Nicol hits another hat-trick as RedStar go top

Report by Tommy Doleman

Perth RedStar are the latest leaders of the NPLWA – Men’s competition as another Daryl Nicol’s treble gave them a 6-1 win over local rivals Olympic Kingsway.

They are third different frontrunners in as many weeks, with only seven points separating top and bottom at the halfway mark of the campaign.

Three-time Gold Medal winner Nicol got the opener at RedStar Arena with an inventive piece of skill in the area before firing a left-footed volley into the top corner.

The visitors’ cause wasn’t helped when Calum O’Connell was shown a red card on 29 minutes, and even though Joe Pollard saved former teammate Nicol’s resultant penalty the Scot made no mistake just before half-time after converting from a fast break led by Chok Dau.

Ciaran Byrne’s penalty gave Olympic a route back into the game, but Dau’s finish after a one-two with Andy Higgins restored the two-goal buffer.

Dau’s exquisite curler made it four, before Nicol nodded in a fifth to complete a perfect hat-trick in the final 10 minutes.

Blair Govan finished the job with his first goal of the campaign as RedStar made it 11 goals in two games to sit pretty at the top. Kingsway drop a place to eighth but remain only two points off fourth in a compact mid-table.

RedStar replaced Stirling Macedonia at the summit after Ian Ferguson’s men fell to a 4-0 home defeat against Inglewood.

Andres Olivera’s team won 4-0 at Kingsway a fortnight ago, before losing by the same margin against Perth SC last week. They were on the right side of the result this time with two goals just before half-time providing the platform.

Shubham Mokala was on hand to net after Liam Price spilled Chad Nilson’s cross, and the pair combined again with Nilson this time curling perfectly into the corner.

Rene Kisesa’s lifted a volley over the goalkeeper and in for 3-0 against his former side and Dylan White slid home the fourth with 11 minutes remaining. United stay 10th but are within touching distance of fourth, while Stirling drop a point off the pace in second spot.

On a weekend which saw 31 goals across the six matches, the bottom four teams going into the weekend all took three points to tighten up the league table.

Perth SC were notable winners in that group, recording a stunning 6-1 win over Bayswater City to take them from ninth to fifth and make it two wins from two under outgoing caretaker head coach Basil Lenzo.

Former New Zealand and Perth Glory defender Danny Hay takes the reins officially as of Monday and he would have liked what he saw as the Azzurri led 10 minutes in through Ethan Banks following good work from Michael Scafetta.

Julian Teles doubled the lead from a set-piece as the defender made it three goals in two games, and with the last action of the first half, Gordon Perkin rose highest from a corner to make it 3-0.

Perkins poked in a fourth before the hour mark with Perth in cruise control. They brought up a handful as Sam Cook hammered in from the edge of the area following a nice move led by Zayd Farah.

Scotlan Morrison’s first senior goal from the bench was a late bright spot for Bayswater who stay third, but the home side answered again to make it half a dozen through another youngster in Phoenix Lee.

Elsewhere, three goals in the first half-hour gave Sorrento FC a 3-2 win away at Armadale.

The win was not enough to prevent the Gulls from slipping to the bottom on goal difference, although they find themselves only four points off third.

On a day when his brother Jason scored a hat-trick for Central Coast Mariners in the A-League Men’s grand final, Dean Cummings got Steve McGarry’s side off to a flyer when he turned home Zechariah Dabbs’ cross.

Dabbs then drove in a low second and Hugo Snowden made it two goals in two minutes when he capitalised on a mistake at the back to slot in.

Armadale threatened to make a comeback in the second half as Angel Andres Diaz followed in Tim Berger’s shot and then Amir Ajan’s late volley was deflected in. But it is three defeats in four now for the home side as they drop into the bottom half.

There was only one draw in Round 11 with Cockburn City coming from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Balcatta Etna in a contest which saw the hosts finish with nine men.

Leon Hudson lifted over an on-rushing Michael Craggs for the first on 42 minutes and early in the second half it was 2-0 when Trent Kay steered in Adam Tong’s free-kick.

Balcatta’s unbeaten start on the road continued, but a spirited Cockburn launched a fine comeback despite Chris Thackray’s second yellow card reducing them to 10 men.

Substitute Jess Grese sneaked in to lob Balcatta keeper Domenic Savoldelli to throw the Cockerels a lifeline 12 minutes from time, then with under two minutes of regulation time on the clock, Daniel Dols lashed in a half-volley to ensure a share of the points. There was still time for Cockburn to see Luqman Sayyed dismissed after collecting a second yellow card.

On Friday night, Floreat Athena came from a goal down to win 3-1 at Perth Glory and move off the bottom of the league on goal difference.

Jayden Gorman’s first-half opener got John Walmsley’s side off to a good start, but Noah Shamaki volleyed in to tie it up. And by half-time Athena were in front through Ben Steele’s opportune goal after the defender stayed forward.

With minutes remaining Glory looked set to snatch a point, only for keeper Jason Saldaris to rush from his box and thwart Joel Anasmo. Instead, Floreat went up the other end and Nick Ambrogio kept his cool to dink a late sealer over an exposed Glory rearguard.

Round 11 results

Armadale 2-3 Sorrento FC
Cockburn City 2-2 Balcatta Etna
Perth Glory 1-3 Floreat Athena
Perth RedStar 6-1 Olympic Kingsway
Perth SC 6-1 Bayswater City
Stirling Macedonia 0-4 Inglewood United