Round-up by Tommy Doleman

Armadale produced an upset with a 4-0 win at ECU Joondalup. Photo from Peter Simcox

Armadale sensationally spoilt ECU Joondalup's homecoming as they romped to a 4-0 win over the defending champions at the Campus on Saturday.

Armadale also missed a penalty as the Jacks, playing in front of their fans for the first time since claiming the 2020 NPL WA – Men’s title, had their homecoming party gatecrashed by John O'Reilly's side. 

Armadale needed only five minutes to go in front. Renee Kisesa broke down the right and swung in the cross for Cherno Bah, who diverted past Johnny Perkins. 

Filippo Gioffre and Kisesa had tame efforts which went over the bar before Bah was fouled in the area and Armadale were awarded a penalty. Friday Zico's effort was saved low to his left by Perkins, but ECU's stopper would be beaten five minutes later.

Once again, Bah was involved as he ran at the Jacks defence and slipped in Pieter Jacobz, who slid his strike beyond the goalkeeper to double Armadale's lead.

Andy Higgins finally tested Yousri Gharsallah in the shadows of half time, but no comeback would be forthcoming for the league winners, as two goals in the final 10 minutes wrapped up a handsome win for the away side.

Manase Abendelawa unleashed a rocket from distance which had Perkins beaten all ends up, hitting the underside of the bar and rebounding out for Josh Cortes to nod into an empty net.

The win was rubber stamped a minute from time as Jacobz found Chad Nilsson on the area and the youngster struck a fourth as Armadale returned south with three points.

Floreat ended the weekend top of the competition after easing to a 4-0 win over Perth Glory at Crazy Domains Stadium in the early kick off.

Athena remain the only side in the division with a 100% record to start 2021 as Josh Anasmo netted a hat-trick for the visitors.

Bryce Bafford forced an early save from Jason Saldaris, but last season's NPL Final Series winners took the lead on 22 minutes through Anasmo.

Any hopes of a Glory comeback were dashed five minutes after the interval when Nick Ambrogio headed home Ben Steele's hanging cross for his second in as many games.

Anasmo made it 3-0 on the hour mark to continue his fine start to the year as he nodded in Ludovic Boi's pass from six yards.

The former Stirling Lions youngster then completed his treble two minutes later and made it four in two games when he raced clear and slotted the ball beyond Cameron Cook.

Jacob Muir blazed high and wide for Glory with the damage already done as Athena moved two points clear of their nearest rivals.

One of those sides two points back are Perth Soccer Club, who were able to gain revenge on Night Series final conquerors Inglewood United with a 2-1 win at Dorrien Gardens.

Chances were at a premium in the first quarter of an hour, but the game sprung into life when Robert Petkov raced clear of Perth's defence and crashed an effort against the upright.

Andreas Theodosiades then blazed over on 28 minutes at the ground he previously had called home since the beginning of the NPL era.

At the other end, Calvin Whitney brought the best out of Alex Dunn twice as he drove long from distance before volleying at the joint-Golden Glove winner of 2020 with the half ending goalless.

The deadlock was broken seven minutes after the restart though when Dunn made an uncharacteristic error and Teece was on hand to poke into the net.

Teece scored from the spot in last weekend's draw with Glory and made it three goals in two games when Whitney's cross landed at the feet of the former Sorrento man, who swiped in with his left foot.

Steve Sokol hit the side netting as the Night Series winners tried to find a route back into the match and it would be game on with 14 minutes remaining.

Giovanni Soares stepped up to a free kick just outside the area and curled in off the post to bag his first of the season against the team he left in the off-season.

The Azzurri finished the game with 10 men as Kieran Colwell saw red for a second yellow card offence, but the 2019 double winners held firm to earn a first win of the season.

Joining Perth in a tie for second place are Sorrento, who shared the points with Gwelup Croatia in a 2-2 draw at Percy Doyle Reserve.

Scott Witschge raced clear early and drove wide of the upright early before Billy Quinncroft shot straight at Stefan King from inside the area.

The Gulls found the opener in the 22^nd minute when Witschge cut inside from the left and fired a powerful effort across King.

That goal seemingly woke up Gwelup as they went on to have decent spell afterwards and they levelled when Mitch Oxborrow followed in from Joel Driscoll's save to score on his NPL WA debut for the club.

The visitors were then awarded a penalty as the 45-minute mark ticked over with Jon Stynes netting from the spot for a second consecutive week to give his side the lead.

That wasn’t the end of the first-half scoring though as two minutes later Gwelup failed to clear their lines and Witschge was on hand to volley home his second from close range.

Hasani Sinclair found the net early in the second half but he was thwarted by the assistant's flag, while at the other end Dean Cummings’ shot was deflected into the side netting.

Witschge curled straight at King twice in the final 15 minutes as the search for a winner continued, but no breakthrough was found at either end.

Elsehwere Balcatta earned their first win of season as Hamza Hina struck a minute from time to give the hosts a 3-2 win over Bayswater City.

Balcatta were defeated by Floreat in Round One but made an excellent start inside the first 10 minutes when midfielder Jon Corness' run from deep ended with an assured finished past the goalkeeper.

There was plenty of positives for Bobby Taneski's side at the back end of 2020 with just one defeat in their final five second phase matches, and they doubled their lead when Calum O'Connell's wide free-kick sneaked in at the near post.

Bayswater showed their attacking capabilities last week against Rockingham and pulled one back before the break when Ndumba Makeche's improvised finish from close range found the net.

Jason Mirco fired over shortly after as City trailed at half-time, but they were on terms three minutes after the restart when Luke Salmon was fouled in the area and the former Perth Glory youngster stepped up to score from the spot.

Gordon Smith cannoned an effort off the post as both teams pushed for the winner and it was Balcatta who found the decisive goal in the 89^th minute.

Amir Ajan broke down the right and crossed for substitute Hina who took one touch to control before helping it over Liam Driscoll to win the game.

Finally, Rockingham City earned their first three points under Goran Stajic as they defeated Cockburn 1-0 at Dalmatinac Park.

The visitors started confidently with Feisal Zaw firing over before Hamish Van Dieken's volley was blocked by Luke Radonich.

At the other end, a combination of goalpost and Cyril Sharrock prevented Sebastian Da Silva from scoring the opener, with Dor Jok firing wide from the subsequent corner.

Jesse Lazzaro could not curl beyond Sharrock soon after, but it was Rockingham who netted the opener 10 minutes before half time with a beautifully crafted team move.

The away side were patient with their build up on the edge of the area with Denaudo Murray and Luke Collins involved early, before Afian Giyanto's one-two with Feisal Zaw resulted in a shot which went in via the inside of the post.

Jok's curler bounced off the bar before half time and chances continued to come for the Cockerels after the restart as Da Silva bundled wide of the post.

Lazzaro was denied by Sharrock at the near post, while Zaw shot wide of the mark for the away side, who were trying to put the game to bed.

Daniel Robinson's effort deflected the wrong side of the upright in the final 10 minutes as Rockingham held on for a first NPL win since round nine last year at Bayswater.

For Cockburn it was a second straight league loss and followed a Night Series in which they failed to win.

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Perth Glory 0-4 Floreat Athena
Balcatta 3-2 Bayswater City
Cockburn City 0-1 Rockingham City
ECU Joondalup 0-4 Armadale
Perth SC 2-1 Inglewood United
Sorrento 2-2 Gwelup Croatia