Bayswater City’s hot streak continued in Round Eight of the NPLWA – Men’s competition as they defeated Armadale 2-1 to open up a three-point lead at the top of the league.
Gordon Smith’s second-half winner did the job for Gareth Naven’s team who won a fifth straight game and are unbeaten in six going into next week’s top-of-the-table clash with Perth RedStar.
Clear-cut chances were scarce in a cagey first half, but Armadale had the best opportunity of the first 45 minutes when Conor Walsh headed George Ballah’s corner over the bar.
Jon Stynes had a couple of deflected strikes at the beginning of the second period, while the visitors threatened again when Casey Robertson saved well from Chris Jackson’s shot.
John O’Reilly’s side took the lead on the hour mark as Tim Berger showed patience in the area and curled into the bottom corner for the German’s fourth goal in three games.
The leaders levelled seven minutes later when Yousri Gharsallah fouled Ndumba Makeche in the penalty area, and Jon Stynes stepped up to dispatch goal number seven of his season from the spot.
Makeche also played a key role in the decisive goal seven minutes from time, as he burst clear and picked his moment to pull back for an arriving Smith to finish from 12 yards.
The victory gives Bayswater breathing room at the top after second, third and fourth all dropped points on Saturday afternoon. As a result, Perth RedStar’s 2-1 win at Inglewood United put them second and continued their unbeaten away start to 2023.
Callum Salmon’s team bounced back from last week’s defeat to Perth Glory by striking twice inside the opening 12 minutes. Daryl Nicol reclaimed the lead in the Golden Boot race with his ninth of the campaign from Nick Walsh’s cross, before Chok Dau raced clear on the counter-attack and slotted home against his former side.
Inglewood found a response when Chad Nilson snuck past Ryan Lowry and rolled beyond Liam Reddy to reduce the arrears. But with results elsewhere Inglewood drop to the bottom of the division with three away games up next in the league.
Sorrento moved off the foot of the table as they came from behind to inflict a 3-1 defeat on defending champions Floreat Athena thanks to two Joe Tweats goals.
The visitors badly needed three points to reboot their campaign and made a good start at Percy Doyle Reserve when Alex Christodoulakis’ cross found Chris Saldaris, whose effort was blocked before Nick Ambrogio netted from close range.
That lead lasted seven minutes as Zechariah Dabbs struck in from a tight angle with the help of a slight deflection to open his account for the season.
Steve McGarry’s side completed the turnaround just before half-time when Joe Tweats scored with a rasping drive from the edge of the area.
The Gulls' first win since Round Four was confirmed late on when Tweats kept his cool to slot a low left-footed finish beyond Jason Sadalris, as Sorrento move up to eighth, while Floreat suffer a fourth straight loss and currently occupy 11th place.
Olympic Kingsway continued their recent improvement as Ollie Annis’ late goal gave them a 2-1 win over Perth Glory.
Glory had gone into the weekend equal on points with leaders Bayswater and it looked as though they were on course to win again. Daniel Bennie’s cross was fumbled by goalkeeper David Keenan with Jayden Gorman on the scene to score for a fourth straight NPL game.
Liam Murray tied it up with 24 minutes remaining when he fired left-footed past Robert Cook, and David Tough’s team were given a further boost when Kaelan Majeks was issued a straight red card for a pull of Ciaran Byrne’s jersey.
The hosts won it when Glory were unable to clear their lines from a set-piece and Annis bagged his first of the campaign to give Kingsway a fourth win in five and put them into the top half.
Elsewhere, Balcatta Etna won the battle between two out-of-form sides, breaking a run of three straight defeats with a 2-1 win at Dorrien Gardens.
Sam Cook’s clipped pass into the area squirmed past Caelan Cooper and went all the way in to give the Azzurri a much-needed lead, but Etna hit back when they were awarded a penalty for Julian Teles’ foul on Kotaro Yamamoto.
The Japanese striker had his spot-kick saved by Luke Radonich, but he was quickest to react to level with his first goal since round three.
Jack Allen’s crisp low drive from outside the box decided it 12 minutes from time as Glen Grosate’s team won a fourth away game of the season, while Perth drop to 10th and have lost four straight in all competitions.
Finally, Stirling Macedonia and Cockburn City played out a goalless draw at Macedonia Park.
Michael Craggs saved Kingsley Eshun’s header from Asher Nelson’s cross early in the second half, as Ian Ferguson’s team move up to third with the point.
The Cockerels drew for a second straight round to end the weekend eighth but are only two points off second place. They came closest when Jesse Lazzaro’s lob over James Bosdet came back off the post.
Round Eight results
Bayswater City 2-1 Armadale
Inglewood United 1-2 Perth RedStar
Olympic Kingsway 2-1 Perth Glory
Perth SC 1-2 Balcatta Etna
Sorrento FC 3-1 Floreat Athena
Stirling Macedonia 0-0 Cockburn City