Report by Tommy Doleman

Glory's Joel Anasmo leaves Joel Sanderson of Armadale in his wake. Photo by Tom McCarthy

Jesse Lazzaro scored twice as Cockburn City held leaders Floreat Athena to a thrilling 3-3 draw at E&D Litis Stadium as the 2022 title race tightened up yet again.

On another helter-skelter afternoon of NPLWA - Men’s action, 29 goals were scored across six wet and wild matches, leaving the top three sides split by only two points.

Floreat were the league’s form side with six wins in their last seven and took the lead on 17 minutes. Dennis Galan’s ball forward was partially cleared to Nick Ambrogio, who timed his volley perfectly for 1-0.

But the Cockerels hit back with two goals in three minutes to lead at half-time. Justin Tang flashed a header in at the near post from Alessandro Andrade Basto’s cross, before Lazzaro scooped home a beautiful curling chip which went in via the post.

Just like last week, though, the leaders would return serve from 2-1 down to go 3-2 up. Sean McManus bent a shot into the bottom corner 23 seconds after the restart and then Robert Petkov slammed in from the edge of the area to turn it around.

This week, however, Cockburn had time to respond and did so from the penalty spot with Lazzaro finishing emphatically for a share of the spoils.

The drama didn’t end there and minutes later Floreat were awarded a penalty. City keeper Michael Craggs spilled a low cross and, in his attempt to retrieve the ball, upended Petkov. Sadly for Floreat, Galan’s spot-kick went high and wide.

Cockburn might have won it near the end when Andrade Basto brought a good save from Jason Saldaris, but the draw has moved them 13 points clear of the one relegation spot.

For Floreat, however, the dropped points allowed Stirling Macedonia to pull level on points with their 2-1 win over Perth RedStar.

Ian Ferguson’s side scored twice in three first-half minutes at Macedonia Park to take the upper hand. Calvin Whitney opened the scoring with a stunning strike from 30 yards and then provided the second as Asher Nelson headed home.

RedStar were given a great opportunity to pull one back 10 minutes into the second half when awarded a penalty. But James Bosdet saved Golden Boot leader Daryl Nicol’s kick and was alert to Andy Higgins’ follow-up.

Nicol was given a second chance from the spot on 71 minutes, which he dispatched into the corner for his 17th of the season. But that was all the scoring as Stirling won a third game in a week, while RedStar, for so long in the thick of the title race, are suddenly looking over their shoulder regarding the top four.

Bayswater City are two points behind Floreat and Stirling with Ndumba Makeche’s second-half brace giving them a 4-2 win over Sorrento.

The Gulls started brightly and hit the front when Zechariah Dabbs curled into the corner for his second of the season.

Kosta Sparta made it 1-1 with a fizzing long-range strike and Gareth Naven’s side led at half-time when Jack Allen bobbed up in the area for his first of 2022.

Bayswater extended their lead three minutes after the interval when Sparta’s teasing free-kick broke for Makeche to finish his 20th goal in all competitions this term.

Sorrento would rally again, though, and former Baysie man Gustavo Marulanda finished Chris Jackson’s pull-back to set up a grandstand finish. Any doubt of a comeback was put to bed by Makeche though, whose brilliant free-kick sealed the points and boosted Bayswater’s title prospects.

With RedStar and Sorrento slipping up, Inglewood United moved within one point of fourth spot thanks to Anthony Bafobusha’s 83rd minute strike in a 3-2 victory over Gwelup Croatia.

Harry Evans collected Bafobusha’s near-post cross and finished with aplomb before doubling his and Inglewood’s tally from the penalty spot for 2-0.

Gwelup wouldn’t go away and pulled one back on half-time through Gomo Dukuly’s great free-kick from 20 yards.

And the visitors drew level on 78 minutes when Oscar Barry curled superbly into the top corner to give them hope of a crucial point in their fight to avoid relegation.

But Bafobusha decided matters seven minutes from time when driving into the corner from Chad Nilson’s cut-back to give Andres Oliveira’s team a fifth win in a row.

Gwelup remain three points clear of bottom side Balcatta, who fell to a 3-0 defeat at Perth SC as the Azzurri won the Ferrari Cup and kept outside finals hopes alive.

Balcatta thought they had scored on 28 minutes, but Ben Hinshelwood’s effort somehow stayed out from close range. Hasani Sinclair then rounded the goalkeeper and slotted in his 12th of the season before the break for 1-0.

Luke Radonich saved from Ryan Pearson and Hinshelwood as Balcatta gave it a good go trying to level, but two goals in the final 10 minutes ensured Perth won handsomely.

Shubham Mokala was on hand to follow-in after Ethan Banks’ shot was parried by the goalkeeper. Sam Cook then put an exclamation mark on the win, stooping low to head in after Luke Collins’ drive came back off the bar.

Finally, nine-man Armadale missed a chance to close in on the top four after a 5-1 home loss to Perth Glory.

It started well for John O’Reilly’s side as Angel Andres Rivera lobbed in the opener, but minutes later the striker was shown a red card for a challenge on Judd Macdougall.

Daniel Bennie lashed in an equaliser and Adriano Jelenovic then collected a second yellow to see Armadale reduced to nine with only 41 minutes on the clock.

Lucas Cook’s free kick made it 2-1 in the second half and weight of numbers told late on as Glory scored three in the final five minutes.

Aiki Tsukamoto’s shot was deflected in, before Alex Da Rocha’s close-range strike made it 4-1 as the pair celebrated their maiden NPL goals. Chris Donnell completed the scoring in the 93rd minute to end a run of four straight losses for Glory.

Round 16 results: Armadale 1-5 Perth Glory, Bayswater City 4-2 Sorrento, Floreat Athena 3-3 Cockburn City, Inglewood United 3-2 Gwelup Croatia, Perth SC 3-0 Balcatta Etna, Stirling Macedonia 2-1 Perth RedStar.