Report by Navrin Secker

League top scorer Daryl Nicol moved closer to retaining the NPL Golden Boot by blasting a hat-trick as Bayswater City stormed to a 5-0 win over Rockingham City at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Ross Millard's second half strike and a Justis Bradley own goal rounded out the result for Chris Coyne’s men.

The win, Bayswater's first in over a month, saw them move up to fourth in the NPL WA with just two rounds remaining.

Rockingham City are still in danger of returning to the State League, although the failure to win this weekend of both Stirling and Armadale should mean they will enjoy a second season in the top flight.

Cam Lord’s side in fact started the match well and Robbie Galvin had a huge chance to open the scoring, but his effort came out off the post.

Instead, it was Bayswater who struck first as Nicol blasted in a driven free-kick via the post.

Gordon Smith should have doubled the hosts’ lead when he ran through on goal, but his shot was weak and straight at Rockingham goalkeeper Cyril Sharrock.

Smith went some way to making up for his miss when he played a beautiful pass to find Nicol in the box, and the Bayswater attacker netted a second goal late in the half.

Nicol continued to cause problems for the Rockingham defence, this time putting on the afterburners as he ran down the right wing, but the cutback was slightly ahead of Gustavo Giron Marulanda.

Some poor passing in defence from Rockingham then handed possession to Millard on the edge of the box and the midfielder made it 3-0.

A late barrage of dangerous corners for Bayswater ended when Bradley put the ball into his own net to pile on the misery for the visitors.

And in the dying embers of the match, a mistake from Rockingham keeper Sharrock gifted Nicol his third goal to wrap up a convincing win for Bayswater.

Star man: Daryl Nicol (Bayswater City)

Bayswater City 5 (Nicol 7 35 90+2, R.Millard 69, Bradley og 85)
Rockingham City 0
Frank Drago Reserve
Saturday, August 17
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistant referees: Thomas Robinson, Lawson Rimmer

Bayswater City: 1. Devon LINDEMANN, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 9. Gustavo GIRON, 10. Jason MIRCO (11. Ryan PEARSON 83), 12. Steve HESKETH, 13. Trent KAY, 17. Daryl NICOL, 18. Brent GRIFFITHS (30. Adam TONG 88), 19. Gordon SMITH, 20. Giordano COLLI, 27. Ross MILLARD (Hamish VAN DIEKEN 77)
Unused substitutes: 24. Jake SARDIELLO, 25. Sam REILLY
Yellow card: Howarth 57
Red cards: Nil

Rockingham City: 1. Cyril SHARROCK, 3. Justis BRADLEY, 6. Robbie GLAVIN (13. Jarrad MORT 77mins), 7. James MILLARD, 9. Sam McKEARNEN (5. Harry COLLINS 77), 10. James HARMER, 12. Lydon HODGKISS, 15. Shaz RAMLEE (14. Ryan KENNEDY 77), 18. Michael FARMER, 20. Mitchell FIRTH, 23. Victor BRAUNER
Unused substitutes: 31. James GREHAN
Yellow cards: McKearnen 58, Firth 90+2
Red cards: Nil