Report by Tommy Doleman

Jawad Rezai completed Floreat's scoring against Balcatta. Photo by FotoEnzo

Floreat Athena remain the dominant force in 2021 as they extended their lead at the top of the Men’s NPLWA to 11 points with a 5-1 win over Balcatta.

Athena's victory at Grindleford Reserve, paired with closest rivals Perth SC and ECU Joondalup dropping points again, mean Vas Vujacic's side are unbeaten in 12 and becoming harder to catch by the week.

Balcatta had the best chance early as Anthony Topini released Elliot Tattersall through on goal, but Jason Saldaris came out to make a big block.

Athena have a habit of making opponents pay for missed opportunities and they took the lead on 22 minutes as Rob Harding slotted in Sean McManus' cross.

Phil Arnold rifled in from long range for 2-0 before McManus picked out another excellent assist for Kyle Murray to net his first senior Athena goal.

Goals continued to flow after the restart as Harding stabbed home Murray's pull back for the visitors' fourth and then Jawad Rezai added a fifth against the side he started the season with.

There was still time for a nice consolation as David Perich played a nice one-two with Calum O'Connell and lashed high into the net, but it was Floreat's day as their stranglehold on the title firmed.

Perth SC and ECU Joondalup were held 1-1 by Perth Glory and Gwelup Croatia respectively, as both chasers dropped points from winning positions.

The Azzurri took a 13^th minute lead against Glory at Forrestfield when Kristian Santich's corner ended up in the net with the final touch off Aidan Coyne.

Neither Joshua Anasmo nor Charlie Leech could bundle in Adam Zimarino's cross for Glory midway through the half, while Michael Domfeh's shot at the other end was blocked.

Glory took a point off Perth in a 2-2 draw at Dorrien Gardens in Round One and they found a leveller here when Zimarino was fouled in the area.

Reigning joint-Gold Medal holder Giordano Colli put the spot-kick down the middle to make it 1-1 and that was how it stayed despite chances for both teams to win it.

In Joondalup, Mitch Oxborrow scored with six minutes left as ECU's winless run in the league extended to four and Gwelup played a sixth draw in 12 games.

Gustavo Marulanda's free-kick was saved by Johnny Perkins in a first half of few chances, before Danny Hodgson's goalbound effort was spectacularly blocked by Declan Hargreaves.

Daryl Nicol's set-piece was saved by Ben Ratajczak as the half ended goalless, but Gwelup were given a golden opportunity to open the scoring from the penalty spot when Marulanda was fouled.

Former Jack Jon Stynes had his spot-kick saved and it may have proved costly as ECU were awarded a penalty of their own just past the hour mark. Danny Hodgson thumped in goal number seven of the season to give Kenny Lowe's side the advantage.

Both goalkeepers were kept busy in a thrilling second half, but it was visitors who equalised down the stretch as Oxborrow's free-kick drifted beyond everyone for a share of the points.

ECU's draw was good news for Sorrento who moved to joint-third with their northern rivals following a 2-1 win over Cockburn City.

The Gulls had dropped points in their past four league games but hit the front on 21 minutes. Cockburn goalkeeper Luke Radonich had to be substituted with injury and replacement goalkeeper Ben Radonich was powerless to stop Jordan Roberts' volley minutes later.

Cockburn were buoyed by last week's win against defending champions ECU and levelled when Cam Edwards' corner was brilliantly headed in by Anthony Skorich.

Breckan Baker's header was turned away by Sorrento keeper Connor Campbell before half-time and Ryan McLaughlin cleared another effort off the line after the break.

But it was Sorrento who maintained their position in the top four when Dean Cummings came off the bench and won it five minutes after his introduction, turning in Roberts' corner.

Ten-man Inglewood United extended their unbeaten run to six and stayed within two points of the finals with a 2-1 win over Armadale.

Andres Oliveira's side hit the ground running as Rob Petkov was denied by a super Yousri Gharsallah save early, but the forward would assist Steve Sokol's eighth of the season minutes later.

Petkov got his goal on 22 minutes when he rolled Blake Adams in the penalty area and rattled in past the goalkeeper.

Alex Dunn kept Kevin Ashwood's shot out and Isaac Koomson hit the post, but Armadale did eventually pull one back from the spot on 37 minutes as Angel Andres joined Sokol and Glory’s Anasmo on eight goals at the top of the scoring charts.

Roberto Del Borrello was shown a second yellow card midway through the second period and that gave John O'Reilly's side the impetus, but Inglewood survived a late goalmouth scramble to secure the points.

Finally, Bayswater City recorded a much-needed win as they moved up to seventh with a 1-0 win away at bottom club Rockingham City.

Michael Zimarino lashed home the winner two minutes from time as Gareth Naven's side won for the first time in five games, while the hosts were unlucky not to take a point for the second week running.

Results

Balcatta 1-5 Floreat Athena
ECU Joondalup 1-1 Gwelup Croatia
Inglewood United 2-1 Armadale
Perth Glory 1-1 Perth SC
Rockingham City 0-1 Bayswater City
Sorrento 2-1 Cockburn City