Nicol's late leveller gives Olympic fresh hope
Perth RedStar maintained their excellent run in the NPLWA – Men’s competition and, in doing so, tempered Bayswater City’s title ambitions.
A last-minute goal from Daryl Nicol earned RedStar a 1-1 draw with the league leaders at RedStar Arena.
The result sees Bayswater continue their unbeaten start to season. However, their lead at the summit was cut to four points after second-placed Olympic Kingsway won at bottom side Floreat Athena.
RedStar, meanwhile, remain fourth and made it seven games without defeat. They also kept a three-point cushion to fifth-placed Perth as all of the top four chasers dropped points over the weekend.
Callum Salmon’s side had won their previous six matches coming into Saturday’s bumper clash, but it was Bayswater who took the lead six minutes into the second half when Dennis Galan bundled over Chris Jackson in the box.
Pat Loughrey dispatched the penalty to set Matt Sparrow’s side on their way, but RedStar responded and had appeals for a penalty of their own waved away when Tom Southgate crashed into Sonny O’Shea. Lewis Italiano then pulled off a smart save to deny Sam Pollard’s header from a Nicol pass, before Nicol himself put wide of the post when put through on goal by Liam Murray.
RedStar would equalise in the final minute of the 90 as Theo Leeming fed Matty George, with Nicol on hand to convert the cross from a yard out. George and Nicol had chances in added time to win it for the home side, but it ended all square as both sides maintained their good form.
NPLM RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
As a result of Bayswater’s draw, Kingsway were able to close the gap with a 2-1 win at Floreat thanks to two Luke Hewings goals off the bench.
The first came on 71 minutes when Laat Mathiang played Lebib Lebib into the box with the full back rolling across for the substitute to score.
Nine minutes later, the pair combined again with Lebib’s cross stood up to the back post for Hewings to volley low into the back of the net.
Athena did pull one back with a couple of minutes remaining when Egide Ngendakumana rifled into the roof of the net. But it proved only to be a consolation as Floreat remain at the foot of the table and without a win this term.
They are now six points away from safety as the two sides immediately above them, Balcatta Etna and Fremantle City, played out a goalless draw at Home Group Stadium. Freo did have Ben Steele dismissed near the end when he collected a second yellow card. One point still separates the pair who sit 10th and 11th respectively after 14 rounds.
Elsewhere, Perth Glory stayed third and cut the gap on leaders Bayswater to eight points following a 3-1 win over Sorrento FC on Friday night.
Glory led after 20 minutes at the Sam Kerr Football Centre when Adrian Pini’s corner was headed in firmly by Daniel Jankuloski. But Sorrento were in good spirits after last week’s win at Kingsway and levelled soon after when Corey Sutherland found Clay Gibbs who drove home on the volley from outside the box.
It was 1-1 at the break but Joe Heath’s side regained the lead three minutes after the restart when Pini’s free-kick crashed into the wall and Alfie Knight rifled in from range. Glory ultimately confirmed a return to winning ways when Tadiwanashe Kuzamba blazed a trail down the right and pulled back for Royie Rahimim to stroke into the bottom corner.
A late second yellow card for Giovanni De Abreu didn’t dampen spirits as Glory solidified their top-four place, while Sorrento are three points clear of the relegation play-off spot.
Friday’s other game saw Perth SC and Stirling Macedonia play out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Dorrien Gardens in the second leg of the DT38 Fixture.
The visitors came into this after a good win over Glory last week and led inside two minutes when Callum McKenzie stole a short Sam Riak pass and netted for a third successive league game since joining Stirling.
Perth levelled when the visitors played themselves into trouble at the back with Daniel Faichney benefitting to slot home against his former side. But Ago Mujic’s side led again when Euan Cameron’s shot ran through for Asher Nelson to score his second goal of the season.
The Azzurri levelled midway through the second half when good work from Jamie McNelis down the right led to Abdul Osman making it goals in back-to-back matches.
Both sides had chances to win it, with Leigh Griffiths twice denied by Mateusz Zaniewski, while James Bosdet saved one-on-one from Faichney in the final 10 minutes. Luka Hirninger was also shown a second yellow card in the frantic finale.
Finally, Western Knights and Armadale shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Nash Field with both sides missing the chance to close their gap to the top four.
A stunning long-range strike from just inside his own half by midfielder Kristian Santich gave Knights the lead on 55 minutes. It was Santich’s second goal in as many weeks but it wasn’t enough for the win. Armadale levelled when Amir Ajan’s free-kick was cleared only as far as Luke Collins who fired in at the second attempt.