Stars shine on opening night as New Balance NPL WA Men's season begins in style

Reigning champions Bayswater City bounced out of the blocks on opening night in the 2026 New Balance NPL WA Men’s competition after blitzing Balcatta Etna 7-0 at Frank Drago Reserve.

Matty Sparrow’s side struck twice in the opening seven minutes and never looked back to pick up where they left off, while Etna go back to the drawing board after a sobering start to the new season.

It was a first half dominated by Sean McManus and Chris Jackson, who both scored twice and collected two assists each. McManus raced clear from a Jackson pass to dink over Riley Stephenson on six minutes, and 60 seconds later it was 2-0 when the winger returned the favour for Jackson, who finished brilliantly with a first-time volley.

The pair combined again midway through the first half with a one-two as McManus poked in, before Jackson bundled in McManus’ cross for 4-0. 

There was still time before the break for Daniel Stynes to produce the highlight of the night as he scored his maiden league goal in black and blue with a stunning left-footed curler in first-half injury time.

Balcatta’s best chance came after the interval when Darius Ghinea forced Lewis Italiano into a low save from the edge of the area. But the damage was done as central defensive duo Luke Palmateer and Coby Sutton both scored from Declan Hughes set-pieces in the second half to complete a comprehensive win.

Friday’s other game saw new signing Danny De Silva come off the bench to give Olympic Kingsway a 2-1 win over Perth Azzurri at Dorrien Gardens.

David Tough’s side were smarting after a New Balance NPL WA Night Series final defeat to Stirling last weekend and set about making amends immediately as new signing Rob Harker headed in Mitch Oxborrow’s corner inside the opening minute.

Perth equalised 10 minutes after the restart when two-time NPL WA Golden Boot winner Pieter Jacobsz latched onto Sam Pollard’s pass and struck home a debut league goal for his new club.

However, it was Kingsway who won it on 82 minutes as substitute De Silva linked up with Oxborrow and weaved his way toward goal before coolly slotting in.

The hosts nearly pinched a point deep into stoppage time, but Jamie McNelis’ header was cleared off the line by Harley Orr as Olympic hit the ground running.

Saturday’s action saw Dianella White Eagles return to top flight action for the first time since 1998 and collect a creditable point in a 1-1 draw at 2023 champions Perth RedStar.

The home side opened the scoring side on 14 minutes with a well-worked set-piece which saw Riley Warland’s corner glanced on by Luke Bodnar and Gordon Smith finish at the back post on his return to the club

But Dianella were soon level after a mistake in the home defence that allowed Daniel Zivkovic to score at the second attempt after Liam Reddy had initially denied him.

There was also a 1-1 draw at Percy Doyle Reserve between Sorrento FC and Perth Glory.

It was Andres Oliveira’s first league match in the dugout for the Gulls, who led at half-time through Connor Simpson's thumping header.

Glory went home with a point, though, as Santi Flores charged down a clearance from Sorrento goalkeeper Ben Ratajzcak with the ball running into an unguarded net on 67 minutes.

At Hilton Park, Night Series winners Stirling Macedonia started their campaign with a 1-0 win over Fremantle City.

The game’s only goal came on 22 minutes when Alex Tanevski slipped a pass through for Joshua Bilaloski to finish crisply across the goalkeeper into the bottom corner.

Finally, Western Knights got their season off to a flyer with a 4-1 win away at Armadale.

The visitors were up early doors when Jack Sprigg netted from close range. But John Baird’s side were on level terms before the quarter-hour mark as Leigh Griffiths headed in Abraham Mathet’s cross.

Knights led at the interval courtesy of Justin Tang bending in brilliantly from distance, moments after the winger entered the game as a first-half substitute.

Adam Kostrencic’s side extended their lead midway through the second period as a quick throw in set Sprigg down the left and his cross was converted by .

Kosta Sparta flashed across goal for Kristian Santich to net from six yards and complete the scoring and lift Knights into second place at the end of Round One. 

- All results, fixtures and standings: bit.ly/NBNPLM26