Freo rock RedStar with second-half comeback as leading group all draw
Fremantle City rallied from two goals down to record a 4-2 win over Perth RedStar at Hilton Park as Scott Miller’s side made it back-to-back wins in Round Seven of the NPLWA – Men’s competition.
Freo’s victory saw them push six points clear of bottom side Floreat Athena, while RedStar slipped into an unfamiliar 10th place, having picked up one win in seven this term.
Callum Salmon’s side had scored two goals in seven first-half minutes to take control of the contest. Theo Leeming pulled back for Daryl Nicol to sweep home after patient build-up play, before Sam Pollard’s stunning set-piece from range doubled the lead.
However, Freo had a comeback in store and pulled one back six minutes into the second period when Riley Woodcock’s inswinging corner went directly in.
Woodcock was involved again for the equaliser when his cross from the left ran all the way through for Taj Bingwa to hit first-time on the turn.
Two Karl Moody goals won it in the final 22 minutes, with the forward stroking home from just inside the box, before forcing over the line after Charlie Chechlacz’s free-kick was saved onto the bar by Liam Reddy.
That was one of three important wins for sides in the bottom half looking to get their seasons on track. In the late kick-off, Stirling Macedonia defeated old rivals Floreat Athena 2-0 to go sixth place in the standings.
NPLM RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Ago Mujic’s side led two minutes into the second half when Asher Nelson’s cross hit Samuel Dweh and nestled in the back of the net.
Hugo Snowden doubled the lead with a quarter of an hour remaining when his cross-shot from the right caught Floreat keeper Josh Hunter off guard.
Stirling have lost once in their past five games and move into the top half, while Floreat are three points adrift at the bottom and the only side without a league win this term.
Meanwhile, Balcatta Etna ended their three-match losing run with a 1-0 victory over Sorrento FC to pull four points clear of the automatic relegation spot.
The winner came seven minutes from time when Declan Hargreaves’ killer pass released Ben Hinshelwood, who drove into the box and crossed for Jon Stynes to tap in at the back post.
Phoenix Lee thought he had equalised for the Gulls in stoppage time but was ruled offside when following in from Keegan Chambers’ effort as Etna won their first home game of the season.
Elsewhere, it’s as-you-were at the top of the league with the top five sides drawing over the weekend.
Olympic Kingsway and Bayswater City played out a goalless draw as the Green Machine ended the leaders’ 100% start.
Joe Hobson struck wide of the post and Jayden Gorman hit the side netting as the hosts missed two one-on-one opportunities in the first half.
After the restart, Pat Loughrey’s header was well stopped by Adrian Sinagra and the goalkeeper would deny Sean McManus a late winner. Bayswater were reduced to 10 men near the end after Declan Hughes picked up a second yellow card, as the third-versus-first clash ended in a stalemate.
Perth Glory remain two points off top spot, having been pegged back twice by Armadale in a 2-2 draw at Alfred Skeet Reserve.
It was 1-1 after seven minutes. A Callum Dobbs’ own goal after good work from Max Naylor put Glory in front, only to be cancelled out by Pieter Jacobsz's leveller moments later.
That was the score at the break, but 40 seconds after the interval Naylor nodded in a cross from Sebastian Despotovski, back in the NPL following his A-League cameo for Glory in New Zealand. That gave the visitors a second lead of the afternoon, only for Armadale level once more with five minutes left when Ali Nazary’s corner was smartly glanced on at the near post by Jacobsz.
There was almost late drama when Glory goalkeeper Ryan Warner was shown a red card for a last-man foul on Jacobsz. Outfield player Malise Mpunga was trusted in between the sticks and saved the resulting free-kick from Luke Collins as it ended all square.
Those results set up a top-two clash between the Glory youngsters and leaders Bayswater at the Sam Kerr Football Centre next Saturday afternoon.
Finally, on Friday night, Perth SC and Western Knights shared the points in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Dorrien Gardens.
Ethan Banks seized the initiative for the Azzurri when striking in as a loose ball broke his way in the box, but Knights levelled before half time when Kristian Santich stole possession off Luka Hirninger and slotted under Mark Birighitti.
The visitors jumped Perth in the second half thanks to a stunning Santich free-kick before Jesse Lazzaro’s penalty put Adam Kostrencic’s side in pole position for three points.
Knights’ cause was further aided by Sean O’Connor’s straight red card with a quarter of an hour remaining. Instead, the decision inspired Kenny Lowe’s side, who pulled two late goals back to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Gordon Perkins drove in from range after escaping Max Blackshaw before Josh Cala hooked home David Ninkovich’s diagonal three minutes into added time. Perth’s margin to fifth remains at six points, while Knights’ late slump saw them slip to second bottom after results on Saturday went against them.
