Report by Louis Granich

Balcatta and Armadale produced a six-goal classic in their Round 18 clash at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday.

Few would have predicted such a high-scoring affair between these two clubs. But the second half exploded into life in what turned out to be one of the games of the season as they shared the points.

The home side looked to threaten Armadale’s goal as Ben Pellizari and Shubham Mokala found joy in behind their opponent’s defence in the early exchanges.

Mokala in particular started the game with confidence and his early persistence was rewarded when he opened the scoring in the 38th minute. The winger gained possession in midfield and played a well weighted through ball to Calum O’Connell. The Balcatta captain cut the ball back to Mokala as he drifted into the box and the midfielder finished well with a shot into the bottom right corner.

Armadale, after appearing second best in the first half, were handed a lifeline just after the restart when Micheal Lawson scored directly from a corner after Adam Fields and David Keenan struggled to clear their lines from the set piece.

Goran Stajic’s men answered back with a set piece of their own 10 minutes later. Anthony Topini’s free kick was flicked on by John Kearney towards O’Connell, who followed up his midweek goal for the WA State Team with a thumping left-footed volley at the near post.

Once again, Armadale found joy with a corner kick as Lawson’s outswinger was met by Sam Garces. The Army forward headed the ball into the ground, which bounced over Robert Del Borrello on the goalline for a second equaliser.

But just as Armadale looked to have regained momentum, Balcatta rocked their opponents with a goal from the kick off. Substitutes Callum Stocks and Nicholas Challot combined to play in Jonathan Corness and the midfielder wrestled back the lead for his team with a tidy finish over the onrushing Sam Hutchings.

The action was far from over, though, as Abdul Osman was fouled in penalty area and a spot kick was given. Lawson then stepped up for Armadale and dispatched the high-pressure penalty.

Balcatta, who had a great shout for a penalty turned down earlier in the half, pushed for a winner. Gavin Knight found himself in behind on two occasions, but the veteran couldn’t find a way past Hutchings, who produced a crucial save in the last minute.

The home side then won a free kick with the last kick of the game. Knight stepped up looking add to his winner against Cockburn last week, but this time he met his match in Hutchings who dived well to save.

This result means Balcatta stay in third but open the door for the likes of Inglewood, Bayswater and Sorrento as the race for a top-four finish mounts over the final four weeks of the season.

Armadale arrested their three-match losing streak. But if Stirling win at Perth Glory on Sunday, John O'Reilly's side will be bottom of the table going into their game against Cockburn next week.

Star player: Micheal Lawson (Armadale)

NPL WA Round 18
Balcatta 3 (Mokala 38min, O’Connell 60, Corness 68)
Armadale 3 (Lawson 51, 82, Garces 68)

Balcatta: GK 1. David KEENAN, 3. John KEARNEY, 4. Callum O’CONNELL (9. Gavin KNIGHT 79), 5. Shubham MOKALA, (15. Callum STOCKS 65) 7. Ben PELLIZARI, 10. Jonathan CORNESS (C), 12. Roberto DEL BORELLO, 13. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 16. Alex CASTIELLO, 20. Anthony TOPINI, (19. Nicholas CHALLOT 65) 23. Adam FIELDS
Substitutions not used: 2. Joseph MARINO, 99. Damien STANOEVSKI
Yellow cards: Kearney 88
Red cards: Nil

Armadale: GK 1. Sam HUTCHINGS, 2. Josh KUSER, 4. Nathan COSTELLO (c), 5. Ali NAZARY, (Shannon HO 74) 6. Joel SANDERSON, 7. Joshua CORTES, (21 Abdul OSMAN 79) 8. Michael LAWSON, 9. Uriel MACIAS, 10. Sam GARCES, 12. Dannie RICHMAN, 13. Blake ADAMS
Substitutes not used: 16. Ayoubi KENNEH, 22. Geoffrey NOIMYKANGA, 34. Blake HANSHELL
Yellow cards: Garces 22, Kuser 90+5
Red cards: Nil