Report by Tommy Doleman

Will Gordon bravely gets in front of Jason Saldaris to head Perth SC's winner. Photo by Rob Lizzi

Will Gordon's first senior goal gave Perth SC a 1-0 win over Floreat Athena which cut the margin on the NPLWA – Men’s leaders to four points after their Round 14 clash.

The Azzurri inflicted a second straight loss on Athena on a weekend where three of the six scheduled matches were postponed.

Despite the State Government ending the Covid lockdown on Saturday morning, there were still restrictions in place and one was that no spectators were permitted at any matches.

Despite losing for the first time last week after a 12-game unbeaten start to the season, Floreat started the brighter. Rob Harding almost put them ahead, only for his header to be nodded off the line and onto his own crossbar by Emerson Alexis.

Instead it was another header which gave the hosts their lead on 25 minutes and ultimately the win. Jason Saldaris slipped slightly as Nic McDonald's cross came in and that split-second allowed Gordon to arrive and bravely plant a header beyond the goalkeeper and into the goal.

Before the break, Perth keeper Ryan Montgomery tipped Sean McManus' effort past the post, while Michael Domfeh trickled one wide for Perth.

In the second half, Calvin Whitney and Kristian Santich brought the best out of Saldaris as Perth pushed for a second.

Floreat resisted and the dangerous Harding sneaked in and nearly poked home a late equaliser. Gordon's goal was enough, however, as the visitors lost back-to-back league games for the first time under Vas Vujacic.

Two weeks ago, it looked doubtful if anybody was going to emerge from the pack to challenge Athena. But having lost just once in 11 games, Perth are hot on their tails. We may well have a title fight after all.

In the evening kick-off, Perth Glory enjoyed a 3-0 win over Bayswater City at Crazy Domains Stadium. The result draws them level on points with ECU Joondalup in a share for the final Top Four Cup spot

The youngsters were looking to back up last week's superb win at Floreat but faced a strong start from Bayswater in which Michael Zimarino's shot bounced off the post.

City’s Ndumba Makeche was then unable to force home Gordon Smith's shot, while at the other end Joshua Anasmo was thwarted by former Glory NPL goalkeeper Nicholas Speca.

The deadlock was eventually broken on 63 minutes by last week's two-goal hero Adam Zimarino, who showed his brother in the opposition how it was done by rolling his marker and rattling in superbly on the volley.

Smith had a goalbound header cleared before Speca denied Adam Zimarino to keep Bayswater in the game. But Glory found two strikes in the final six minutes to continue a run which has seen Ruben Zadkovich's side lose only one of their last seven matches.

Anasmo scored his ninth of the season, finishing a lovely team move started by Adam Zimarino, before Giordano Colli poked in a late third against his former side.

Finally, Armadale gave themselves a sniff of a top four finish with a 2-1 win at Sorrento.

John O'Reilly's side went ahead inside six minutes when Chad Nilson was fouled in the area. Andres stepped up to the penalty spot and sent Matt Giudicatti the wrong way.

Dean Cummings struck over for the Gulls in a half where the hosts created few chances, while at the other end Kevin Ashwood shot wide and had another effort saved by the feet of Guidicatti.

Sorrento found themselves a man down eight minutes before the break when Alex Morgan was shown a straight red card for a high challenge. But Jamie Harnwell's side pulled level early in the second half.

Jordan Roberts broke down the wing, cut back and crossed into the area with the final touch adjudged to have come off Armadale's Brian Patterson.

Sorrento, looking to firm up their third place, carved out good chances to take the lead as Jordan Brown's header was brilliant saved by Yousri Gharsallah. The goalkeeper then blocked from Roberts before Chris Jackson lifted over the bar against his former side.

Those saves proved crucial as Ashwood's free-kick was headed in by Andres, whose 11^th of the campaign drew him level with Golden Boot leader Steve Sokol.

Jordan Brown tamely hit at Gharsallah with Sorrento's best chances of a second equaliser, while Cherno Bah struck the post with the visitors aiming to kill off the contest.

Sorrento were reduced to nine late on when Giudicatti, chasing back after venturing forward for a corner, took out Friday Zico, as Armadale won on the road for the first time since Round Two.

Results

Perth Glory 3-0 Bayswater City
Perth SC 1-0 Floreat Athena
Sorrento 1-2 Armadale

Postponed

Cockburn City v Balcatta
ECU Joondalup v Inglewood United
Rockingham City v Gwelup Croatia