Bayswater City have opened a six-point lead at the top of the NPLWA – Men’s competition following a routine 3-0 win over Western Knights at Frank Drago Reserve.
Matt Sparrow’s side brought up a dozen wins for the campaign in Round 15. They also extended their margin for error at the summit, after nearest rivals Olympic Kingsway could only draw with Perth RedStar.
NPLM RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Knights’ loss saw them drop a place to eighth with their top-four hopes taking a hit, although they do remain well clear of the bottom two.
Two goals in the opening 20 minutes set Bayswater on their way with Cameron Teece attacking a high up-and-under to head home, before Chris Jackson burst clear of the Knights defence to round the goalkeeper and score. Then in second half stoppage time, Oli La Galia raced down the right and squared for Teece, who couldn’t miss from close range.
The unbeaten leaders moved further clear of the chasing pack courtesy of Olympic's 0-0 stalemate with RedStar at Kingsway Reserve.
The lack of goals wasn’t for lack of trying, with both Adrian Sinagra and Liam Reddy excellent between the sticks. RedStar had the better of the first half chances with Sinagra brilliantly saving Nicol’s hooked volley, before the Scot crashed an effort against the post. Aryn Williams blazed over from a set-piece with the hosts’ best chance of the opening 45. After the restart, Nicol put another good chance wide of the post, while Tyler Garner’s deflected effort hit the RedStar woodwork as it ended goalless.
The point made it back-to-back draws for RedStar against the league’s top two sides, and they are now four points clear in fourth after fifth, sixth and seventh all suffered defeats this weekend.
Sandwiched between Kingsway and RedStar are third-placed Perth Glory, who enhanced their top four chances with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Floreat Athena.
Athena were chasing a first win of 2025 and took the lead on 12 minutes when Daniel Khan stood up a cross for Abraham Mathet to cushion a volley past Ryan Warner. It gave Vas Vujacic’s side a half-time lead, but the league’s bottom side were pegged back when Hasan Asadi was penalised for handball from Tadiwanashe Kuzamba’s cross. Sebastian Despotovski stepped up to score his 10th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
The winner arrived 11 minutes from time when Adrian Pini’s shot deflected into the path of Louis Sollitt, who struck in his first goal of the season. As a result, a first finals appearance since 2022 is getting closer for Glory, who have a 10-point gap to fifth.
Floreat’s defeat, meanwhile, makes their position more precarious after both Balcatta and Sorrento FC picked up big wins to boost their survival hopes.
Etna scored three times in the opening 21 minutes at Home Group Stadium to down mid-table Armadale 3-0 and move nine points clear of the bottom. Rostyn Griffiths’ third-minute header from Jesse Fuller’s clip was deemed to have crossed the line despite Purvishna Appadoo’s presence on the post. Hasani Sinclair cleverly flicked home Darius Ghinea’s cutback, before striker Sinclair returned the favour when slipping through for Ghinea to slot in.
Sorrento were the weekend’s other big winners in the bottom half after notching a 3-1 victory over Perth SC at Dorrien Gardens.
Franco Villa netted a debut goal for the Gulls inside three minutes when controlling and finishing Corey Sutherland’s cross from the left. David Ninkovich equalised for Perth from the penalty spot on 34 minutes, but Sorrento quickly restored their lead when Clay Gibbs whipped a sensational strike into the top corner from the edge of the area.
A smart set-piece routine from Sorrento a minute into the second period confirmed victory with Shay Natalotto glancing on a near-post corner for Villa to net again and consign the Azzurri to defeat.
Perth have now won only one of the last nine league games, but they are still just four points off fourth place. On the other hand, Steve McGarry’s side team are six points and goal difference above the relegation play-off spot, which is still occupied by Fremantle City, who fell to a 2-1 home loss against Stirling Macedonia.
Stirling broke the deadlock on 64 minutes when Callum McKenzie swept into the bottom corner from the edge of the box with the Scot scoring for a fourth successive league game since signing. Freo hit back soon after when Charlie Chechlacz won the ball wide right with his cross running for Charlie Betts to nod in his second goal of the campaign. Ago Mujic’s side won it with six minutes remaining when Alex Tanevski nodded back into a dangerous area from a set piece and defender Brent Quick turned home.
Stirling are now within sight of fourth spot following their improved recent form, while Freo, who introduced new signing Paul Zimarino off the bench, are four points from guaranteed safety after a seventh loss in eight matches.
