Report by Tommy Doleman

Bayley Brown-Montgomery celebrates his winner against Stirling earlier in the season. Photo by FotoEnzo

The penultimate round of the NPLWA Men’s competition throws up permutations at the top and bottom on a weekend that could decide several outcomes for season 2022.

At the top, a three-team title race continues with Floreat Athena, Perth RedStar and Stirling Macedonia all separated by one point going into Round 21.

Vas Vujacic’s Athena are a point in front of the other two and know three points against Stirling at E&D Litis Stadium on Saturday coupled with a loss for RedStar away to Sorrento will be enough for them to be crowned champions.

Floreat head into the crunch clash on a nine-game unbeaten run. Bayley Brown-Montgomery got the only goal when they won at Macedonia Park in Round 11.

Striling, who are third, are finding form at the right time with six wins in their past seven matches. Ian Ferguson’s side also boast the league’s best defensive record with 20 goals conceded in their 20 games to date, which continues to be an impressive feat considering their promotion from State League Division One last season.

In between Floreat and Stirling on the table are RedStar. Callum Salmon’s team have the best goal difference of the three, which could be crucial in the final shake-up. Having defeated Perth Glory 4-3 in Monday’s rearranged Round 20 fixture, they travel to Percy Doyle Reserve for a derby clash with neighbours Sorrento.

Daryl Nicol scored his fourth hat-trick of the season against Glory to take his league tally to 27 in 2022, and the Scot is on the verge of history with only Alex Salmon (28) scoring more goals in a season since the NPL era began. He will likely be key if RedStar are to continue their five-match winning streak, with the two-time Gold Medal winner scoring 10 times in that run.

Fifth-placed Sorrento also require three points to keep their hopes of back-to-back finals finishes alive. The Gulls’ 3-1 loss to Floreat last Saturday, combined with Bayswater City’s 5-3 catch-up win against Armadale on Tuesday, means they are five points off a top four berth. They do have a game in hand against Inglewood to come next Wednesday, but need results in other remaining games against RedStar and Stirling, while relying on a slip-up above. Last time they met, Trevor Morgan’s led 2-1 after 15 minutes, before three second half goals gave RedStar a 4-2 win.

Saturday’s other fixture of consequence is a meeting between the bottom two sides in Gwelup Croatia and Balcatta, which looms as a potential relegation decider. Both teams only have one league win to their name in 2022, having played out a goalless draw at Grindleford Reserve earlier in the campaign.

The key differential is perhaps the goal difference column with Gwelup currently eight goals better off than their rivals for the drop. A first win since May 25 for Lee Taylor’s side might be enough, barring a remarkable swing of results in Round 22.

Elsewhere this weekend, Bayswater host Perth SC at Frank Drago Reserve knowing a win helps them stride closer towards a first top-four finish since 2018.

Gareth Naven’s side are in the box seat to join Floreat, RedStar and Stirling in the post-season, having ended a three-game winless run on Tuesday against Armadale. They could even secure that spot this weekend if they take care of business and results elsewhere go their way, but sixth-placed Perth come off a win over Gwelup last Saturday and will want revenge for May’s 3-1 defeat to their rivals.

Inglewood are at home to Armadale as they look to keep alive their fading finals hopes. Andres Oliveira’s side are nine points and goal difference off fourth and need wins in all three remaining matches, and even that might not be enough.

Cockburn City host Perth Glory in a meeting between ninth and 10th. A late own goal gave Glory the points in their Round 10 clash at Crazy Domains Stadium.

TEAM                    PLAYED   PTS     GD                     REMAINING FIXTURES

TITLE RACE:
Floreat Athena         P20   43pts   GD +18   -   R21 – Stirling (H), Rd22: Armadale (A)
Perth RedStar           P20   42pts   GD +30   -   R21 – Sorrento (A), Rd22: Cockburn (H)
Striling Macedonia   P20   42pts   GD +8   -   R21 – Floreat (A), Rd22: Sorrento (H)

TOP FOUR:
Bayswater City   P20   36pts   GD +12 - R21 – Perth SC (H), Rd22: Balcatta (H)
Sorrento             P19   31pts   GD +11 - R21 – Sorrento (A), Rd6 – Inglewood (H), Rd22: Cockburn (H)
Inglewood Utd   P19   27pts   GD +0   - R21 – Armadale (H), Rd6 – Sorrento (A),   Rd22: Perth SC (H)

RELEGATION:
Gwelup Croatia         P20   7pts   GD -29   -   R21 – Balcatta (H), Rd22: Perth Glory (A)
Balcatta Etna             P20   7pts   GD -37   -   R21 – Gwelup (A), Rd22: Bayswater   (A)