Report by Tommy Doleman

The crowd was out in force for the Floreat Athena-Stirling Macedonia game but neither side was able to find a winner. Photo by Floreat Athena

The NPLWA - Men’s title race will go to the final day of the season after a dramatic afternoon which saw none of the top three sides win.

Leaders Floreat Athena remain in pole position after a goalless draw with Stirling Macedonia, who moved into second spot one point behind.

That result meant Perth RedStar would have gone top with a win at Sorrento. Instead, they slipped to third after crashing 5-2 at Percy Doyle Reserve.

AT E&D Litis Stadium, Ian Ferguson’s Stirling side created the best chances in a cagey first 45 minutes. Alex Tanevski shot at Jason Saldaris from Calvin Whitney’s pass before the goalkeeper saved when Asher Nelson was through on goal.

RedStar’s loss meant, a winner for Vas Vujacic’s team would have seen them break through for a first league title since 2007. However, they could not beat the league’s best defence, with the game remaining on a knife-edge until the very end.

Ludovic Boi volleyed wide from Laat Mathiang’s cross before the latter was thwarted by an excellent James Bosdet block as both teams’ long unbeaten runs continue.

Floreat are away at Armadale on the final day, while Stirling host Sorrento, who sent a shockwave through the title race with that thumping victory over RedStar.

It proved a missed opportunity for Callum Salmon’s side who are now two points off the pace. They meet Cockburn City to finish in Round 22.

Sorrento got off to a flying start at Percy Doyle Reserve and led 3-0 at the interval.

Joe Tweats arrived from midfield to score the opener from Scott Witschge’s cross before the goalscorer turned provider for Tim Hill to rifle home a second.

Colombian ace Gustavo Marulanda volleyed in for 3-0 on 44 minutes and at that point it seemed a long way back for RedStar.

Daryl Nicol followed in from Declan Hughes’ drive to pull one back midway through the second period, but the Gulls hit the accelerator again with Mark Barnett heading Hill’s corner in and Marulanda lifting a fifth into the net.

Nicol scored again to make it 29 for the season and break Alex Salmon’s record of 28 for the best individual goalscoring season in the NPL era. But it would be scarce consolation for RedStar, who must take three points next week and hope neither Floreat nor Stirling win their final games.

Sorrento, meanwhile, maintain their hopes of reaching the Top Four Cup but they will have to beat Inglewood in Tuesday’s game in hand first.

Even that might not be enough as Bayswater remain in control of fourth spot after coming from behind to beat Perth SC 2-1.

Gareth Naven’s side know a win over 11th-placed Balcatta next week will lock away their finals spot for certain, but they had work to do here after going behind to Ali Gholami’s volley into the bottom corner.

Kosta Sparta dinked over an onrushing Luke Radonich to make it 1-1, and they won it 20 minutes from time thanks to Fraser Dunlop’s deflected volley from long range.

Round 21’s other game of consequence was at the Croatian Sporting Complex as Balcatta won 3-0 in a battle between the league’s bottom two teams.

The result means Glen Grostate’s side climb out of the relegation zone and are now three points clear in the fight for survival between the pair. Balcatta only need a point at Bayswater next week to retain their top flight status for 2023, while Gwelup need to beat Glory and hope Balcatta lose to survive on goal difference.

Ryan Pearson’s deflected effort beat Cyril Sharrock on 28 minutes to put Balcatta ahead, and a second win of the campaign was confirmed with two second-half goals.

Ben Hinshelwood headed in Nelson Tshongo’s free-kick, before Tshongo himself added the finishing touch with a third from close range, despite Gwelup having a goal disallowed by the offside flag at 2-0.

Two other games completed the penultimate round of the season with Armadale moving into the top half thanks to a 1-0 win at Inglewood United.

Abdul Osman slammed in the winner with 62 minutes on the clock, as both teams finished with 10 men following off-the-ball red cards shown to Connor Thurston and former Armadale winger Chad Nilson.

Two penalties from Ciaran Bramwell also helped Glory end a run of three straight losses, following a 4-1 defeat of Cockburn City at Dalmatinac Park.

The striker beat Ryan Barker from the spot after four minutes, but Daniel Dols’ first of the season from David Araya’s corner tied it up at 1-1.

Lucas Rossi’s corner flew through all-comers to give Glory the lead back and an own goal from Daniel Santich strengthened the visitors position. Bramwell then wrapped it up with another finish from 12 yards just before the hour mark.

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