to rally with three late strikes and come close to an unlikely equaliser in stoppage time.
Freo held on for a fourth successive win and are now second after nine rounds of the NPLWA - Men’s competition, while Perth are outside the relegation play-off place on goal difference only as ehad coach Kenny Lowe awaits his first league win at the club.
Perth started well with Josh Cala forcing Luke Radonich into a flying fingertip save and Sam Cook knocking a rebound into the post.
For Freo, La Galia’s drive rattled the crossbar before two goals in the space of a minute set the home side on their way. La Galia collected Riley Woodcock’s pass and poked past Joe Pollard, before a mistake from Federico Achilli resulted in Pat Loughrey squaring for Taj Bingwa to net his first NPL goal for the club.
Two at the break became three when La Galia beat Pollard to a loose ball and won a penalty, which the striker converted to make it eight goals this season.
And it was seemingly game over with 20 minutes remaining when Charlie Chechlacz’s sweet strike from distance flew into the bottom corner.
SEE SQUADI FOR NPLM RESULTS, FIXTURES & TABLE
But Perth found something in the locker and pulled one back with eight minutes left. Cala’s pass was expertly brought down by substitute Jamie McNelis whose tidy finish gave him a first senior NPL goal.
David Ninkovich fed through for Ethan Banks to roll in and further reduce the deficit before Abdul Osman’s added-time finish made it 4-3 and goals in back-to-back games for the midfielder.
There was almost a dramatic equaliser with the last attack of the game as Banks’ free-kick was headed inches wide by Ben Stroud. But Freo survived the scare to maintain their 100% home record in the league, while Perth remain winless on the road.
Olympic Kingsway are still the league leaders as a 1-0 win away at Floreat Athena made it seven games unbeaten for David Tough’s side.
The game’s only goal came in first-half stoppage time when Joe Knowles’ penalty was saved by Josh Hunter only for Liam Boland to react first and dive in to head home the rebound for 1-0.
Olympic are a point clear of Fremantle City at the summit, while Athena remain in fourth spot despite suffering back-to-back losses.
Perth RedStar are making their move up the table as Dennis Galan’s late winner in a 2-1 victory over Western Knights sent the reigning champions third.
Quick thinking from Declan Hughes released Daryl Nicol in behind the visitors’ defence with the Scot running in to finish a fourth goal of the season with ease.
But Knights have proven to be competitive in their first top-flight season since 2012 and levelled early in the second half.
Owen Goodliffe chased down a lost cause and forced a mistake from Liam Reddy, before crossing for Justin Tang to head home and make it goals in back-to-back seasons at the campus.
It seemed both sides would walk away with a point before a late twist in the tale. Dennis Galan had only come on as a substitute minutes before the ball broke to the defender on the edge of the box, with the former Floreat defender lashing in high via the crossbar to give RedStar all three points.
The defeat means Knights are without a win in five and drop out of the top four for the first time this season. They are level on points with fifth place Bayswater who won 3-0 at bottom side Inglewood to make it four games unbeaten.
Baysie led inside five minutes when Cameron Teece took a touch, turned and fired home after Joshua Anasmo found him with a low cross from the right.
It was 2-0 on 28 minutes following a nicely constructed team goal down the right with Anasmo again the provider for Jon Stynes to score from close range.
And having looked after his teammates earlier in the day, Anasmo then got himself on the scoresheet with 20 minutes left after good work from Samuel Dweh.
Inglewood’s loss means they are without a point after nine matches and sit eight points adrift at the bottom of the league.
Perth Glory are now second bottom following a 1-0 loss to Stirling Macedonia at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
Calvin Whitney scored the game’s only goal on half an hour as the former Gold Medal winner’s low free-kick around the wall squeezed past Robbie Cook. It’s a fifth straight loss for John Walmsley’s side, while back-to-back wins keep Stirling in touch with the top four.
It means Balcatta are now out of the relegation zone ahead of Glory on goal difference following a late 1-0 win over Armadale.
Ben Hinshelwood’s 87th-minute header from Declan Hargreaves’ corner put the striker third in the Golden Boot race following his seventh goal of the season. It was a second win of the season for Glen Grostate’s side, while Armadale’s four-game unbeaten run came to an end.