It was an exciting weekend as Round 3 of the WA Men’s National Premier League competition showcased some incredible goals and action-packed games that entertained fans to no end.
Olympic Kingsway vs Balcatta Etna
Olympic Kingsway now sits dead last in the table, while Balcatta jumps to fourth after a last-minute winner at Kingsway Reserve.
Jack Allen’s sweat-struck volley broke the deadlock early on, but just before the halftime whistle, Ciaran Byrne slid in to draw things level.
In the 66th minute, Ben Hinshelwood headed his team in front from a corner. And somehow, following a mix-up in the box, Kingsway responded once more with a corner of their own.
Ultimately, Kotari Yamamoto won the game from the penalty spot in the dying moments.
Perth SC vs Cockburn City
Cockburn City recorded their second win of the season as they took out Marc Wingell’s Perth SC.
After a scoreless first half, the cockerels finally broke through in the 52nd minute for the opener. Alfred Guya reacted first to the goalkeeper’s blunders and grabbed his first goal of the year.
Bayswater City vs Perth Glory
Perth Glory continue their unbeaten run this season after sharing points with Bayswater at Frank Drago Reserve.
Winger John Stynes got Bayswater off to a great start, scoring in the 11th minute to put his team ahead. Stynes then made it a brace for himself in the 35th minute and doubled his team’s advantage. Only three minutes later, Samuel Dweh drove into the Glory box unopposed and unleashed a strike into the top-left corner, seemingly putting the match beyond doubt.
Laat Mathiang gave Glory hope going into the final 45 minutes by slamming in a penalty with virtually the last kick of the half. The visitors’ next goal came from Jayden Gorman, who hammered in a first-time volley to cut the deficit to one. Jaylan Pearman would later go on to equalise in the 71st minute.
Nicholas Speca’s bizarre challenge in the 87th minute earned him a red card and proved to be the exhilarating game’s final highlight, as neither side was able to find the net thereafter.
Armadale SC vs Inglewood United
Armadale climbed to second on the ladder after a convincing home victory over Inglewood United.
The Reds got off to a fast start, scoring two goals within the first half hour: one by winger Amir Ajan in the 4th minute and another by Chris Jackson, who doubled their lead in the 25th.
Tim Berger netted the third in the 56th minute with a left-footed toe poke, but it was Chris Jackson who capped off the rout in the 68th minute by scoring his brace.
Sorrento vs Perth Redstar
Red Star have got their season back on track, having recorded a shock seven-goal victory on the road against Steven McGarry’s seagulls.
Darryl Nicol scored first, converting a penalty he earned in the second minute. The Sky Blues’ woes worsened when Ryan McLaughin was sent off for an ill-timed tackle, and it was from that free-kick that Nicol rocketed the ball onto the underside of the crossbar to make it two in under ten minutes.
Declan Hughes and Chok Dau were next on the score-sheet with two goals from outside the box.
Giron Marulanda’s low but firm free kick gave a minuscule bit of hope in the 70th minute, but Hough responded just four minutes later to put any hopes of a Sorrento miracle to rest.
Chok Dau scored his second and fullback Nicholas Walsh scored late-on to bring the game to a close.
Floreat Athena vs Stirling Macedonia
Floreat Athena finishes round three inside the top three after a stunning victory over Stirling Macedonia.
Athena broke the deadlock in the 6th minute, with Bayley Brown Montgomery the scorer. Stirling, however, would level through Alex Taneski in the 20th minute.
Floreat had the game’s final chance, a wide free-kick with only seconds remaining. Phil Arnold stood over the ball and delivered a delightful cross-box ball that in one way or another found its way into the goal, giving Vas Vujacic’s men a historic win.
