Balcatta Etna ended an eight-game winless run at the timeliest of moments on Saturday to ensure their own NPLWA - Men’s survival and relegate Cockburn City to the State League.
Balcatta’s 3-0 victory at Grindleford Reserve was just one episode in an enthralling final day of the regular season, which saw Perth RedStar lift the league title, Perth SC pip Armadale to the final Top Four Cup place and Sorrento FC left facing a play-off if they are to retain their top-flight status.
RedStar’s second title in four years was all but guaranteed after last week’s games, which meant the thrills and spills were at the other end of the league. Going into the last day, there were six teams in danger of either automatic relegation or having to go through the play-offs.
In most peril were Cockburn, two points adrift and knowing they had to win. That would have likely condemned opponents Balcatta to the drop, so the stakes could not have been higher, and that was reflected in a tight and tense first 45 minutes. Anthony Skorich struck just wide for Cockburn while Trent Kay missed the target following a goalmouth scramble with Etna’s best first-half chance.
Then Glenn Grostate’s team took a giant stride towards safety on 58 minutes when leading scorer Kotaro Yamamoto came off the bench and rifled low across Cockburn goalkeeper Michael Craggs from the right for the opening goal.
That settled Etna and midway through the second half it was almost job done as Declan Hudson’s cross was cleared to the feet of Liam Hudson who drilled home from the edge of the area for 2-0.
Cockburn skipper Euen Grant was shown a second yellow card in the final 10 minutes. And the exclamation mark was put on the win when Adam Tong went solo and found the bottom corner to kickstart the celebrations in his final match before retiring. Balcatta improbably ended the season in seventh.
Also feeling a sense of relief were Men’s State Cup finalists Inglewood United and Floreat Athena, who both came from behind to stay out of danger.
Last season’s champions Athena started the day in the relegation play-off position but finished just above the dotted line after coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Perth Glory.
Glory need only a point to ensure their safety and set about getting the job done early. Andriano Lebib bundled Laat Mathing’s free-kick into the back of the net before Sebastian Despotovski’s shot was saved into the path of Aiki Tsukamoto, who slammed in for 2-0 after 17 minutes.
That scoreline had Floreat in a precarious position but renewed hope came early in the second half when Robert Petkov headed in Alex Christodoulakis’ cross.
Athena were then awarded a penalty with 13 minutes remaining when Bayley Brown-Montgomery went to ground under the challenge of Lebib. Kyle Murray did the rest from the spot to ensure Floreat survived after an almighty scare.
Floreat Athena fought from 2-0 down to draw with Perth Glory. Photo by Tom McCarthy
Inglewood also retained their NPL status thanks to Michael Domfeh’s late header in a 1-1 draw with Stirling Macedonia.
Stirling were assured of finishing second going into the final round and they hit the front on 49 minutes. Hristijan Jankuloski was credited with the opener as his deep cross got the better of Alex Dunn and Gyles Davies before finding its way in.
With Balcatta and Floreat getting results elsewhere, Andres Oliveira’s side were second bottom with under 10 minutes to play. But up stepped Domfeh to nod home Matthew Ntumenopoulos’ corner to earn a crucial point and make it four games unbeaten for Inglewood when it mattered most.
The victims of the chaos around them were Sorrento, who slipped from eighth down to 11th following old boy Chris Jackson’s hat-trick for Armadale in a 5-1 win for the visitors at Percy Doyle Reserve.
The Gulls will now play Joondalup United over two legs in the relegation/promotion play-off semi-final in a fortnight, and should they advance, they will meet the winners of Mandurah City and Fremantle City at the State Football Centre for the right to play in the NPL next season.
Armadale knew they needed to win big to keep their hopes of a post-season finish alive and made a fast start when Jackson arrowed into the bottom corner on five minutes.
The Englishman showed strength to reel in Pieter Jacobsz’ pass and coolly finish to double the lead. But Sorrento found a swift response as Gustavo Marulanda twisted and turned before scoring his 11th goal of the season.
Efficient Armadale netted again to lead 3-1 at the break when Purvishna Appadoo lifted over Patrick Hughes, and the game was all but over when Jacobsz stayed onside to make it four after an hour.
Jackson scored a spectacular fifth to complete his treble and the scoring from just inside the Sorrento half, as Alun Vernals made it three wins in three games to end 2023 since arriving at the club. It also marked Armadale’s best finish in the club’s history.
Perth SC drew 3-3 with Bayswater City to secure the final Top Four Cup spot. Photo by Rob Lizzi
Despite the big win, it was not enough to put Armadale in the Top Four Cup, after Perth SC got the point they needed in a helter-skelter 3-3 draw at Bayswater City.
Sam Mitchinson’s brilliant strike had Baysie up early, but Perth promptly levelled when Luke Collins curled home on his non-preferred right foot from outside the box.
Alex Da Rocha’s determined run was rewarded with a first goal since rejoining the Azzurri, only for Perth to be pegged back by a superb swerving volley from Declan Hargreaves.
Baysie then went in front as Andrew Maranta slotted into an empty net to make it 3-2 after Gordon Smith got to a long ball before Perth shot stopper Luke Martino.
At that stage Armadale were finals bound, but Jeremie Mba’s tap-in after 59 minutes put Perth back where they needed to be, and they held firm to return to the post-season after missing out in 2022.
Finally, champions RedStar was presented with the league title following their 1-1 with Olympic Kingsway.
Both goals were scored inside the first 18 minutes with Tyler Garner volleying in James Fanelli’s cross to put Kingsway ahead, before Chok Dau levelled when striking through David Keenan for the equaliser.
David Tough’s side secured a home elimination final against Perth in the Top Four Cup, but it was RedStar’s day in the sun as they ended the campaign eight games unbeaten and three points clear of the rest to be confirmed as 2023 champions.
- Western Knights will play in the NPL next season after they claimed the State League Division One title with a last-minute winner over Joondalup United.
With rivals Mandurah City cruising to victory over Dianella White Eagles, Knights were facing a place in the play-offs before Albert Luwi sparked pandemonium at Nash Field with the only goal on 89 minutes.
Promotion/relegation play-off semi-finals (two legs)
Joondalup United v Sorrento FC
Fremantle City v Mandurah City