Report by Peter Simcox

Pictured: Bayswater City celebrate. Photo: Football West News

Bayswater City claimed the U20 Top Four Cup with a 3-0 win over Armadale at Dorrien Gardens today.

The win sealed a successful season for the Black and Blues, who also took out the PS4 NPLWA league title and Cool Ridge Cup Final.

They led 1-0 at the break with Armadale defender Kade McNamara scoring an own goal, and second half goals to David Stokoe and Luka Ninkovic gave them a comprehensive win.

Bayswater coach Chris Barbas was pleased his side had done enough, despite not being at their best.

“We told the boys before the game they were champions and to believe it and to just go out there and prove it,” he said.

“It probably wasn’t our best performance, but I thought we had the class to get the job done.”

Barbas praised big defender Stokoe’s performance, which was rewarded with a goal.

“David has been great for us all season and he was again today,” he said.

“I’m so glad he scored, too. He’s been wanting to score all season and has been off target and they weren’t just going in for him, so I was really happy for him today scoring a bullet header.

“The three lads up top are our weapons, and we’ve scored nearly 100 goals in all competitions this season… you could see today why that is. They all played their part in the win.”

Stokoe, whose form saw him play first team football for Bayswater late in the season, was delighted to help the club to a third success this season.

“We knew it would be a hard game like it was last week, but we managed to get the job done today and even more pleasing is keeping a clean sheet,” he said.

“We knew if we kept it tight at the back we have the firepower up front to hurt any team, and that’s what happened today.”

Both sides had early chances in a lively opening. Armadale’s Michael Domfeh beat keeper Fraser Greenwood to a ball over the top but he headed wide of the target before Bayswater’s Ninkovic produced a bullet-like header that was superbly saved by Michael Craggs.

Moments later Domfeh was picked out again by Joe Kelly but his effort flashed wide of the target, before Broden Brown’s shot from the edge of the penalty area was tipped over the top by Greenwood.

Bayswater hit the front five minutes before the break.

Good work on the right by Taban Makoii ended with a cross to Alex Wild, whose curling shot crashed off the far post and deflected into the net off the unfortunate McNamara.

Armadale were on the front foot early in the second half and Emmanuel Wordu’s low cross was well held by Greenwood.

But just after the hour Bayswater doubled their advantage when Makoii’s free kick picked out Stokoe, who headed home.

On 70 minutes, Bayswater’s Leslie Mari was given a second yellow card and Armadale pushed men forward to get back into the game.

Wordu’s shot on the run flashed over the top for Armadale before Eraste Vyamungu low shot was saved by Greenwood at his near post.

But with Armadale pushing men forward the 10 men of Bayswater hit on a counter attack and added a third on 78 minutes.

Hifzhan Mohd Hayazi sent Wild down the right, the striker eased past his marker and crossed into the box and Ninkovic was on hand at the back post to steer the ball home to seal the win.

Bayswater City 3 (OG 40 mins, Stokoe 63’, Ninkovic 78’)
Armadale 0
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Venue: Dorrien Gardens, West Perth
Referee: Zach Piccicacco
Assistants: Shane Skinner, Oliver Allen
Fourth Official: Josh Nixon

Bayswater City: GK Fraser GREENWOOD, 3 David STOKOE, 6 Leslie MARI, 7 Jamie MURPHY (11 Charlie WHITE 82’), 8 Hifzhan MOHD HAYAZI, 9 Alex WILD, 10 Taban MAKOII, 14 Tristan COLLO, 18 Giodano COLLI (19 Ayden DRAGUN 58’), 20 Luka NINKOVIC, 21 Stefan BABAS (2 Dean GORDON 46’)
Substitutes not used: 5 Patiente IIAHAMBAYE, 12 Jake CHERRIE
Yellow cards: Mari 53’, 70’, Wild 67’
Red cards: Mari 70’

Armadale: GK Michael CRAGGS, 2 Beau RAHIM, 3 Ross BETT, 4 Kade MCNAMARA (17 Justin ONEK 80’), 5 Shay PASALACQUA, 7 Danny HODGSON (8 Shaun MORRISON 37’), 9 Broden BROWN, 10 Joe KELLY (16 Eraste VYAMUNGU 64’), 11 Emmanuel WORDU, 14 James ATKINS (C), 15 Michael DOMFEH
Substitutes not used: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 6 Tre GAFFNEY
Yellow cards: Vyamungu 72’