Bayswater fall short despite Heagney treble

Report by Tommy Doleman

Photo courtesy Kate Jackson

Bayswater City notched a 4-0 win over mid-table Balcatta in the final round of PS4 National Premier Leagues WA matches, but sensationally finished outside the top four for the first time since 2011 despite David Heagney’s hat trick.

Heagney netted just before the break and then scored either side of Jason Mirco’s late goal as the hosts did their job and hoped results elsewhere would go their way.

But a goal for ECU Joondalup in the dying minutes meant the defending champions could only finish fifth and outside of the top four on goal difference.

The result caps off a frustrating second half of the season for coach Chris Coyne and his Bayswater side as they collected just eight points from a possible 30.

“We’re under no illusions, we didn’t deserve to be in that top four but all that’s going to do is drive us harder and further next season,” he said.

“We’re not accepting that second half of the year. We were five points clear after round 12 so there are no excuses.

“We’ve let ourselves down, not done the right things on the pitch or shown the desire that you need to be at the top of the table.”

Coyne also said that it won’t be difficult to motivate his players for next season but maintained his belief in the current squad of players.

“I don’t have to say anything. We just have to look at the table and see how much we’ve underachieved,” he said.

“We believe in all the players and we’ve got some extra quality lined up to come in as well, but that’s not to say we’ll get rid of anyone.

“We know we’ve got the best squad and play the best football, there’s just not been that winning mentality this year and we’ll make sure we’re thereabouts next time.”

Bayswater were first to adapt to the blustery conditions as Devon Gibson and Heagney forced Clint Davies into good saves.

Balcatta threatened as well, though, and twice came close when Spence smothered at the feet of Zelfy Nazary before Alan Carroll glanced a corner wide.

But the hosts were chasing goals to keep their playoff hopes alive and struck a minute before the break as Jason Mirco and Gibson combined to set up Heagney’s first from 12m.

The second half saw little action for both goalkeepers as conditions worsened, until Heagney got across his man and scored a real poacher’s effort with 12 minutes to play.

Mirco added a third goal in the shadows of full time as he broke the offside trap and rounded the goalkeeper to side foot into an empty net.

There was still time for Heagney to find the bottom corner for his hat-trick, but it proved to be of little consolation as the hosts’ season ended.

Bayswater City 4 (Heagney 44mins, 77’, 90+1, Mirco 89’)
Balcatta 0
Saturday August 27, 2016
Finance 365 Stadium
Kick off: 3pm
Referee: David Bruce

Bayswater City: GK: Devon SPENCE, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 8. Paul MCCARTHY, 10. Jason MIRCO, 11. Devon GIBSON (13. Trent KAY 75’) 15. Brian FARRELL (14. Lawrence SHURUMA 56’), 16. Jamie COYNE, 18. Luka NINKOVIC (23. Andrija JUKIC 70’), 20. Sam MITCHINSON, 21. David HEAGNEY, 24. David STOKOE.
Substitutes not used: RGK: Fraser GREENWOOD, 17. Alex WILD.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil

Balcatta: GK: Clint DAVIES, 2. Hanafi GHAZALI, 3. Kieron STALLARD (13. Scare RULE 78’), 4. Alexsander SULESKI, 5. Conor KAVANAGH, 6. Jonathan CORNESS (7. James SAMMUT 56’), 9. Scott NEWLANDS (12. James GORDON 67’), 10. Zelfy NAZARY, 11. Feisal ZAW, 17. Kieran COLWELL, 19. Alan CARROLL.
Substitutes not used: RGK: Kyle MCDONALD
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil




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