UPDATE: Stirling Macedonia are two points clear at the top of the NPLWA – Men’s competition following a 2-1 win over old rivals Floreat Athena.
It was a great Round 14 for Ian Ferguson’s team, with their fellow title contenders all dropping points.
Like last week against Perth RedStar, two first-half goals did the job at Macedonia Park as Stirling made it four wins in five matches.
Stirling’s breakthrough came on 15 minutes when Kingsley Eshun rolled his marker in the area and pulled across for an arriving Asher Nelson to score.
Jesse Roberts’ shot deflected wide of the post in response, but Stirling doubled their lead just past the half-hour mark. Kade Fearnall made the midfield run into the right channel before squaring for Daniel Faichney who couldn’t miss from six yards.
Faichney was denied a second by Jason Saldaris’ leg as the hosts took a two-goal cushion into the break.
Floreat gave themselves a route back into the game when Gyles Davies brought down Noah Shamaki in the box, and the striker stepped up to halve the deficit with 10 minutes left.
But time would run out for Vas Vujacic’s team who drop to second bottom and into the relegation play-off position three days after qualifying for the Australia Cup Round of 32.
Stirling hit the summit following home defeats for the two sides who began the day above them.
Previous leaders Perth RedStar fell to a 2-1 defeat against northern rivals Sorrento FC.
It was a nice bounce back from the Gulls who are sixth and three points off fourth, while RedStar drop a place to second after back-to-back defeats.
All the goals were scored in a frantic first seven minutes at RedStar Arena, with Dean Cummings scoring an early pair for Sorrento.
He swept in a loose ball after RedStar failed to clear their lines from a corner before the midfielder made it six goals in five games from the penalty spot.
Back came RedStar moments later, as Daryl Nicol finished Sonny O’Shea’s cross to bring up his 18th goal of the campaign. He is six goals clear of Armadale’s Chris Jackson in the Golden Boot race.
In an exciting first half O’Shea and Chok Dau forced Patrick Hughes into first-half saves, while at the other end Gustavo Marulanda hit the bar.
After the restart, the rain hammered down as Sorrento retreated, kept their shape, and managed their way to a third win in four league games and revenge for a 7-1 hammering to RedStar in Round Three.
The best chances for a RedStar leveller came from substitute Gomo Dukuly who headed over from Dau’s cross and then clipped the top of the bar.
Balcatta Etna, who kicked off in second in the league, also dropped a place with a 3-0 loss at home to Olympic Kingsway, their first defeat since Round Seven.
New Kingsway signing Mitch Oxborrow set up the opener inside 10 minutes with his corner met by an unmarked Daniel Walsh to head home.
Another set-piece led to the second just before the interval with Etna only partially clearing and David Perich’s cross deflecting off Adam Tong for an own goal.
Kingsway’s fourth win in six games was confirmed via another Walsh header, this time from Sasa Njegic’s corner, as Olympic finished the weekend in fifth and just two points behind their opponents with a game in hand.
Elsewhere, Perth Glory got their season back on track with Matthew George’s hat-trick helping them to a thrilling 6-3 win over Bayswater City.
Glory raced into a two-goal lead inside 10 minutes at Lark Hill with George curling home stylishly from 18 yards, before Joel Anasmo bent into the far corner after cutting in from the left.
Bayswater replied when Andrew Maranta scored against his former side from Kosta Sparta’s cut-back, but Glory restored their two-goal buffer by half-time when Joshua Anasmo shrugged off two defenders and coolly slotted in.
The second half then saw five goals scored in 16 crazy minutes, with Bayswater pulling level before Glory careered away with the win.
First, Gordon Smith’s scored from close range for 3-2 and then rolled across the box a minute later for Jon Stynes to bring Bayswater on terms.
They were level for only four minutes, though, as George powered home from James Overy’s lay-off to put the hosts 4-3 up.
George’s stunning strike from 25 yards kissed the underside of the bar as it went in to complete a hat-trick of great goals, before Jayden Gorman wrapped it up with another beauty five minutes from time.
Glory’s first win puts them four points clear of the drop zone and three points off fourth, while Bayswater drop three places to 10th and are six without victory having led the league after Round Eight.
Cockburn City also sprung out of the bottom two with a 1-0 win over Perth SC ensuring they completed a league double over the Azzurri.
It was the perfect response to going out of the Australia Cup from Steve McDonald’s team, who won it in spectacular fashion 17 minutes from time.
Luqman Sayyed drilled in right-footed to give the Cockerels a first win in five, which puts them ninth and four points clear of the bottom. Perth drop to seventh on goal difference with a second defeat in three games.
Finally, Inglewood United and Armadale SC shared the points after a goalless draw with plenty of chances at Inglewood Stadium.
The result didn’t lift Inglewood off the foot of the table, but they closed the gap on 11th to just one point, while Armadale stay fourth with the draw but are only one point ahead of fifth.
Round 14 results
Balcatta Etna 0-3 Olympic Kingsway
Cockburn City 1-0 Perth SC
Inglewood United 0-0 Armadale
Perth Glory 6-3 Bayswater City
Perth RedStar 1-2 Sorrento FC
Stirling Macedonia 2-1 Floreat Athena