Report by Tommy Doleman
Liam Boland was the matchwinner as Olympic Kingsway reclaimed top spot in the New Balance NPL WA Men’s competition following a 2-1 victory at Western Knights.
Olympic’s eighth win in nine matches saw them replace Perth RedStar as league leaders. And with Bayswater City also winning in Round 19, just two points separate the three title contenders.
Knights had two good chances in the opening 16 minutes at Nash Field as Jesse Lazzaro swept over from Daniel Walsh’s cut-back, before Aaron Pike glanced Woonsub Sim’s cross beyond the crossbar.
Olympic then went close as Rob Harker forced Sam Reilly into a save at his near post at the end of a goalless first half, while early in the second period Mitch Oxborrow crashed a free-kick off the bar.
The Green Machine hit the front on 56 minutes when Reilly pushed Oxborrow’s low cross to Jawad Rezai, who scored for the fourth time in four games since joining the club.
The lead did not last long, however. Pike sprung the offside trap on the hour mark and dinked over advancing keeper Mark Birighitti, and while the striker’s attempt came back off the bar, Santi Flores was first to the rebound and nodded home.
Olympic led for a second time on 70 minutes when Boland’s header from Jack Clisby’s cross just crossed the line and took him to the top of the scoring charts with 14 goals for the campaign.
Max Blackshaw headed over Kosta Sparta’s free-kick in stoppage time as Knights almost levelled. Instead, it ended 2-1 to Kingsway, who have set up a mammoth clash with defending champions Bayswater next Saturday at Madman Arena.
Third-placed Baysie sit two points behind Olympic but crucially with a game in hand as they bounced back from Tuesday’s Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 exit by winning 2-0 at Perth Azzurri.
Both teams hit the frame of the goal in a first half full of chances. Gordon Perkins’ low attempt back off the post in the opening 10 minutes, while at the other end Cameron Teece’s looping header came back off the woodwork.
Ultimately, two goals either side of half-time decided the contest.
Jon Corness played a neat give-and-go with Teece on the edge of the box and finished confidently for his first goal of the campaign. Bayswater’s second goal came 12 seconds after the restart in brilliant fashion as Teece brought down a long ball, beat two challenges and fired home from just inside the box.
Baywater almost extended their advantage when Chris Jackson hit the bar with Pat Loughrey’s follow-up effort coming back off the post.
Perth’s best chance of pulling one back came when Lewis Italiano saved Sean O’Connor’s free-kick, but two proved enough as Matt Sparrow’s team made it eight unbeaten in the league.
Sandwiched between Kingsway and Bayswater are Perth RedStar, who drew 0-0 with bottom side Balcatta Etna in their final home game of the regular season.
RedStar threatened through Gordon Smith whose shot was saved by Sebastian Medica, while Eddie Wilcock hooked off the line late in the opening period.
RedStar upped the pace after the break with Tom Hough driving just wide of the upright. But there would be no joy for the hosts, who have gone goalless for two games at just the wrong time of the season.
It could have been worse for RedStar if not for Blair Govan’s goal-saving challenge on Darius Ghinea in the final 10 minutes. But despite Balcatta’s creditable point on the road, they remain two points adrift at the bottom of the league after both their relegation rivals picked up results.
Armadale dropped back into the relegation play-off position after conceding a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Stirling Macedonia.
The visitors went in front on the stroke of half-time when Abraham Mathet stole possession off Dejan Spaseski and slotted past Liam Hattersley. But they could not hold onto all three points as Callum McKenzie poked through for Pacifique Dufitimukiza to race away from the Armadale defence and poke into the back of the net.
Balcatta and Armadale occupy the bottom two places, raising the stakes for when the two sides meet at Home Group Stadium on Saturday.
The two dropped points by Armadale allowed Perth Glory to climb out of the relegation places on goal difference following their 4-0 win over Dianella White Eagles.
Oliver Evans’ corner on 43 minutes fell kindly to Louis Sollitt, who poked in from close range to put Glory up at half-time. Sollitt then made it 11 goals for the season 11 minutes into the second half when released by Tadi Kuzamba and rolling in from a tight angle.
Substitute Achnaff Sayon then came off the bench to continue his good late-season form when volleying home from inside the box, before breaking down the right and finishing past Peter Pilkadaris for the fourth and final goal as Glory recorded a first win in nine.
The other Round 19 fixture was played a fortnight ago with Fremantle City beating Sorrento FC 2-0 thanks to goals from Isaiah Wingell and Nick Ambrogio.
