Balcatta, Joondalup stay top two

Thanks to Football West for the majority of these match reports.

Perth SC 2 (David Onoforo 20’, Jason Dos Santos 77’)
NTC 0
@ BGC Stadium

Defying their critics’ label of Premier League whipping boys, the youngsters of the NTC got the game off to a frenetic start with play failing to penetrate either sides’ back four.

It wasn’t until the 20-minute mark when Dave Onoforo forced a good save from NTC keeper Tim Doyle.

Seconds later, NTC defender Hanafi Ghazali gave away a penalty and Onoforo slotted the ball past Doyle to put Perth ahead 1-0.

But the youngsters kept fighting, and in the 70^th minute Blamo Quaqua slotted a through ball for Sahr Musa, whose attempt was parried by Perth custodian Jason Saldaris.

The home side made sure of the win (though no points were on offer) seven minutes later when Jason Dos Santos made the most of a crowded penalty box to bundle home an uncleared free kick and seal a 2-0 win.

Stirling Lions 0
Western Knights 0
@ Macedonia Park

Former Perth Glory player Anthony Skorich took to the field for Stirling Lions as they welcomed a stubborn Western Knights outfit to Macedonia Park.

The Lions’ Phil O'Callaghan and Jamie De Abreu were guilty of missing glorious opportunities in the second half while Scott Muirhead hit the post as Paul Lincoln's men couldn't finish off the visitors.

The Lions were the dominant side throughout the match and played eye catching football at times, but if they are to move up the table they will need to be much more ruthless in front of goal, something Paul Lincoln fully recognised when interviewed after the game:

"We battered them in the second half today. I think we've had four one on ones, the boys have to finish one of those because if you don't you are lucky you don't get beaten,” Lincoln said.

“But it was a bit disappointing we didn't capitalise on the opportunities we created today.”

Sorrento 1 (Ryan Pearson 21’)
Inglewood United 3 (Rory Grant 47’, Ndumba Makeche 56’, Paul Dugdale 81’)
@ Percy Doyle Reserve

Jamie Harnwell’s Sorrento took the lead after 21 minutes when Darko Ilomanoski inadvertently headed Jason Mirco's deep cross against his own bar, the rebound dropping kindly for young Ryan Pearson who had the simple task of heading home from a couple of yards out.

Inglewood coach Shane Pryce might have had a few choice words at half time though, as his side embarked on a three-goal blitz that turned the game on its head.

The impressive Ndumba Makeche did well on the left and when his low cross came over Rory Grant was on hand to poke the ball home from close range.

Nine minutes later, Inglewood were ahead after a stunning goal from Makeche, the striker blasting an unstoppable shot past Gulls keeper Curtis Aspden from 25 yards.

Sorrento's problems deepened after 61 minutes when Yorke was shown a straight red card after bringing down Makeche on the edge of the area.

The forward was proving a constant menace to the home defence, and continued to pile on the pressure with several shots saved.

Inglewood were then rewarded for their dominance with nine minutes remaining when Dugdale made it 3-1.

The substitute latched on to a cutback and smashed a shot into the top corner from 18 yards.

Bayswater City 2 (Kailo Karpeh 77’, 81’)
ECU Joondalup 3 (John Higgins 14’, Ian McMurray 31’, John Thornley 76’ pen.)
@ Frank Drago Reserve

This contender for match-of-the-round kicked into life 14 minutes into the first half, a 25-yard free kick from John Higgins bending into the top corner of the Bayswater net.

Bayswater fought back strongly, but it was Joondalup who scored again on 31 minutes as Ian McMurray slotted through a crowded penalty area to make the score line 2-0 for the visitors.

Bayswater striker Kailo Karpeh began causing all sorts of trouble for the ECU defence in the second
half, and things got worse for Joondalup when they had Ryan McDarby sent off in the 61^st minute for a bad tackle.

But John Thornley used his strength well to hold the ball up in the penalty area for the visitors, and after being fouled he slotted the resulting penalty to make it 3-0 on 76 minutes.

Just one minute later though Karpeh smashed an unstoppable shot past Andy Banks, and Bayswater had a glimmer of hope.

Three minutes later the home crowd were sensing a comeback as Karpeh combined a cheeky backheel with some good footwork to slot a second under the ECU keeper.

A final chance emerged on 86 minutes as Damian Catalano curled a free kick in towards the goal, but to the crowd’s dismay it could only find the woodwork, the match ending 3-2.

Balcatta 2 (Daniel Micevski 17’, Ashley Rosindale 84’)
Floreat Athena 1 (Phil Arnold 80’)
@ Grindleford Reserve

Balcatta had poached Floreat’s coach and several players in the off-season, making this a bit of a grudge match as Michael Roki prepared to break down the team he experienced so much success with.

It was Balcatta who were on the scoresheet first, after Steve Burton played a sublime through ball for Daniel Micevski to fire home past Alex Dunn.

A second goal looked in the offing 2 minutes into the second half, but the linesman ruled Micevski offside.

Deciding that things weren’t going the way he wanted, Floreat player-manager Ante Kovacevic made all three substitutions in the 70^th minute; and it paid dividends just ten minutes later.

Left back Calum O’Connell sent in a superb diagonal ball to Phil Arnold, who tucked the ball past the Balcatta keeper to even the scores.

Floreat could have taken all the points just three minutes later, but instead of shooting the clearly unmarked Arnold chose to lay the ball off – the immediate rebound from the home side exposed Floreat at the back, Mustafa Atak’s shot was initially blocked by keeper Dunn, but Rosindale was on hand to bang in the rebound as Roki claimed bragging rights over his former club.

Armadale 1 (Jason Goodwin 81’)
Mandurah City 0
@ Alfred Skeet Reserve

The heat had died down a bit for spectators in this week’s evening game, but the players injected some fire of their own on the pitch in an encounter that saw both teams finish with 10 men.

Mandurah’s Jeff Bright was sent off for a second bookable offence at the 28-minute mark, much to his frustration and disbelief.

City were down a man and desperately holding on for the half time whistle.

Armadale continued to press late in the half, but sloppy finishing hurt them badly.

This spelt all sorts of trouble for them when Warren Beattie saw red for a horrific tackle on 62 minutes, which ensured both teams had 10 men for the last half an hour.

But after 81 minutes of play, it was Armadale that finally took the lead when Jason Goodwin got on the end of a Marlon Ramirez cross, much to the delight of the home supporters.

Mandurah fought on gallantly, but it was not to be as Armadale took the three points and moved above Bayswater to fourth spot on the table.

Round Six
Saturday (2pm): Inglewood United v Perth SC
Saturday (3pm): Armadale SC v Balcatta SC
Saturday (3pm): Cockburn City v NTC
Saturday (3pm): ECU Joondalup v Western Knights
Saturday (6pm): Mandurah City v Sorrento FC
Sunday (3pm): Stirling Lions v Bayswater City
Bye: Floreat Athena FC

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