Stynes sends in-form Bayswater top of the table

Bayswater City’s winning streak extended to four on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 win over defending champions Floreat Athena, which sent them top of the NPLWA – Men’s competition.  

Gareth Naven’s team lost their first two games of the season, but a five-game unbeaten run, including the four victories, has seen them surge up the standings to sit clear of second-place Perth Glory on goal difference.

On a wet and windy day across the league, Baysie would take 63 minutes to break Athena down and open the scoring. Ndumba Makeche burst past Dennis Galan and pulled across for Jon Stynes to finish low across Jason Saldaris.

Stynes then sealed it with a second against his former club when he controlled Declan Hargreaves’ diagonal, rounded the goalkeeper, and slotted in as the hosts reached the summit. Floreat, meanwhile, drop into the bottom half after a third straight loss and end the weekend ninth.

Bayswater replaced previous leaders Perth RedStar who fell 2-1 at home to Perth Glory.

RedStar were up inside 10 minutes as Daryl Nicol’s defence-splitting pass sent Chok Dau through on goal with the forward netting in accomplished fashion past Robert Cook.

But Glory have shown plenty of ticker throughout 2023 and they levelled on 62 minutes when Joel Anasmo stole in to capitalise on a RedStar mistake and make it three goals in two games.

With time ticking down and a draw seemingly on the cards, Glory struck late to make it back-to-back wins as Daniel Bennie’s assist found an arriving Jayden Gorman who prodded in to put the youngsters second.

The game of the day was arguably at Alfred Skeet Reserve as Chris Jackson’s four-goal haul helped Armadale win 5-3 against Balcatta and go third.

Jackson’s first came when Tim Berger clipped over the top for the striker to run in and slot into the bottom corner, but Balcatta hit back with two goals in four minutes to hit the lead.

Declan Hudson’s cross found an unmarked Jonathan Corness who headed in from six yards, and soon after Corness’ corner was lifted over a retreating defender by Jack Allen.

Jackson’s penalty made it 2-2 at the break, but Corness latched onto Adam Tong’s header within 60 seconds of the second period starting to restore Balcatta’s lead.

But Armadale are the league’s leading scorers with 22 goals in seven games, and Berger added to his two goals against Floreat last week to tie it up at 3-3 barely a minute later.

Jackson completed a hat-trick with another spot kick on the hour mark and his cheeky chip in the final 10 minutes wrapped up the win and gave him eight for the season and level with Daryl Nicol for a share of the Golden Boot. John O’Reilly’s team travel to new leaders Bayswater next up, while Balcatta face Perth in an Italian derby.

Stirling Macedonia returned to winning ways against 10-man Perth at Dorrien Gardens as they cruised to an emphatic 4-0 victory in the annual DT38 match, which is held in honour of the late Dylan Tombides who played for both sides as a junior.

Julian Teles flashed an early header wide, but Ian Ferguson’s side led at the interval with Kingsley Eshun on hand to bundle in after Asher Nelson’s effort broke his way.

James Bosdet made an excellent save from Ethan Banks and that proved more important with 16 minutes left when Eshun’s initial shot was blocked by Luke Radonich, only for Nelson to hammer in on the follow-up.

Jordan De Leo’s red card then saw Perth go down to 10 players on a tough day for the Azzurri, which also saw Jeremie Mba and Paul Zimarino go off injured. They drop to seventh having led the league a fortnight ago, whilst Stirling confirmed their place in the top four with two late goals from Daniel Faichney.

The former Gwelup winger found the far corner with a superb volley from Calvin Whitney’s cross-field pass, and he picked the same spot moments later when put through on goal by Samim Fattahi.

Olympic Kingsway moved off the foot of the league with a 2-0 win over 10-man Sorrento FC, who replaced the visitors place at the bottom.

Joe Hobson’s bagged his third goal in four outings for the Green Machine with a low strike from Tyler Garner’s pass.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time, the Gulls task was made more difficult when Mark Barnett collected a second yellow card for a foul on Hobson on 57 minutes.

Liam Murray then threaded a pass for Ciaran Byrne to net past Patrick Hughes and cap a fine team move, as the Night Series winners knitted their first consecutive wins of the campaign together to go eighth.

Finally, Cockburn City and Inglewood United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Dalmatinac Park.

Dhours Chol had the visitors ahead inside two minutes, but Jesse Lazzaro stabbed in from close range through the first half made it two goals in two games after good work from Levi Peterson.

The point ensures the Cockerels remain in mid-table and three points off the pace, while Inglewood are unbeaten in four in all competition’s despite being a further two points back and second bottom.

Round Seven results

Armadale 5-3 Balcatta Etna
Bayswater City 2-0 Floreat Athena
Cockburn City 1-1 Inglewood United
Perth RedStar 1-2 Perth Glory
Perth SC 0-4 Stirling Macedonia
Sorrento FC 0-2 Olympic Kingsway