Report by Tommy Doleman

Floreat celebrate their title success on the Armadale pitch. Photo by Football West/FotoEnzo

Bayley Brown-Montgomery scored a 91st minute winner as Floreat Athena secured a dramatic 3-2 final day win over Armadale at Alfred Skeet Reserve to claim the 2022 NPLWA - Men’s competition.

With time ticking down in the season’s final round and second-place Stirling going down 2-1 at home to Sorrento, the title was on course for Perth RedStar, who had done all they needed to do in beating Cockburn City 3-0.

But Brown-Montgomery had other ideas and he fired home his 10th goal of the season to give Floreat the three points they required to break a 15-year league drought.

The afternoon seemed to be going to plan for Vas Vujacic’s side who led 2-0 after 21 minutes. Robert Petkov slid a pass through for Brown-Montgomery to finish past Yousri Gharsallah at the second attempt, before Petkov drove home from the penalty spot.

Final days are rarely smooth sailing, though, and Armadale pulled one back on the stroke of half-time. George Ballah surged down the left after a one-two with Pieter Jacobsz and found Gordon Perkins to halve the deficit.

Then with seven minutes remaining, John O’Reilly’s side squared it up at 2-2 to send the top of the table into a tailspin. Kevin Ashwood’s free-kick was not cleared by Athena and Nathan Costello was on hand to force the ball over the line.

Having seen the league title slip from their grasp on more than one occasion in recent years, Floreat needed a hero to emerge and it was Brown-Montgomery. The man who joined Floreat this season from Division Two Joondalup City combined with Petkov again to shoot low beneath Gharsallah and send Athena’s travelling support wild.

It turned out to be late heartbreak for RedStar, whose routine 3-0 victory over Cockburn had them on course to win the the league prior to Brown-Montgomery’s winner. There was some consolation, as Callum Salmon’s side gave themselves a double chance in the Top Four Cup after Stirling’s loss.

Ellis Healing played a big part in the first two goals which set RedStar on their way in the first half. His cross looped over Ryan Barker for the opener and a second delivery from the left took a touch off Callan Baker on its way in.

With 16 minutes remaining, Golden Boot winner Daryl Nicol added a third to bring up 30 for the season and become the first player since John Hunter in 1990 to achieve that milestone in a top-flight campaign. It wouldn’t be enough for RedStar to win the league, however, and attention now turns to next week’s major semi-final at Floreat.

Stirling dropped down to third following their 2-1 defeat at home to Sorrento. The pair will meet again at Macedonia Park next weekend in the minor semi-final after the Gulls pipped Bayswater City to the final Top Four Cup spot.

Sorrento had to come from behind to do it. Ian Ferguson’s side led midway through the first half when Kevin Gallo’s inswinging cross was glanced in by Gyles Davies for the midfielder’s maiden NPL goal.

But two goals in five second half minutes from Gustavo Marulanda flipped the script for Sorrento and gave them a third straight win.

The Colombian scored with a fine solo effort which ended with him firing left-footed into the bottom corner, before hammering low and hard past James Bosdet after exchanging passes with Ollie Annis.

As a result, Trevor Morgan’s side make the post-season for a second straight year. But they were aided by Balcatta Etna who upset Bayswater City 1-0 at Frank Drago Reserve to confirm their NPL status for 2023.

Bayswater knew three points would put them in the finals regardless of results elsewhere. But it was Glen Grostate’s side who scored what proved to be the winner after 10 minutes, thanks to a Ryan Pearson screamer against his former club.

Balcatta’s win also condemned Gwelup Croatia to relegation from the top flight as they ended a disappointing 2022 with a 4-0 defeat at Perth Glory.

The visitors started well with a barrage of efforts on target, but Glory scored first against the run of play on 35 minutes. Joel Anasmo’s cross was met by a powerful finish from Daniel Bennie.

Kenny Lowe’s team went two-up six minutes after the restart when Kaelan Majeks bundled in after a goalmouth scramble to net against the side he started this season with.

Ciaran Bramwell curled in a third soon after, and the striker made it four goals in two matches with a converted penalty being the last kick of the afternoon.

The day’s other game ended with Inglewood United defeating Perth SC 1-0 to finish their season in sixth place.

Andres Olivera’s side were not in contention for the top four following a midweek defeat to Sorrento, but ended their season on a high thanks to Manase Abandelwa’s seventh-minute finish. Outgoing champions Perth ended the season in ninth place.

Round 22 results: Armadale 2-3 Floreat Athena, Bayswater City 0-1 Balcatta Etna, Inglewood United 1-0 Perth SC, Perth Glory 4-0 Gwelup Croatia, Perth RedStar 3-0 Cockburn City, Stirling Macedonia 1-2 Sorrento.