Perth RedStar defence of the NPLWA – Men title suffered a major blow on Saturday as Stirling Macedonia snapped their 11-game unbeaten streak in sensational fashion.
Stirling were the better team from first whistle to last, running out 3-0 winners at RedStar Arena thanks to goals from Calvin Whitney, Alex Tanevski and Ciaran Byrne.
The result was RedStar's first loss since Round Six and leaves them five points behind leaders Olympic Kingsway with just four games to play.
Ago Mujic’s side were on a good run themselves going into Saturday’s clash, undefeated in four, and could have led early when Tanevski was through one one-on-one only to be denied by a good save from stand-in stopper Marino Gojak.
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The visitors’ intensity continued and they opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Whitney’s excellent free-kick made it six goals in the midfielder’s past eight matches against RedStar.
And they had a deserved second four minutes before the break when Whitney lifted through for Tanevski who poked the ball past the goalkeeper to make it goals in back-to-back matches.
Stirling keeper James Bosdet was finally called into action in the second half as he helped Nick Walsh’s drive over the bar. But Stirling capped a masterful display late on when substitute Ciaran Byrne fired home Tanevski’s cross.
The win puts Stirling five points clear of fifth-placed Armadale and increases their chances of qualifying for the Top Four Cup which they won last season.
RedStar, meanwhile, know the title is out of their hands.
Olympic's latest victory came on Friday night with a Joe Knowles goal giving them the points at Perth SC.
Knowles had the Green Machine’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes as his deflected shot from 18 yards brought the best out of Rocco Liberti. At the other end, a rare Perth attack saw Sam Cook’s stunning long-range strike crash off the frame of the goal.
The deadlock was broken 20 minutes into the second half as a quickly taken Perth free-kick was turned over. Josh Samson found Liam Boland, who flicked on for Knowles to run in and finish low past Liberti for his 12th league goal of the season.
Boland’s effort from halfway went agonisingly wide while Luke Hewings missed the target when through on goal as Kingsway had chances to seal it. But one goal proved enough for the leaders who are now in pole position going into the final month of the season.
Kingsway and RedStar now concentrate on Australia Cup Round of 32 action as the NPL takes a break for a fortnight. RedStar meet Queensland NPL side Lions FC this Wednesday at Percy Doyle Reserve, while Olympic are at home to Edgeworth Eagles of Northern NSW NPL on Tuesday 6 August.
Meanwhile, Perth SC remain four points clear of the relegation play-off place after Perth Glory lost 1-0 at home to Fremantle City on Saturday.
Glory, who had conceded six in each of their past three games, went close to hitting the front as Sebastian Despotovski’s curler from outside the box hit the post.
But Freo then scored what proved to be the winner to keep them in third and firm up their finals spot.
Charlie Chechlacz lofted forward for Pat Loughrey before the Irish winger teed up Riley Woodcock, who arrived from full-back to whip home from just inside the area for a 56th-minute decider.
Elsewhere, Bayswater City lost ground in the race for the top four after Western Knights scored a 94th-minute winner at Frank Drago Reserve.
The hosts led five minutes after the restart. Knights struggled to clear a corner and Luke Palmateer struck through a couple of defenders and goalkeeper Sam Reilly.
Knights responded with a leveller seven minutes later when Alex Da Rocha’s inswinging cross from the left drifted all the way into the back of the net.
It seemed as though the game was grinding towards a draw before the late drama occurred.
It began when Knights’ Adam Harris was penalised for wrestling Jackson Stephens in the box. Cameron Teece saw his penalty saved by Reilly, only for the keeper to be adjudged to have stepped off his line and a retake ordered. Teece took the responsibility once more but this time blazed over the bar.
Incredibly, there would be one final twist as Knights claimed victory at the death. Shay Donovan broke down the right wing and pulled across the six-yard box for Owen Goodliffe to force over the line and give the visitors a first win since Round 10 to all but ensure their NPL safety in 2024.
Bayswater’s inconsistent form means they trail fourth-placed Stirling by six points. They were also leapfrogged in the standings by Armadale who stretched their unbeaten run to four matches with a 4-1 win over bottom side Inglewood.
Inglewood took the lead at Alfred Skeet Reserve following a mix-up at the back which allowed Kotaro Yamamoto to finish into a vacant net. But they remain three points adrift at the foot of the league as the Army hit back to boost their play-off push.
Pieter Jacobsz continued his scoring streak with the equaliser after Jack Willis’ cross was fumbled by Nic Speca.
Englishman Willis was involved again early in the second period with a gorgeous outside-of-the-foot cross finished by Gustavo Marulanda, who bagged his first Armadale goal.
The Colombian’s second was even better with a cracking strike from outside the area giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Both teams were reduced to 10 men with Charlie Fleming of Armadale and United’s Ciaran Salinger collecting second yellow cards.
Jacobsz then wrapped it up late with a low left-footed finish his 11th goal in five games and his 19th of a terrific season.
Finally, Balcatta Etna and Floreat Athena played out a 1-1 draw which helped both sides edge further clear of danger.
Luke Alessandrino opened the scoring on 22 minutes as he rose highest to plant home a firm header for the ninth-placed hosts, who end the weekend seven points away from trouble.
Eighth-placed Floreat responded before the break as Sean McManus played a give-and-go with Ethan Mom before picking out the bottom corner.