Inglewood United started their season in sensational fashion on Saturday evening as they came from two goals down to defeat champions Floreat Athena 3-2.
The return of the NPLWA - Men’s competition didn’t disappoint on opening weekend with 25 goals scored across the six fixtures. Three of those came in the second half at E&D Litis Stadium as Andres Oliveira’s side completed a terrific comeback.
Athena were seemingly cruising just past the half-hour mark as Nick Ambrogio’s early header was added to by Bayley Brown-Montgomery’s strike from Phil Arnold’s pass.
But Shubham Mokala’s free-kick three minutes after the interval gave Inglewood hope and they tied it up before the hour mark when Dhours Chol headed in Matthew Ntumenopulous’ set-piece.
Mokala’s deflected strike proved to be the winner on 68 minutes as Inglewood bounced back from the disappointment of losing last week’s Night Series final.
The weekend’s biggest winners though were Armadale as they crushed 10-man Cockburn City 6-1 to lead the league after one round.
Five of their six goals came from new signings with Amir Ajan’s drive from a tight angle setting John O’Reilly’s side on their way.
Chris Jackson made it 2-0 with his first league goal since returning to Armadale for a second spell, before another recruit in Daniel Robinson struck from the penalty spot against his former club.
Jesse Lazzaro pulled one back with a penalty kick of his own but hopes of a Cockburn recovery were dashed when Daniel Dols was shown red for a last-ditch challenge, and Robinson converted a second spot kick of the afternoon.
By now the Army fans were in fine voice and two late strikes added gloss to the scoreline. Pieter Jacobsz hooked in a volley from close range, before Ajan wrapped up proceedings with a stunning long-range strike from just inside Cockburn’s half.
Stirling Macedonia ended Olympic Kingsway’s undefeated start to 2023 with a 2-1 win at Macedonia Park in the night match.
Kingsley Eshun’s superb swivel and volley opened the scoring, but the visitors levelled just before half time when Ciaran Byrne’s snapshot from 18 yards found the bottom corner.
Taiga Matoba’s first goal for Stirling 10 minutes into the second half ended up being the winner, after good work from Eshun to pick out the youngster at the back post.
Kingsway’s closest chance to equalise came when James Bosdet saved Sasa Njegic’s curler, but it was the hosts who emerged with three points in the battle of the last two promoted sides.
Elsewhere, Corey Sutherland’s late winner secured an opening day victory for Perth Glory with the youngsters scoring twice in the final 15 minutes to defeat Balcatta Etna 2-1.
Japanese import Kotaro Yamamoto opened his account for Balcatta from the penalty spot as he planted low into the bottom left corner.
But Laat Mathiang’s free-kick five minutes later was out of the top-drawer to make it 1-1. And Glory went on to win it as the 90 minute mark ticked over, when Daniel Bennie’s cross was bundled in from six yards by Sutherland.
Saturday’s other fixture saw the weekend’s only drawn match take place as Perth SC held Perth RedStar 1-1 at Dorrien Gardens.
Daryl Nicol fired over an early chance from Kyle Murray’s cross, but the Scot made up for that miss moments later when he curled home a classy free-kick.
The equaliser came 10 minutes from time when substitute Sam Cook outmuscled his opposite marker and finished with poise past Riley Stephenson.
RedStar had the best chance to win it as Luke Radonich produced a wonder save from Declan Hughes right at the death as the spoils were shared.
On Friday night, the Steve McGarry era at Sorrento got off to a flyer as they defeated Bayswater City 4-1 at Frank Drago Reserve.
Colombian striker Gustavo Marulanda rolled back the years with a superbly taken hat-trick to inspire the northern suburbs club.
Marulanda slotted in the first after finding himself unmarked 10 minutes in, and he struck again in the first half with a fantastic turn and strike from just inside the box.
Jon Stynes nodded in Declan Hargreaves’ cross to give the hosts hope as they enjoyed their best spell of the night, but Marulanda would capitalise on a defensive error to round the goalkeeper and complete a treble against his former side.
A perfect night for Sorrento was capped when new signings John Connolly and Mark Withers combined with the latter finishing for his first league goal from close range.
Round One results
Armadale 6-1 Cockburn City
Balcatta Etna 1-2 Perth Glory
Bayswater City 1-4 Sorrento
Floreat Athena 2-3 Inglewood United
Perth SC 1-1 Perth RedStar
Stirling Macedonia 2-1 Olympic Kingsway