Bayswater City are through to the PS4 National Premier League Semi-Finals after recording a come-from-behind 2-1 win over West Adelaide at Adelaide Shores Football Centre on Sunday Afternoon.
The win was the first for a WA side in the national knockout competition as Bayswater scored two second-half goals to secure a memorable victory.
Bayswater had trailed 1-0 at half time but two goals in three minutes – from David Heagney and Danny Dixon – secured a victory that has set-up a Semi-Final against Tasmania’s Olympic FC at Frank Drago Reserve next weekend.
West Adelaide controlled much of the possession in the first half and Robin Lippett was first to threaten but he headed over in the seventh minute. Just five minutes later, West Adelaide were in front when a Jamie Coyne back pass ended up in the net.
Bayswater settled into the tempo after conceding and had half chances through Heagney, Chris Saldaris and a disallowed goal for offside from Gustavo Giron Marulanda in the 29th minute.
At the other end, Ricardo Da Silva created a great chance after 36 minutes that was deflected off Trent Kay for a corner. Just before the half-time break, some great build up play between Alexander Rideout and John Karatzas almost had the home side 2-0 up at the break.
Chris Coyne’s half-time message and an inspired substitution to bring on Danny Dixon for Declan Hargreaves, who had been struggling with illness, proved to be the difference.
Bayswater kicked into gear as Giron Marulanda and Heagney started creating chances for the visitors. Giron Marulanda almost got Bayswater on level terms in the 76th minute with a fantastic free-kick that rocketed off the crossbar.
It was only a matter of time before Bayswater would equalise and it came just a minute later. A left-footed cross from Todd Howarth caused havoc in the box and when West Adelaide defenders were unable to clear, Heagney was first to react to score.
Soon after, Bayswater got their second goal when some great build up down the left from Sam Mitchinson and Heagney created an opportunity for substitute Dixon to slot home.
Coach Chris Coyne made some defensive changes in the dying moments of the match to ensure City got the win with Adam Tong replacing Heagney to shore up the Bayswater defence.
Coyne conceded his side had taken time to adjust to the artificial surface.
“It was tough,” he said. “The astro turf was a bit hard to get used to in the first half. We told the boys to settle down at half time and have a little bit more composure and get on the ball. I felt we were immense in the second half and the brand of football we played was really good. I am really proud of the boys.”
Coyne said Bayswater had plenty of homework to do before taking on Olympia.
“We’ll do our due diligence, and make some phone calls, watch some tape and prepare like we did for this game,” he said. “We definitely won’t be taking this lightly.”
The match against Olympia will be played at Frank Drago Reserve on the weekend of Saturday, September 26. The date is to be confirmed.
West Adelaide SC 1 (Coyne 12’ (og))
Bayswater City SC 2 (Heagney 77’, Dixon 80’)
Sunday 20 September 2015
Adelaide Shores Football Centre, West Beach SA
Referee: Daniel Elder
West Adelaide SC starting line-up: 1.Daniel ATKINS (gk), 5.Robin LIPPETT, 6.Elias VLASSIS, 8.Kosta MANTIS (4.Thomas VEART 83’), 9.Alex RIDEOUT, 10.Ricardo DA SILVA, 11.Thomas BRISCOE, 12.John KARATZAS (13.Matthew BOUZALAS 74’), 14.Nathan ANDIJANTO, 20.Tony HATZIS (3.Lewis VALLELONGA 86’), 23.Mitchell NICHOLSON
Substitutes not used: 2.Milos TOSIC, 21.Alexandros KOUTOULOGENIS (gk)
Yellow cards: Da Silva 39’, Nicholson 88’
Red cards: Nil
Bayswater City SC starting line-up: 1.Devon SPENCE (gk), 2.Declan HARGREAVES (14.Danny DIXON 46’), 6.Todd HOWARTH, 9.Gustavo GIRON-MARULANDA, 13.Trent KAY, 15.Brian FARRELL, 16.Jamie COYNE, 17.Bor Bor SAM (10.Damien CATALANO 90’), 20.Sam MITCHINSON, 21.David HEAGNEY (12.Adam TONG 85’), 23.Chris SALDARIS
Substitutes not used: 19.Alex WILD, 25.Jason SALDARIS (gk)
Yellow cards: Saldaris 46’
Red cards: Nil