Report by Samuel Hays

Photo by Jonny Warrington

A classy performance from Bayswater City saw them brush aside Forrestfield United 4-0 at Wildlife Safari Stadium on Saturday night.

Goals from David Stokoe, Gian Albano, Paul Lloyd and Luke Salmon ensured Bayswater set up a three-point buffer at the top of the National Premier Leagues WA table.

Bayswater captain Trent Kay was proud of the way his team played and pleased to come out of this busy period on top of the table.

“I thought the boys played excellent today and all the other results went our way, so we're pretty excited about that,” Kay said.

The league has been very even across the board this year and Kay added: “It’s the tightest it’s been since I’ve been playing and I’ve been playing for 10 years. It’s good, it’s more competitive and I love it but I still hope we can go on and get the wins.”

Luka Ninkovic looked threatening for Bayswater and he had a goal disallowed following an earlier foul then saw a good shot deflected for a corner.

And it was from that set-piece that Bayswater nabbed a 26th minute opener when Stokoe made use of his height to rise above the defence and head the home.

Two minutes later Albano doubled their advantage following a slaloming run through the heart of the Forrestfield defence before sliding his shot past Luke Martino.

Paul McCarthy would have made it three from a free-kick but for the hand of Martino as he got down well to his left to parry the ball out for a corner.

Bayswater’s third came in the 68th minute when Lloyd was in the right place at the right time after Forrestfield had struggled to clear their lines.

The fourth and final goal came in the 81st minute as Salmon rounded off a good run by shooting past Martino from a tight angle.

Forrestfield coach Rod Banjac said a fifth match in 15 days had caught up with his side but appreciated the quality and depth that Bayswater possess.

“It was always going to be a tough game but we played good in patches and I’m happy with the boys,” Banjac said.

“We were pretty flat tonight and I’ll give the boys most of the week off next week to recover and we start next Saturday, back into our routine again.

“But credit to Baysie, they’ve got the depth there and obviously a very mature side. They took advantage of our busy schedule.

“But in saying that I’m just so proud of the boys because this is the first loss in five games.”

Bayswater face ECU Joondalup at home next week while Forrestfield travel to Stirling.

Forrestfield United 0
Bayswater City 4 (Stokoe 26min, Albano 28, Lloyd 68, Salmon 81)
Saturday, May 5
Wildlife Safari Stadium
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistant referees: Martin Hicks, Callum Haddow

Forrestfield United: 9. Hasani Sinclair, 4. James Duncan, 10. Jordan Hart, 8. Josh Appleby, 11 Liam Merigan (C), 1. Luke Martino (GK), 7. Mitchell Crocker, 5. Scott Barker, 2. Tom Southgate, 3. Wilbert Tshabangu, 6. Kristian Despotovski, (12. Callum Dobbs 53), (14. Antoine Lemarie 68), (16. Thomas Jebb 77)
Unused substitutes: 18. Benjamin Parry (RGK), 15. Josh Kotio
Yellow cards: Despotovski 86
Red cards: Nil

Bayswater City: 5. Adam Harris, 23. Andrija Jukic, 12. David Stokoe, 1. Devon Spence (GK), 17. Gian Albano, 24. Jake Sardelic, 19. Luka Ninkovic, 26. Paul Lloyd, 8. Paul McCarthy, 6. Todd Howarth, 13. Trent Kay (C), (22. Luke Salmon 47), (20. Giordano Colli 70), (15. Jordan Pokler 76)
Unused substitutes: 25. Dejan Aleksic (RGK), 27. Neil Gilies
Yellow cards: Harris 51
Red cards: Nil