Football West News

Photo by Tom McCarthy

Any of the trailing pack hoping Perth SC’s first league defeat in 13 months would have some ill-effects on the NPL WA leaders were given a dose of reality on Saturday – none more so than Perth Glory.

The Azzurri’s 3-2 slip-up at Rockingham City in Round 14 had kept the other sides near the top interested.

Ramon Falzon’s side soon put them straight as they thrashed Glory 5-0 to place themselves 10 points in front of second-place Floreat with seven matches remaining.

Glory shot themselves in the foot, however. They scored two own goals and had defender Nick Walsh sent off in the first half. They also had to watch former striker Michael Domfeh help himself to a second-half brace.

It does look a matter of time before Perth SC retain their title, especially the way none of the other teams are able to build any pressure.

Balcatta had jumped to second but they went down 1-0 to Inglewood. Floreat’s 3-0 win over Cockburn came a week after they suffered a loss by the same score, and Bayswater, who are third after beating Armadale 3-0, are equally hot and cold.

Indeed, apart from Perth SC every team in the league has lost at least a third of the 15 matches they have played.

Sorrento’s form wasn’t too flash before the weekend either and a loss to Rockingham City could have brought a few nervous glances towards the foot of the table. Fortunately for coach Jamie Harnwell his players reacted to the danger and they put Rocky away 3-0 to ease any tension.

The big game at the bottom produced plenty of drama, with bottom side Stirling Lions denied a vital win at ECU Joondalup thanks to Charlie Kenna’s injury-time equaliser.

Stirling had gone ahead midway through the half when Michael Wantee fired low past Johnny Perkins. ECU defender Billy Quinncroft was then sent off for a wild hack on substitute Ajak Riak, leaving the Jacks facing a damaging loss.

But livewire Kenna popped up with a goal for the 10 men a minute into stoppage time to not only maintain their four-point buffer over Stirling but also move his side above Armadale on goal difference.