Perth RedStar took control of the NPLWA - Men’s title race with a 4-1 win over Armadale on Saturday.
The result extended RedStar’s unbeaten run to five matches and put Callum Salmon’s side three points clear of Stirling Macedonia and six ahead of Olympic Kingsway, with a far superior goal difference over both. While the two chasers meet next Saturday in a catch-up fixture, the strong likelihood is if RedStar win their remaining three league matches then they will be crowned champions for a second time in four years.
RedStar led inside two minutes when Gomo Dukuly swept home a first league goal for the club after Declan Hughes’ free-kick broke his way in the box.
Armadale, who parted company with head coach John O'Reilly in the week, had a decent spell later in the half and almost levelled when Billy Quinncroft headed against the bar from Amir Ajan’s corner. Ajan would find a team-mate again on 38 minutes from another set-piece and this time the unmarked Nathan Costello made it 1-1.
But RedStar struck twice at the end of the opening period to all but guarantee a fourth win in five. Daryl Nicol got both with the Scot scoring from the penalty spot via the post, before heading in Hughes’ cross with the last touch of the half.
Chok Dau then volleyed in a fourth after the restart to net for a fifth consecutive game, which completed the scoring and consigned Armadale to a fourth straight loss that leaves them only goal difference clear of danger.
Daryl Nicol slots in his first, and Perth RedStar's second, against Armadale. Photo by FotoEnzo
Stirling and Olympic are the two sides looking to haul in RedStar but both dropped points ahead of their meeting at Kingsway Reserve on Saturday.
Stirling had to fight back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw with Sorrento, who took a handy point in their battle against the drop.
Dean Cummings’ 10th goal of the season from the penalty spot gave Sorrento a sixth-minute lead against his former side. It ultimately helped the Gulls end the weekend a point above the relegation play-off spot after Ian Ferguson’s team responded in the second half.
They levelled 15 minutes from time when Daniel Faichney also found the net against his old club, leaping highest to nod in Brent Quick’s cross.
Meanwhile, Kingsway registered a fourth clean sheet in a row but had to settle for a goalless draw at Cockburn City.
And it might have been worse for Kingsway, who had keeper David Keenan to thank for his first-half penalty save from David Araya, the spot-kick awarded for a foul on Jordan Dane.
The draw kept Cockburn two points above the relegation play-off place, with their next two fixtures against the league’s bottom two sides.
And those teams met in a thriller on Saturday, with Inglewood United salvaging a dramatic late 3-3 draw against Perth Glory in Port Kennedy.
Inglewood appeared to be cruising as Anthony Bafobusha’s stunning half-volley and Shubham Mokala’s equally impressive long-range strike had them 2-0 in front.
But Glory rallied with three goals in the final 16 minutes. Dylan White’s handball allowed Giordano Colli to hammer a penalty down the middle and halve the deficit. Colli then scored a brilliant looping left-footed volley with two minutes remaining for 2-2, before Jayden Gorman’s close-range header looked to have snatched all three points for the youngsters.
But another twist unfolded and after Harry Evans was fouled in the box, Mokala sent Glory keeper Robert Cook the wrong way from the spot five minutes into stoppage time.
As a result, Andres Oliveira’s side are three points adrift of three teams with three rounds left, while Glory stay in the relegation play-off spot.
Abdul Osman, centre, turns away after scoring for Perth SC against Floreat Athena. Photo by Rob Lizzi
Elsewhere, the race for a finals spot is on, as Perth SC’s 1-0 win at Floreat kept them fourth.
The Azzurri sit a point behind Kingsway having played a game more, but had to work hard for their victory when keeper Luke Radonich was sent off right on half-time after he came out of his box and collided with Bayley Brown-Montgomery.
Despite being down to 10 men, Perth scored the winning goal on 58 minutes when Abdul Osman arrived from midfield and finished Zayd Farah’s low cross.
Dennis Galan collected a second yellow card late on to even up the numbers and now Floreat are out of the relegation play-off spot on goal difference alone.
Finally, Bayswater City stole a march on Balcatta Etna in the chase for a Top Four Cup place after a Gordon Smith hat-trick in seven first-half minutes helped them to a 4-3 victory. Baysie, who are fifth, remain one point behind Perth, while Etna in sixth sit three points and goal difference off fourth.
Kotaro Yamamoto’s 17th minute penalty gave Glen Grostate’s Etna side the lead as they searched for a first win in six games.
Smith volleyed home the equaliser on 32 minutes and the Scot was then adjudged to have glanced in Jackson Stephens’ header on the line, both goals coming from Kosta Sparta corners. And soon after Smith completed his treble as he slotted in from Joshua Anasmo’s pass
Balcatta hit back after the interval via Brent Griffiths’ header and Ben Hinshelwood’s deflected strike which wrong-footed the goalkeeper. Bayswater did find a winner though to keep alive their hopes of a first top-four finish since 2018. Samuel Dweh was the scorer with nine minutes left as he stayed onside, rounded the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.