Report by Tommy Doleman

Stirling Macedonia players and coaching team celebrate after their incredible comeback win. Photo by Leah Bronwyn

Stirling Macedonia pulled off one of the great NPL comebacks as they rallied from three goals down at half-time to defeat Perth RedStar 4-3 at RedStar Arena.

Gavin Gilles' looping header a minute from time capped the visitors’ rousing recovery and they are now one of three teams on nine points at the top of the NPLWA – Men’s competition.

It was a crushing blow for RedStar, who slumped to a second straight narrow loss against one of those sides at the summit – last week it was Floreat Athena who edged them out 3-2.

On Saturday, RedStar started strongly and went ahead with a superb team goal as Sam Pollard crossed for Daryl Nicol to extended his scoring streak to five consecutive games since the start of the season.

It was 2-0 when the RedStar press proved effective and Ellis Healing teed up Nicol for his second of the game and his seventh overall this term.

And goal No.8 wasn’t too far away. Shay Donovan fouled Pollard as the wide man was breaking into the penalty area and Nicol planted the spot-kick high into net to seemingly put RedStar on track for victory and top spot. How wrong we were.

The first doubts for RedStar crept in 11 minutes after the restart when Hugo Snowden fired low inside the near post for his first league goal of the season.

That Stirling goal was the catalyst for a frantic finale which saw both keepers make multiple saves. Then on 69 minutes Joe Pollard was beaten when Alex Tanevski drove forward and shot across the RedStar stopper for 3-2.

The momentum had completely turned, and four minutes later Stirling were given the opportunity to level when defender Sam Pollard was adjudged to have handled Ryan Malton's strike at goal. Last year's Gold Medal winner Calvin Whitney stepped up and he made it 3-3 from the penalty spot.

Yet Stirling were not finished there. And with a minute to play Gillies became the hero as he nodded home Hristijan Jankuloski's cross to give Ian Ferguson’s side a third win in four games.

Stirling now sit behind RedStar, who are second, and Floreat on goal difference only. And in keeping with the day, Vas Vujacic’s leaders saw their 100% start to the season ended in comprehensive fashion as they went down 3-0 to Cockburn City at Dalmatinac Park.

Justin Tang scored the opener on 18 minutes when his inswinging cross from the left deceived keeper Jason Saldaris and nestled in the back of the net.

The visitors' task was made harder just before half-time when Bayley Brown-Montgomery picked up a second yellow card in a matter of minutes for a challenge on Tang.

Having bagged their first point in dramatic fashion at Inglewood last week, the home side then set about collecting their maiden win and they did just that with two late Daniel Robinson strikes sealing matters.

The first was a simple finish from close range when the ball broke to him, before he got his third of the season from Daniel Dols' pass which he poked beyond Saldaris.

Elsewhere, Bayswater City joined several teams on seven points, two points off the three pacesetters, as they came from behind to beat Sorrento 2-1.

Byungatae Ahn scored his second goal of the campaign when he rose highest to head in Dean Cummings' deep corner on eight minutes.

Results elsewhere meant Sorrento would have gone top with a victory. But their lead didn’t last long and Bayswater levelled when Fraser Dunlop's cross was turned into his own net by Jordan Brown, under pressure from Jon Stynes.

And Konstantinos Sparta struck a magnificent second-half free-kick to ultimately give Gareth Naven's side the points, although they had to survive a late strike at goal from Gustavo Marulanda to make it three unbeaten.

Inglewood United returned to the winners list with a goal in each half giving them the points in a 2-0 win at Gwelup Croatia.

Thiak Kuel's through ball was rifled in from a tight angle by Manase Abendalwa on 14 minutes before Egide Ngendakumana slammed home a second from close range late in the second half. It means the hosts are still awaiting their first win of the season, while Inglewood go sixth.

On Friday night, Perth Glory and Armadale shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with both goals scored in the first half.

Tarek Atta opened the scoring with a curling strike after five minutes, while Jayden Leader's near-post strike made it 1-1 on 25. The result meant the visitors recorded their first point of the campaign, while Glory sit seventh although only two points off top spot on a compact league table.

Balcatta's home game with Perth on Saturday afternoon was postponed due to Covid and will be rescheduled for a later date. Australia Cup fixtures next week mean Round Six returns in a fortnight's time.

Results: Cockburn City 3-0 Floreat Athena, Gwelup Croatia 0-2 Inglewood United, Perth Glory 1-1 Armadale, Perth RedStar 3-4 Stirling Lions, Sorrento 1-2 Bayswater City. Postponed: Balcatta v Perth SC.