Report by Tommy Doleman

Ndumba Makeche celebrates as he helps Bayswater go top of the league. Photo by Tom McCarthy

Kosta Sparta’s stunning late free-kick helped Bayswater City seal a 4-2 win over Perth Glory and move back to the top of the NPLWA - Men’s competition.

With Stirling Macedonia held by Armadale, it meant Gareth Naven’s side leapfrogged the previous leaders while Sparta’s stoppage-time strike means they are on top on goal difference from Perth RedStar, who won at Gwelup Croatia.

And Floreat Athena’s 3-1 victory against Perth SC has the top four separated by a single point in what continues to be a thrilling title race.

Bayswater had the better of the first half at Frank Drago Reserve and took the lead on 25 minutes when Ndumba Makeche planted a low strike past Adrian Sinagra for his 10th league goal.

Andrew Maranta then beat Nic Speca to a long ball and headed narrowly wide with Glory’s best chance of the half.

After the restart, former Glory shot-stopper Speca saved twice from Joshua Anasmo, but he had no chance when Adam Zimarino found the corner for his first goal this season since returning from Glory’s A-League squad.

Bayswater restored their lead almost immediately when they were awarded a penalty, despite putting the ball in the back of the net after the foul. It mattered little as Makeche kept his cool to make it 2-1 from the spot, and then the former Perth Glory striker completed his hat-trick to make it 12 this season with a pinpoint left-footed strike into the corner.

But Glory fought hard and set up a grandstand finish when Bramwell struck with eight minutes left with his first goal since Round Two. No equaliser would be found though, and it was Sparta’s special strike which lifted Bayswater to the summit late in the piece.

Bayswater were boosted by Stirling dropping points at home in a goalless draw against 10-man Armadale, who extended their run to just one defeat in 10 in all competitions.

The in-form visitors went close when Pieter Jacobsz forced James Bosdet into a near-post save prior to the hour mark, while at the other end Asher Nelson thought he scored soon after, but he was denied by an offside flag denied him.

Armadale were reduced to 10 men when when Nathan Costello was shown a red card for a challenge on a goal-bound Michael Domfeh. But despite more than 20 minutes with an extra man, Stirling were unable to breakthrough with Yousri Gharsallah’s save from Domfeh’s header the closest they came.

RedStar went second thanks to two late Daryl Nicol goals in their 3-1 win at Gwelup Croatia, which sets up a top-of-the-table clash at home to Bayswater next week.

Chok Dau ran onto Nicol’s pass to slide home the opener, but Gwelup levelled later in the half through Ciaran Salinger’s chip against his former side, which was their first home goal of the season.

It appeared the hosts would pick up an important point in their quest to move clear of the relegation zone. But two goals in the final eight minutes meant RedStar took the points and bounced back from last week’s loss at Cockburn City.

Nicol’s pressure on the goalkeeper yielded an opportunity which he capitalised on to roll in for 2-1, and the Scot would make it 14 for the season and 3-1 when striking home from the penalty spot.

Two late goals also helped Floreat stay in the thick of title contention in a 3-1 win against local rivals Perth SC.

Chris Saldaris gave the hosts a first half advantage at E&D Litis Stadium from the penalty spot for his first goal since Round Three. But Perth pulled level early in the second period through Paul Zimarino’s looping header from Jordan De Leo’s cross.

Hasani Sinclair was unfortunate to be adjudged offside when scoring with 14 minutes left and Floreat capitalised on the good fortune with two late goals.

Laat Mathiang started 2022 with the Azzurri but came back to haunt his former side with an 89th minute free-kick, and then Robert Petkov got on the end of a late Athena breakaway to confirm the win.

Sorrento stayed in touch with the top four and are four points from top spot after a 4-2 win against Cockburn.

All the goals were scoring in the second half, with City’s Daniel Robinson netting first on 53 minutes when tapping in from close range.

Chris Jackson scored twice in Sorrento’s Australia Cup win over Murdoch University Melville in midweek, and he did the same here with two in three minutes to turn the game on his head. The first a brilliant header from Ryan McLaughlin’s cross and the second an opportune finish following in from Joe Tweat’s effort.

Dean Cummings’ back-post header made it 3-1 with seven minutes left and Gustavo Marulanda rifled in a late fourth to complete a solid win, despite Jesse Lazzaro’s late consolation goal from the penalty spot.

Finally, Harry Evans scored the winner 15 minutes from time as Inglewood came from behind to beat bottom side Balcatta Etna.

Etna went ahead after 10 minutes when Jon Corness scored, having been slipped in by Henry Durr, but they remain bottom after two second-half goals from the hosts.

Alex Ishida-Livings struck left-footed for his first goal of the year on 62 minutes, before Evans nudged past Riley Stephenson from Thiak Kuel’s perfectly weighted pass.

Round 12 results: Bayswater City 4-2 Perth Glory, Floreat Athena 3-1 Perth SC, Gwelup Croatia 1-3 Perth RedStar, Inglewood United 2-1 Balcatta Etna, Sorrento 4-2 Cockburn City, Stirling Macedonia 0-0 Armadale.