NPL WA Round 20 Review

Two second half goals moved Perth SC a game closer to league championship number 24 as they defeated Sorrento 2-0.

The result maintained the Azzurri’s three-point cushion at the top of the NPLWA – Men’s table with two games remaining.

Floreat Athena defeated ECU Joondalup 2-0 to keep their hopes alive. However, Perth can clinch the league next week at Rockingham if they win or draw and Floreat don’t match that result in their match at Sorrento.

Saturday’s game ended Sorrento hopes of winning the title, but Jamie Harnwell's side remain in a healthy position to secure a Top Four Cup spot.

It was a first half of few chances at Dorrien Gardens. Sorrento keeper Matt Guidicatti reacted sharply to deny Calvin Whitney and Will Gordon, with Sorrento largely restricted to long-range efforts.

Chris Jackson brought out a save from Ryan Montgomery early in the second half, but Perth got the breakthrough goal on 63 minutes. Jayden Gorman surged down the right and crossed for Michael Domfeh, who tapped home a ninth of the season.

Lachie Byrd denied Daniel Faichney with an excellent last-ditch tackle before the hosts went on to secure the win. Calvin Whitney whacked a superb free-kick into the top corner to join Domfeh on nine for the season as Perth's unbeaten run stretched to nine.

Floreat kept tabs with Perth at E&D Litis Stadium as they defeated ECU Joondalup in a repeat of July's State Cup final.

Sean McManus drove two good chances over the bar for Athena, whose chances of reeling in the leaders were enhanced when Ryan Lowry was sent off for a foul five minutes before half-time.

ECU almost struck when Danny Hodgson glanced Daryl Nicol's free kick at stand-in goalkeeper Thomas Chudy. Minutes later, Jacks keeper Johnny Perkins was penalised for a foul on Rob Harding in the area and Jesse Fuller dispatched the penalty kick to put Athena ahead.

Tommy Amphlett put wide of the post with ECU's best chance to level and soon after Floreat made the game safe when Nick Ambrogio headed home Wesley Casimir's cross.

In the late kick-off, Perth Glory remained fourth with a 2-0 win over Rockingham, which dented the latter's hopes of NPL survival.

Cyril Sharrock got down to save early to save from Ciaran Bramwell, but the striker opened the scoring on 20 minutes when he found the bottom corner with an assured finish.

Bramwell, Gio Colli and Adam Zimarino had chances to extend the lead, only to be denied by an in-form Sharrock who kept his side in the game.

Joshua Anasmo hit the top of the bar soon after the restart, but Glory did eventually find the insurance of a second goal when Zimarino poked home Colli's pass.

Glory are three points clear of Inglewood having played a game more, but defeat for Rockingham leaves them four points adrift with two matches to play.

It could have been curtains already for Rockingham if Balcatta had held on to the lead in their 2-2 draw with Inglewood.

Robert Petkov finished from close range to put Inglewood in front. Balcatta keeper Lewis Italiano then saved brilliantly from Ajak Riak, before the home side hit back twice before the interval.

Hristijan Jankuloski headed in a wicked Calum O'Connell on 27 minutes then Nick Walsh slammed in his first Balcatta goal when Inglewood didn’t clear their lines.

Steve Sokol slotted home his 16th goal of the season on the hour mark to level and earn his side a point. The Inglewood striker is three goals clear in the race for the Golden Boot.

Bayswater City continued their good end of season form as they defeated Armadale 3-2 at Frank Drago Reserve.

Cherno Bah forced a good early save from City keeper Liam Driscoll, and Bayswater responded with the opening goal on 14 minutes when Fraser Dunlop crossed for Gordon Smith to score.

The lead lasted only four minutes as Pieter Jacobsz crashed home at the near post – only for the hosts to regain the advantage when Ndumba Makeche raced away and dinked coolly over the goalkeeper.

Bayswater made it 3-1 when Smith volleyed his 10th for the season. That proved enough for City who held on to win despite Andrew Reale's late consolation and Zayd Farah's late red card.

Finally, Cockburn City and Gwelup Croatia shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Dalmatinac Park.

Gwelup’s Hasani Sinclair headed in from Declan Hargreaves' corner to net against his former club, while Jesse Lazzaro's excellent free kick earned the point needed to guarantee Cockburn's safety.

Gwelup are five points clear of Rockingham at the bottom and one point from their final two games will be enough to ensure they stay up given their superior goal difference.

NPLWA Goals Wrap | Round 20

Results
Balcatta 2-2 Inglewood United
Bayswater City 3-2 Armadale
Cockburn City 1-1 Gwelup Croatia
Floreat Athena 2-0 ECU Joondalup
Perth Glory 2-0 Rockingham City
Perth SC 2-0 Sorrento