Report by Tommy Doleman

Daryl Nicol pokes home RedStar's third. Photo by FotoEnzo

Perth RedStar moved one point clear at the summit of the NPLWA - Men’s competition after defeating Bayswater City 4-0 in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash.

Golden Boot leader Daryl Nicol scored twice against his former club to take his tally to 16 after 13 rounds, while Bayswater drop to third after Floreat Athena’s last-gasp win at Balcatta Etna.

A first-half burst put RedStar in strong position with the opener arriving on 13 minutes, as Liam Murray teed up Andy Higgins to curl home from the edge of the area. Soon after it was 2-0, as Nicol drove to the byline and crossed for Tom Hough to net for the first time since Round One.

Ndumba Makeche struck tamely as Joe Pollard as the half wore on, but two would become three five minutes before the interval when Nicol prodded in from close range.

It was a long way back for Bayswater, whose three-game win streak came to an end with defeat, and the exclamation mark on victory was added ein first-half stoppage time by Nicol from the penalty spot.

The Scot is four goals clear of Makeche, who was thwarted by Pollard moments later. The damage was already done and RedStar returned to the top, while Bayswater need to move on fast before their Australia Cup WA Preliminary semi-final away to Armadale on Tuesday.

Floreat trail by one point in second place after Jawad Rezai’s 93^rd-minute winner gave Athena a 3-2 win at Balcatta.

Dennis Galan gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot at Grindleford Reserve, but Etna were fighting hard in their quest to find a first win of the season. They equalised five minutes before the break when Jamie Swan collected Jack Leech’s inviting pass to slot past Jason Saldaris.

Vas Vujacic’s side restored their advantage early in the second half when Phil Arnold’s free-kick was headed in by Bayley Brown-Montgomery for his seventh goal of the season.

But Balcatta battled and levelled for a second time as Ben Ford’s cross was hammered home in style by Elliot Tattersall.

That could have been a handy point for the hosts with nearest rivals Gwelup losing elsewhere, but there was late heartbreak for Glen Grostate against his old side as substitutes Sean McManus and Rezai combined for the latter to finish and send Floreat second.

Stirling Macedonia occupy the final top-four spot but lost ground on the leaders as Hasani Sinclair’s hat-trick gave Perth SC a 3-0 win at Dorrien Gardens.

The match was the first time in three years that Perth and Stirling had played for the Dylan Tombides Trophy, in honour of the WA-born Australia U17s striker who died of testicular cancer in 2014.

Luke Radonich made a fine save 13 minutes in to deny Asher Nelson with Luke Collins arriving to prevent Michael Domfeh from following in.

The Azzurri then hit the front in a first half of few clear-cut chances as Josh Cala’s corner was headed into the corner by Sinclair.

Sinclair doubled his tally and Perth’s lead 12 seconds after the restart when profiting on an error at the back to round the goalkeeper and slot in.

The striker then made it 10 goals for the season when beating James Bosdet to a long ball with his header rolling in, despite the efforts of a retreating Hristijan Jankuloski.

That did the job for Perth despite several chances for a fourth, while Stirling are now four games without a win.

Ian Ferguson’s side remain three points clear of fifth-placed Sorrento and four points ahead of Armadale, who celebrated their 50th anniversary in style with a 3-0 win against the nine-man Gulls.

Jordan Brown was shown a red card on 17 minutes, seemingly for handball, and John O’Reilly’s side profited from the penalty spot with Angel Andres Rivera stroking home in calm fashion.

Chris Jackson then saw a penalty saved by Armadale stopper Yousri Gharsallah and a tough task for Sorrento became more difficult on 33 minutes when Joe Tweats was also shown red for a challenge on Gordon Perkins.

The home team then got a second five minutes before the break as Andres Rivera punished a mistake at the back for his seventh of 2022.

Perkins made it 3-0 with a back post header from Pieter Jacobsz’s cross as Armadale started their celebrations and boosted their top-four hopes.

There was an important win for Cockburn City, who beat Gwelup Croatia 1-0 to move 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

Igor Cvijanovic was the matchwinner with a blistering strike from a tight angle for his first goal of the season having arrived from Bayswater.

It would prove to be ideal preparation for the Cockerels ahead of Tuesday’s Australia Cup semi at Sorrento, but they did have some late defending to do.

Michael Craggs was called upon to save from Samuel Dweh and Rene Kisesa’s volley was blocked by resilient Cockburn defence, as Mirko Jelicic’s team won a first league game on the road this season.

Finally, Inglewood United leapfrogged Perth Glory to go seventh with a 2-0 win at Crazy Domains Stadium.

It’s three wins in four now for Andres Oliviera’s side. Two second-half goals made the difference here, with Hermon Michaele in the right place at the right time to fire in after Harry Evans’ header across goal.

Alex Dunn denied Chris Donnell at the near post with Glory’s best chance to level, but Inglewood made it 2-0 late on when Egide Ngendakumana volleyed in on the follow-up from Ryan Hogan’s header.

Round 13 results: Armadale 3-0 Sorrento, Balcatta 2-3 Floreat Athena, Gwelup Croatia 0-1 Cockburn City, Perth Glory 0-2 Inglewood United, Perth RedStar 4-0 Bayswater City, Perth SC 3-0 Stirling Macedonia.