Football West News

A goal from Michael Domfeh deep in stoppage time capped a stirring fightback from Perth Glory on Saturday as they grabbed a crucial point in their quest for the NPL WA title.

The league leaders looked set for their first defeat in 13 matches as they trailed Inglewood United 3-1 going into the final 10 minutes at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium.

LINKS TO FULL MATCH REPORTS BELOW

But after Henry Hore threw them a lifeline with his second goal of the game, Glory went all out for the equaliser which eventually arrived thanks to Domfeh’s late intervention.

Glory coach John Gibson said: “They’ve got this attitude that they never say die. The point may make a big difference at the back end of this season.

“We’ve got many challenges ahead of us – but to come here, in tough conditions, it’s fantastic. To stay in the game somehow and then pinch something at the end, I’m super happy with the group and the character they’ve shown.”

The 3-3 draw means Glory, who are at Armadale next week, go into the final three rounds of matches with a four-point advantage over Perth SC and a much healthier goal difference.

The Azzurri kept alive their slim chances of a second championship in three seasons with a 2-1 win over Stirling Lions at Dorrien Gardens.

Nicholas Ambrogio put Perth ahead but that was cancelled out by Alex Suleski. Stirling then had the opportunity to take the lead before half-time but David Micevski’s penalty was saved by Francis Soale.

The Perth keeper’s spot-kick heroics proved pivotal, with Gustavo Catarcione’s producing a second-half winner for Ramon Falzon’s men.

“Today’s win gives the boys a lot of belief that we are still in it. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions this year, but with the league being this tight we have to keep fighting until the end,” Falzon said.

“Until we can’t mathematically catch them, we will keep pushing because there are still nine points to play for.”

Cockburn arrested their mini-slump with a 4-1 victory against Balcatta to move back into third place but they will need Glory to collapse down the home straight to have a chance of snatching the title.

There was no change at the bottom of the table, with the four sides in danger of going down with Joondalup United all losing.

It was a painful afternoon for second-bottom Subiaco, who missed a penalty through David Perich and then conceded a last-minute winner to Bayswater City skipper Trent Kay.

Subiaco assistant coach Basil Lenzo described the result as “gut-wrenching”, while Bayswater coach Chris Coyne, whose team had lost their previous six matches, said: “I thought we robbed Subiaco to be honest, I thought they were excellent today.”

Forrestfield United, who are third from bottom, are now seven without a win after they went down 1-0 to ECU Joondalup.

Sorrento guaranteed their survival with a  3-1 win over Joondalup United, while Floreat Athena cashed in on Armadale’s shocking afternoon at Alfred Skeet Reserve to ensure they will also be in the NPL WA next season.

Armadale’s 7,000km round trip to Cairns in midweek might partly explain their display, although coach John O’Reilly wasn’t looking for excuses. His side never recovered from being two down inside five minutes and the visitors eventually ran out 5-0 winners.

“Completely unacceptable,” O’Reilly said.

Results

Armadale 0
Floreat Athena 5 (Pollard 2min, 76, Annall og 5, Petkov 24, Saldaris 71)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Cockburn City 4 (O’Brien 18min, Teles 67, Platt 78, McDonald og 82)
Balcatta 1 (Wild 21min)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Perth SC 2 (Ambrogio 14min, Catarcione 58)
Stirling Lions 1 (Suleski 28)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Bayswater City 1 (Kay 90min)
Subiaco 0
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Joondalup United 1 (Hill og 22min)
Sorrento 3 (Darkwa 59min, Salter 60, Roberts 84)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Inglewood United 3 (Healing 54min, Woodall 70, Keogh 73)
Perth Glory 3 (Hore 37min, 80, Domfeh 90+3)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Forrestfield United 0
ECU Joondalup 1 (Hough 49min)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE