Football West News

Bayswater City provided Balcatta with a lesson in finishing as they completed a 4-1 win to remain three points clear at the top of the National Premier Leagues WA competition. 

It was far from plain sailing for Chris Coyne’s side, who were slow out of the blocks at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday.
 
But after Balcatta’s Kris Gate had a penalty saved by Devon Spence, City sorted themselves out in ruthless fashion to be 3-0 up by the half-hour mark. 
 
“Goals sometimes polish over the cracks,” Coyne said, adding that his side could have been 3-0 down inside the first 10 minutes.
 
“I said to the team at half-time that I don’t think you understand that we aren’t playing well today.”
 
Luka Ninkovic headed Bayswater ahead on 13 minutes and skipper Trent Kay made it 2-0 shortly afterwards.
 
Balcatta, who lost 4-2 to Bayswater in Round One, must have wondered what had gone wrong and it got worse when Arran Maplestone added a third in the 29th minute.
 
New Balcatta signing Asher Nelson gave his new side hope early in the second half with a brilliant long-range effort, before Maplestone re-established the visitors' three-goal advantage five minutes later.
 
Balcatta coach Goran Stajic said: “I don’t think it was a 4-1 game, I think we were always in the game and we kept creating chances."
 
Second-place Cockburn City showed they are going nowhere thanks to a 2-0 win away to Subiaco.
 
Goals from Harry O’Brien and Anthony Skorich secured the victory and assistant coach Dale Wignell said: “I think the main thing about today’s game was mentality, we are halfway through the season and in second and it was just about picking up the points.”
 
Perth Glory stayed third following a 2-0 win over Perth SC, who are in real danger of falling off the pace in the title race.
 
Not for the first time this season Glory finished the stronger and two goals in the final 14 minutes from Daniel Stynes and Yacoub Mustafa earned them the points.
 
Inglewood United, in fourth, showed commendable resilience to dig out a 1-0 win at Stirling Lions. Alex Salmon scored the only goal while Inglewood keeper Alex Dunn produced a stand-out display.
 
In the northern derby at Percy Doyle Reserve ECU Joondalup ran out 2-1 winners over Sorrento, Andy Higgins scoring the winner, while Armadale continued their climb from danger after Chris Jackson banged in a hat-trick in their 3-1 victory at bottom of the table Joondalup United.
 
Forrestfield United moved out of the bottom three but will feel they should have got more than a 1-1 draw against Floreat Athena.
 
Jonathan Stynes opened the scoring for Floreat in the first half before Hasani Sinclair equalised after the interval.
 
Forrestfield, who found Athena keeper Jason Saldaris in outstanding form, went agonisingly close to winning it in injury time but skipper Liam Merigan’s shot thundered off the crossbar.
 
RESULTS
Perth Glory 2-0 Perth SC 
(at Dorrien Gardens)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE
 
Floreat Athena 1-1 Forrestfield United 
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE
 
Balcatta 1-4 Bayswater City 
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE
 
Stirling Lions 0-1 Inglewood United 
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE
 
Joondalup United 1-3 Armadale 
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE
 
Subiaco 0-2 Cockburn City 
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE
 
Sorrento 1-2 ECU Joondalup 
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE