Report by Edward Nixon

 

A goal in each half from Luka Ninkovic handed ladder-leaders Bayswater City a 2-0 win over Perth Glory at Ashfield Arena on Sunday. 

With the win, Bayswater moves to outright top of the PS4 NPLWA ladder after Perth SC and Cockburn’s 2-2 draw on Saturday.

“I thought we were very resolute in defence and we took our chances,” Bayswater City coach Chris Coyne said.

“For me, the most pleasing thing was the way the boys went about it and applied themselves.”

It wasn’t all plain-sailing for Coyne and his men, however, as the Glory dominated possession and could have found themselves ahead after both Daniel Stynes and Joe Knowles went close in the first 10 minutes.

Stynes was a constant threat to the Bayswater defence as the Glory went in search of an opener.

After soaking up all the early pressure, Bayswater only needed one opportunity to find the back of the net - Ninkovic latching onto a long ball into the box before losing his man to slot past Glory goalkeeper Nick Feely at the near post.

The goal came against the run of play and would end up being the visitors only shot on target in the first half.

The Glory again bossed possession in the second half but struggled to crack a stern Bayswater defence who have only conceded four goals all season.

“Fair play to them, they came with a game-plan and stuck to it,” Glory coach John Gibson said.

Gibson’s side were restricted to shots from distance in the most part and struggled to create any real goal-scoring opportunities despite putting five past Floreat last week.

“We’ll work on a few things we got trapped in today that we’ll have a discussion about,” Gibson said.

On the counter-attack, Ninkovic again pounced on a long ball into the box before slotting past a rushing Feely to score his second of the game.

To their credit, the Glory continued to press and almost found a way back into the contest - Bayswater keeper Devon Spence tipping substitute Yacoub Mustafa close-range effort onto the post.

As time ticked on, the Glory pushed men forward and were almost hit on the counter-attack for the third time, but Luke Salmon’s shot grazed the top of the bar and went over.

The Glory now switches their focus towards Sorrento next week, while Bayswater host Perth SC in a mouth-watering top of the table clash.

 

 

Perth Glory 0

Bayswater City 2 (Ninkovic 15min, 59)

Ashfield Arena

Sunday, 8 April 2018

Local Kick-Off: 3.00pm

Referee: Stephen Gregory

Assistant Referees: Andre Ferreira and Jatin Lodhia

 

Perth Glory: 1. Nick FEELY, 2. Luca BODAR, 3. Walter SCOTT, 4. Riley WARLAND, 5. Sam RIAK,  6. Callum TRIMMINS (14. Henry HORE 60’), 7. Jacob ITALIANO (c) (13. Chok DAU 74’), 8. Brandon WILSON, 9. Joseph KNOWLES, 10. Jake BRIMMER, 11. Daniel STYNES (12. Jacob MUSTAFA 62’)

Substitutes not used: 15. Ollie ANNIS, 20. Jackson LEE

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil

 

Bayswater City: 1. Devon SPENCE, 4. Arran MAPLESTONE (11. Devon GIBSON 69’), 5. Adam HARRIS, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 8. Paul MCCARTHY, 12. David STOKOE, 13. Trent KAY (c), 15. Paul LLOYD, 17. Gian ALBANO (23. Andrija JUKIC 85’), 19. Luka NINKOVIC (22. Luke SALMON 76’), 24. Jake SARDELIC

Substitutes not used: 21. Riley VAN DIEKEN, 25. Dejan ALEKSIC

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil