Report by Tommy Doleman

Jon Stynes, second right, celebrates with Michael Zimarino. Photo by FotoEnzo

Bayswater City were the big winners in Round 11 of the NPLWA - Men’s competition as they jumped up into second place and a point off top spot with a 3-0 win at Balcatta.

Gareth Naven’s men were the only side in the league’s top half to win on Saturday, which further tightened the title race. Just two points separate the top four at the halfway mark of the competition.

Balcatta were a potential banana skin for Bayswater, given they were under a new head coach with former Floreat Athena coach Glen Grostate arriving at Grindleford Reserve last week. And they made a bright start as Amir Ajan cut in from the left and struck at the goalkeeper.

But the three-time NPL inners hit the front midway through the first half. Kosta Sparta’s pinpoint cross from the right was glanced in by Gordon Smith at the near post for his seventh of the season.

Billy Quinncroft headed Jon Corness’ corner at Nic Speca with 12 minutes to go as Balcatta remained in the contest, until late in the piece when one of Grostate’s former players landed two late blows.

Jon Stynes scored a late winner for Athena in the 2016 State Cup Final under Grostate, and he put this game to bed with minutes left when collecting on the edge of the area and beating Riley Stephenson with a low drive.

Stynes then headed home Jason Mirco’s perfect free-kick in stoppage time to make it six for the season, which put Bayswater right back in the thick of the title race.

Bayswater’s progress was aided by losses for Perth RedStar and Floreat Athena, whom they have now leapfrogged.

RedStar dropped to third after losing 1-0 to Cockburn City at Dalmatinac Park. Breckan Baker brought a good early save from Joe Pollard, but the goalkeeper was beaten on 28 minutes when Justin Tang’s cross was met by a firm header from Harry O’Brien.

The hosts were good value for that lead and O’Brien forced Pollard into action again before heading onto the roof of the net, as they sought to end a run of six games without a win.

Tang continued to keep Pollard busy midway through the second half and three points looked more likely 16 minutes from time when Ryan Finnie collected a second yellow card.

A Daryl Nicol free-kick was the closest RedStar came to levelling in a week where coach Kenny Lowe departed the club to return to Perth Glory. Nicol’s goal-a-game scoring streak to start the season ended at nine, while Cockburn’s first win since Round Five moved them nine points clear of the drop zone.

Armadale meanwhile made it two away wins in five days with a 2-1 victory at Floreat.

Abdul Osman’s header was adjudged to have crossed the line by the officials for 1-0 to the visitors on 23 minutes. Armadale keeper Yousri Gharsallah then saved one-on-one from in-form striker Bayley Brown-Montgomery moments before the break.

The visitors doubled their lead midway through the second period when Pieter Jacobsz shot slipped through Jason Saldaris, but the goalkeeper did save from Adriano Jelenovic and Joel Sanderson to prevent it from being three.

Robert Petkov pulled one back with two minutes left, but there was no late twist as Athena dropped to fourth, while John O’Reilly’s side trail the top four pack by just five points.

With losses to rivals elsewhere, Stirling Macedonia’s 1-1 draw at Sorrento helped them return to the top of the league by a point.

They went behind five minutes before half-time after Chris Jackson fed Gustavo Marulanda and the Colombian kept his cool to slot in a second in as many home matches.

The equaliser came on 64 minutes when Nik Talimdzioski scored for the second time since joining Stirling. Both sides then had chances to win the game with Luke Garas thwarted on a couple of occasions for Stirling, while Jackson brought a one-handed save from James Bosdet.

Elsewhere, Perth SC got back among the goals as they avoided a third home loss in eight days with a 4-1 win over Inglewood United.

Shubham Mokala struck inside three minutes for the Azzurri and that lead was doubled 10 minutes later thanks to Hasani Sinclair.

Egide Ngendakumana responded quickly for the visitors, but two second-half goals had the hosts back in the winner’s circle and gave them a glimmer of hope that the 10-point margin to fourth with games in hand can be chased down.

League win number two in 2022 was all but confirmed on 68 minutes with Fanuel Dawit’s first of the season before Sinclair tapped home Julian Teles’ assist to seal matters.

Finally, Gwelup Croatia claimed a handy point in their fight to beat the drop as they drew 0-0 with Perth Glory.

Gwelup keeper Roy McKain got in the way of Adam Zimarino’s strike and Joel Anasmo’s deflected effort, as Glory stay sixth and four points off a finals spot.

Gwelup’s point moved them four points clear of bottom side Balcatta, and they could have taken all three, but Sebastian Da Silva was denied by Adrian Sinagra when through on goal late on.

Round 11 results: Balcatta 0-3 Bayswater City, Cockburn City 1-0 Perth RedStar, Floreat Athena 1-2 Armadale, Gwelup Croatia 0-0 Perth Glory, Perth SC 4-1 Inglewood United, Sorrento 1-1 Stirling Macedonia.