Report by Alex Vlahos

Inglewood's Mark Barnett closes down Ryan Pratt of Cockburn. Photos by FotoEnzo

A late Ryan Pratt header saw Cockburn City snatch a 1-1 draw against Inglewood United in their NPL WA clash on Saturday.

In front of a vocal home crowd at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium, Inglewood seemed destined for victory when a Chris Jackson wonder strike broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute.

However, it was Pratt who would have the final say, heading home a Riley Woodcock cross on 88 minutes to snare the visitors a point.

It was the second successive week Cockburn have punished a goalkeeping error with a late headed goal. Last time it was Breckan Baker at Perth SC and this week Pratt came up trumps.

Like all of today's NPL and State League first-team games, the match was preceded by a minute's silence for Dianella White Eagles head coach Rod Banjac, who died earlier this week.

The encounter itself failed to get going, certainly early on, and chances were at a premium in an error-riddled first half.

Inglewood’s Steve Sokol did produce some individual brilliance to create the half's best opportunity. The forward dribbled past two Cockburn defenders before rifling his shot against the crossbar.

Cockburn began the second half with intent via a combination of through balls and pace on the flanks. In contrast, United’s cause took a hit when Sokol was dismissed on 73 minutes. He was shown a second yellow card by referee Josh Nixon for booting the ball away after Cockburn had won a free-kick.

The game required a spark and Jackson provided just that with his stunning long-range strike.

The striker received an errant pass from Woodcock before turning and unleashing a left-footed shot from 25 yards out, the ball nestling in the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

With the extra man Cockburn surged forward in search of an equaliser and amidst a tense climax, were able to find it through Pratt.

The ball was worked wide to Woodcock and, looking to make amends for his error, he sent over a deep cross which was misjudged by United keeper Alex Dunn and Pratt nodded home.

Cockburn, who host Sorrento next Saturday, move to fourth on the ladder with seven points from four games.

Inglewood sit ninth on five points ahead of next Saturday's encounter with second-bottom Perth SC.

Teams and match details HERE

Perth SC’s poor start to the season continued when they went down to Balcatta 3-1, leaving the Azzurri 11th with just a single point from their opening four matches.

Perth, champions for the past two seasons, have been hampered by uncharacteristic errors this season and that was the case again when they fell behind on 26 minutes.

They relinquished possession in midfield far too easily and Jonathan Corness slipped the ball infield to Adam Zimarino. The Balcatta man drove towards the edge of the box before firing towards goal. Perth keeper Ryan Montgomery got down well but pushed the ball into the path of Corness, who was rewarded for continuing his run with an easy tap-in.

The same man doubled the lead on 67 minutes. Balcatta had the Perth defence stretched, recycling possession on more than one occasion. Eventually Michael Zimarino got the ball to Corness, who controlled before stretching to fire into the net. Referee David Bruce consulted his assistant over a possible offside but the goal was awarded.

Perth got into the match three minutes later when Paul Zimarino became the third of the three brothers to claim an assist. His free-kick left Balcatta skipper John Kearney in a tangle and Michael Domfeh smashed the loose ball past keeper Riley Stephenson.

Perth’s most likely source of an equaliser was young substitute Jayden Gorman, whose pace down the left forced Balcatta back on their heels. On one occasion he got to the bye-line before pulling back to Yagoub Mustafa, who brought a courageous smother from Stephenson before the ball ricocheted into the covering Jack Leech and looped on to the top of the net.

Balcatta managed to weather the storm and deep in stoppage time they wrapped up the points. Perth were overloaded in attack, Balcatta broke and substitute Christos Vaenas, who had been on for less than a minute, rounded Montgomery to score.

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Another side to come up with a late goal were Gwelup Croatia, who beat Armadale 3-2 thanks to Jon Stynes’ 93rd minute winner.

Armadale’s opener came directly from Harry Quigley’s corner, which embarrassed Gwelup keeper Connor Campbell at his near post.

Minutes later Gwelup were level. Player of the match Stynes put through a great pass for Hasani Sinclair to chase. As the Gwelup man bore down on goal, defender Dannie Richman pulled up short clutching his left hamstring. Sinclair’s shot was on target but really shouldn’t have been powerful enough to beat keeper Cyril Sharrock.

Armadale won’t be happy with Gwelup’s second, either. Ciaran Salinger’s long throw went through to the back post and Stynes was on the spot to finish.

Credit to Armadale, they regrouped and levelled on 69 minutes from the penalty spot. Andrew Scaldaferro caught Joshua Cortes with his arm and Angel Andres put away the spot-kick.

The Army fans were again in full voice but Gwelup, who began the day top of the league, had the final word. A corner from the right was well pushed over by Sharrock for another set-piece. This time the delivery was from the left and Stynes rose highest to head a dramatic winner.

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Gwelup were replaced at the summit on goal difference by Floreat Athena, who had no difficulty in seeing off Rockingham City 4-0.

Skipper Dean Evans fired Floreat in front on 24 minutes following good work from Bala Noah Shamaki.

The second close to half-time was typical of Rockingham’s defending this season. Goalkeeper Brad Stout threw the ball out to Blake Sokolowski, who was immediately closed down. The Rockingham midfielder gave the ball straight to Ludovic Boi, who cracked it past Stout.

Both teams were reduced to 10 men on 55 minutes after a set-to between Athena’s Nelson Tshongo, who was shown a straight red, and City’s Alex Grayson, who picked up a second yellow.

Nicholas Ambrogio tapped home the third goal from a powerful run by Shamaki. Then after James Paylor received his marching orders for a second yellow card – the second time this season Rockingham have been reduced to nine men – Robert Harding made it 4-0.

The result leaves Rockingham still seeking a first point this season.

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Sorrento moved on from their heavy loss at ECU Joondalup to beat Bayswater City 2-1 at Percy Doyle Reserve.

The Gulls crashed 6-1 last week but were much improved against a Bayswater team who have won one of their first four matches.

Cameron Teece did well on Sorrento’s first goal on nine minutes. He took the ball down at the side of the box, turned, drifted across the face of goal before shooting low past keeper Patrick Stephenson.

They should have been two up soon after but Scott Witschge hit the side netting after Stephenson had saved well from Teece.

Instead it was Bayswater who struck. A patient build-up found its way to captain Gustavo Giron Marulanda and he finished in emphatic style.

Bayswater suffered a blow early in the second half when Gordon Smith was shown a straight red for an off-the-ball incident. And Sorrento took advantage with a breakaway winner. Amir Ajan ran fully 80 yards before crossing to the back stick, where Alex Morgan got above his man to head in.

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Bryce Bafford scored twice in Perth Glory’s 3-1 win over ECU Joondalup.

Backed by the vocal following of many of their regular A-League fans, Glory were at it from the start at Hartfield Park.

Bafford’s first came just before half-time when he curled left-footed, low into the far corner.

Early in the second half Bafford’s dummy saw him break free of Riley Warland. He fed Aidan Edwards, who squared for Charlie Leech to bundle the ball over the line.

Leech and Bafford then teamed up for the third. Warland’s pass across goal wrongfooted teammate Samuel Riak, Leech nipped in and passed to the grateful Bafford to get his second.

ECU’s goal came in stoppage time through Ben Hinshelwood, following Dor Jok’s strong run. But It was a miserable reunion for ECU head coach Kenny Lowe, who is Glory’s longest-serving A-League coach.

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