Two goals in the final eight minutes ensured Olympic Kingsway won 3-1 against Bayswater City to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the NPL WA – Men’s competition with 13 rounds played.
The win extends the winning streak of David Tough’s team to seven matches as they continue to set a relentless pace at the summit, while Bayswater drop out of the top four following a first defeat in seven matches.
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Olympic struck the first blow in scrappy fashion with 13 minutes played when Mitch Oxborrow’s set-piece squirmed through a sea of bodies in the box, before eventually breaking for Aryn Williams with the defender scoring for the third time this season.
Bayswater equalised midway through the second period when Sam Mitchinson’s cross was turned toward goal by Joshua Anasmo. The former Perth Glory striker’s effort was blocked on the line by Ollie Annis, but Cameron Teece was on hand to apply a simple finish.
The game’s turning point came inside the final 10 minutes as Joshua Bell was penalised for a rash challenge on Josh Samson in the box. Joe Knowles did the rest from the penalty spot, and the game was wrapped up in stoppage time when Annis got to the byline and squared for Joe Hobson who could not miss from six yards.
Perth RedStar remain the closest contenders to Kingsway after coming from behind to defeat Balcatta Etna 3-1 at Home Group Stadium.
Balcatta made a brilliant start and led inside the first 10 minutes when Declan Hargreaves’ corner was headed in at the back post by an unmarked Adam Buckingham.
The hosts had a great chance to double their lead, but Ben Hinshelwood dragged wide of the post when through on goal. That woke RedStar up and the defending champions made the most of their opportunities to turn it around and lead at the break.
Bryce Bafford cut inside from the left and arrowed into the bottom corner to bring the sides level, before Matty George’s inch-perfect pass spotted the run of Theo Leeming who finished with conviction to make it goals home and away against Etna this term.
Balcatta responded well after the restart with Matthew Tomassone firing two presentable chances over the bar from inside the box. But RedStar’s ruthless edge made Etna pay for their profligacy again as another George assist released Daryl Nicol to find the bottom corner with the league’s leading scoring making it 12 for the campaign.
RedStar are secure in second spot after third, fourth and fifth all dropped points on Saturday afternoon. Balcatta, meanwhile, are in the relegation play-off place after Perth Glory collected a 1-0 win over Floreat Athena at E&D Litis Stadium.
The circuit-breaking victory was a first for the youngsters since Round Four and moved them a point clear of the bottom two. Floreat were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Mohamed Al-Zaidy picked up a second yellow card, and the winning goal arrived soon after.
Royie Rahimim timed his run to get in behind Athena’s defence before seeing his strike saved by Jason Saldaris. The rebound cannoned off Chris Saldaris with Cameron Murray getting the final touch to be credited with an own goal.
Floreat’s defeat means they have picked up one point in six games which sees them outside the bottom two on goal difference only.
Elsewhere, Stirling Macedonia moved back into the top four with a 3-1 win over Perth SC in the DT38 clash at Macedonia Park.
Perth were awarded a first-half penalty and Azzurri leading scorer Sam Cook made it six for the season when he bundled home the rebound after seeing his spot-kick saved by Liam Price.
Stirling were behind only for two minutes. Sam Wynne picked out Calvin Whitney who netted against his former team by steering into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Ago Mujic’s side then led 35 minutes in as Wynne linked up with Asher Nelson down the left, before continuing his run into the box and curling stylishly into the far corner.
The home side gave themselves breathing room in the second half with what proved to be a sealing goal. Alex Tanevski stole the ball high up as Perth tried to play out from the back and crossed for Ciaran Byrne to turn and finish for his fourth goal against Perth this season.
Victory sees Stirling sit a point clear of Bayswater in fourth, while Perth remain in danger with four sides separated by one point from eighth to 11th.
Armadale also made ground on the finals race after a 3-1 win over Fremantle City.
Jayden Leader starred with a double as Alun Vernals’ side moved to within three points of fourth, while pulling six points clear of the relegation play-off spot.
Three goals in seven second-half minutes ignited the Army into life, with the first coming just before the hour mark. A swift counterattack from the hosts’ own box had Hamish Van Dieken, Ryley Wishart-Stephen and Amir Ajan all involved, with Leader drilling low from 18 yards to cap a nice team goal.
It was 2-0 moments later when Pieter Jacobsz’s cross from the left was headed by Luke Collins onto Anthony Topini and the ball ricocheted in off the Freo defender for an own goal.
The third was added when the impressive Leader won the ball before continuing his run into the box and getting on the end of another Jacobsz’ cross to squeeze in close range.
Fremantle were given a penalty in the final 20 minutes which was coolly converted by Pat Loughrey. That goal proved only to be a consolation as back-to-back defeats mean Freo lose ground on the title race, but stay five points clear of fifth place.
Finally, Inglewood United built on last week’s first win of the season by collecting a 1-1 draw against Western Knights at Nash Field.
Knights went in front four minutes before the interval when Owen Goodliffe’s snapshot from outside the box trickled under Nic Speca and into the back of the net.
The hosts remain in the thick of the finals race despite conceding late on when Jordan Brown’s long throw was flicked on by Ciaran Salinger and Chris Tilson was there to guide a header in for goals in back-to-back weeks.
The point leaves Inglewood eight points off safety with nine games to play.