Football West News

Perth SC beat Balcatta to move into the final four. Photo by Rob Lizzi/@roblizzi4 (Instagram)

Armadale survived a major scare as they, Perth SC and ECU Joondalup joined Inglewood United in this Sunday’s Men’s NPL Night Series semi-finals.

With Perth already through from Group B after defeating Balcatta in the early kick-off at Frank Drago Reserve, Armadale simply had to avoid a five-goal loss against Bayswater City to join them in the last four.

And it looked comfortable for John O’Reilly’s side even though they trailed to Gordon Smith’s fifth-minute effort with half-an-hour to play.

That all changed when Bayswater scored three times in 10 minutes – Gustavo Giron with a double and Fraser Dunlop the other. Suddenly, with more than 20 minutes on the clock, City were one goal away from advancing themselves.

But try as they might, Gareth Naven’s side were unable to find a fifth and despite going down 4-0, it was Armadale who booked a meeting with Inglewood at Percy Doyle Reserve this Sunday (5pm).

Having already qualified, Group A winners Inglewood took their eye off the ball against Perth Glory and were thumped 6-1.

The goals for Glory, who were 5-0 up at half-time, came through Luke Bodnar, Jacob Muir, Giordano Colli (pen), Riley Warland, Chris Donnel and Lucas Rossi.

Hamza Belhassan pulled a goal back for Inglewood 10 minutes from the end.

There were plenty of goals at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium, with Perth SC finishing top of Group B on the back of a 5-1 stroll against Balcatta.

Jawad Rezai netted first for Balcatta but they trailed at the break after Cameron Teece and Calvin Whitney had scored for Perth. Early in the second half Alex Silla made it 3-1, before Whitney with his second and Gustavo Catarcione wrapped up the points.

The Azzurri will meet ECU in the other semi-final at Percy Doyle this Sunday (7pm) after the Jacks beat Cockburn City 1-0. Last season’s Golden Boot winner Danny Hodgson was on target again with the only goal four minutes from time.

There was no shortage of entertainment at E&D Litis Stadium either, despite none of the teams in action reaching the final four.

Gwelup Croatia and Rockingham City served up a seven-goal classic with Gwelup incredibly scoring three times in stoppage time to stun City 4-3.

Rockingham were well set after Shane Boyle and Dylan Rogers gave them a two-goal lead, although Shubham Mokala pulled one back late in the first half.

Felsal Zaw then made it 3-1 seven minutes from the end and that’s how it stayed until after the 90 minutes when Gwelup came to life. Jon Stynes pulled one back, fellow substitute Rocco Pizzata then levelled, and Stynes completed the comeback with the winner in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Floreat’s hopes of a fourth straight Night Series final appearance were dead in the water after they lost their opening three group games but they rallied in the last two matches.

Last Friday they thrashed Bayswater 6-0, a scoreline which ultimately cost Baysie a place in the last four.

And on Wednesday they signed off with another big win, 4-1 over Sorrento.

The Gulls struck first just before half-time through Scott Witschge and it was a lead they held until 18 minutes from time. Then floreat came alive with three goals in the space of nine minutes, Liam Murray scoring twice and Joshua Anasmo getting the other. Substitute Elijah Hass rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.