Report by Tommy Doleman

Amir Ajan heds Stirling's winner to keep them in touch with leaders Floreat. Photo by FotoEnzo

Floreat Athena inched closer to the NPLWA - Men’s league title after coming from behind to win 3-1 against Sorrento on Saturday.

Vas Vujacic’s team remain one point clear at the summit thanks to the result with two matches remaining.

Stirling Macedonia are second after they edged Inglewood United 1-0 to set up a top-of-the-table clash between the pair next weekend. Perth RedStar’s game at Perth Glory was washed out prior to kick-off, meaning they drop to third and four points from top with that game in hand.

With heavy rain across the metro area, the Floreat-Sorrento U20s game at E&D Litis Stadium was postponed which protected the pitch for the first-team encounter straight after.

Floreat had the first chance when Bayley Brown-Montgomery forced Patrick Hughes into a good stop, but it was the Gulls who hit the front three minutes before the break.

Gustavo Marulanda exchanged passes with Dean Cummings then carried the ball towards goal before his strike took a deflection off Dennis Galan to wrongfoot Jason Saldaris.

But Floreat regrouped at the interval and they scored twice in three minutes early in the second half to regain control. Phil Arnold followed in after Ludovic Boi’s strike cannoned back off the bar, before Jesse Fuller arrived from defence to score, despite the best efforts of Mark Barnett to clear off the line.

Sorrento had their chances to tie it up with Tim Hill striking at Saldaris. The goalkeeper then did just enough to come off his line and stop Gulls top scorer Chris Jackson who was through on goal. However, it was Athena who added a third near the end as Robert Petkov curled home from outside the area to net for a fifth straight game.

Wins over Stirling and Armadale in their final two games will seal a first league title since 2007 for Athena, while Sorrento’s position didn’t change as they stay two points off fourth place after Bayswater’s game at Armadale was postponed.

At Macedonia Park, Amir Ajan’s header early in the second half gave Stirling a 1-0 win over Inglewood as they remain on track to contend until the end.

The striker, who joined mid-season from Balcatta Etna, arrived in the six-yard box to leap and nod in from Asher Nelson’s cross two minutes after the break.

The league’s best defensive side did need their goalkeeper to secure a sixth win from seven games. James Bosdet saved from Thiak Kuel, Harry Evans and Manase Abandelwa in the second period, as Andres Oliveira’s side tried to keep their fading finals hopes alive.

Stirling had their chances to add a second with Alex Dunn saving at the feet of Michael Domfeh, but one was enough for Ian Ferguson’s team to set up next week’s blockbuster in the penultimate round.

Eyes will also be on the bottom of the league next week as Gwelup Croatia host Balcatta at the Croatian Sporting Complex in a potential relegation decider. Both sides lost their Round 20 matches to go into next week’s fixture level on points, with Gwelup holding a better goal difference.

Harry O’Brien made it back-to-back hat-tricks as Balcatta lost 3-0 at home to Cockburn City. They were behind as early as the sixth minute when Justin Tang’s cross from the right was met by in-form O’Brien, who turned home an eighth league goal of the campaign.

Leon Hudson’s strike deflected wide of the post and Declan Hudson’s volley hit the upright as the hosts tried to respond, but two goals in the final 15 minutes confirmed the Cockerels’ fifth win this season.

O’Brien slotted in his second after good work out wide from Michael Scafetta, before City’s skipper scored late on from the penalty spot to make it six goals in two away games.

In the 5pm kick-off, Perth SC defeated Gwelup Croatia 2-0 to end a four-game winless run.

Sebastian Da Silva saw his near-post strike saved by Luke Radonich with Gwelup’s best first half opportunity, and instead it was Perth who hit the front on 42 minutes through Federico Achilli’s back-heel.

Luke Collins doubled the lead with quarter of an hour remaining as he ventured forward and fired in off the post for his first Azzurri goal in the league.

Round 20 results: Balcatta 0-3 Cockburn City, Floreat Athena 3-1 Sorrento, Perth SC 2-0 Gwelup Croatia, Stirling Macedonia 1-0 Inglewood United. Posponed: Armadale v Bayswater City, Perth Glory v Perth RedStar.