Report by Tommy Doleman

Balcatta celebrate pulling a point out of the bag. Photo by FotoEnzo

Balcatta scored twice in the final 13 minutes to snap a seven-game losing run and hold Sorrento to a 2-2 draw at Grindleford Reserve, a result which had implications at both ends of the table.

The point means Balcatta stay second bottom, if only on goals scored after Rockingham's 2-1 win over Inglewood United. As for the Gulls, they stay third but slipped off the title pace after the top two Perth SC and Floreat Athena both won.

For most of Saturday afternoon it looked like Jamie Harnwell's side were set for a routine win. Balcatta started brightly but Chris Jackson ran through to open the scoring on 22 minutes before bagging his fifth of the season early in the second half.

Balcatta found themselves in the relegation zone but were provided a lifeline when Jonathan Corness converted a penalty on 77 minutes.

And the comeback was complete two minutes from time when Elliot Tattersall stabbed in his first goal for Balcatta to earn what could prove an invaluable point come the end of the campaign.

That late equaliser was tough on Rockingham City who remain bottom on goals scored. However, they have now pulled level on points and goal difference with Balcatta and will head into the final four matches of the season with their tails up.

Yet they had to do it the hard way on Saturday with Inglewood taking the lead through Alex Ishida-Livings, who netted his first league goal since 2017 in spectacular style with a swinging volley which found the top corner.

Rockingham have shown spirit all season, though, and a brace from in-form Hamish Van Dieken turned the game around. His first was somewhat fortunate as it deflected and looped past a deceived Josiah Godfrey, but there was little doubt about the quality of his second. He picked up the ball in his own half, drove forward and capped a brilliant solo goal by arrowing a finish into the bottom corner for his third in two games.

It completed City's fourth win of the season which sets up a key clash against Balcatta next week, while Inglewood's defeat leaves them four points off fourth place with a game in hand.

Perth Glory seized the initiative in the race for the Top Four Cup places with a 3-0 win over ECU Joondalup in the clash between fifth and fourth.

Ciaran Bramwell's 17^th minute opener gave Ruben Zadkovich's team the initiative and they never looked back as they made it eight games unbeaten.

ECU had good chances before and after Bramwell's finish into the bottom corner with Danny Hodgson close twice and Riley Woodcock hitting the post.

But two goals early in the second half put the game to bed. Jack Painter-Andrews arrived at the back post to find an unguarded net before Adam Zimarino moved to 10 for the season when he finished his own shot at the second attempt.

At the top of the league, Perth SC maintained their lead at the summit with a 2-0 win over Armadale at Dorrien Gardens.

The hosts struck inside the first minute when Yousri Gharsallah's clearance landed at the feet of Jayden Gorman, who kept his composure to slot home.

Armadale had the better of the first half chances and Brian Patterson and Chad Nilson were not far off with powerful strikes, before Pieter Jacobsz was denied by Ryan Montgomery.

But a handball early in the second half gave the Azzurri a chance to make Armadale's pay for their misses. Michael Domfeh stepped up to put the penalty down the middle and that was how it stayed.

Floreat kept tabs with the leaders as they defeated Gwelup Croatia 2-1 to remain a point off the pace.

It was a first win in six league games for Athena, who went ahead when Chris Saldaris volleyed in from a tight angle for the defender's seventh goal of the season.

Gwelup pulled level eight minutes after the restart when Shubham Mokala curled in his first goal since April.

But Sean McManus won it on 72 minutes when he finished from close range to score for the second straight home game.

Finally, Bayswater City prevailed 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller in a battle between two sides out of the finals race.

A freak Cameron Edwards own goal put Bayswater ahead, but Jesse Lazzaro levelled when finishing Sebastian Da Silva's cut back.

Gordon Smith's seventh of the campaign made it 2-1 to the hosts just before half time, only for Da Silva to find another Cockburn equaliser.

Gareth Naven's side went up for a third time when Michael Zimarino netted, and they made it 4-2 when a combination of Euen Grant and Fraser Dunlop helped the ball over the line.

Anthony Skorich set up a grandstand finish for Cockburn, but they could not find another leveller as Bayswater won for the first time in five.

Results

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