NPL WA: Perth Red Star move level with Olympic Kingsway in men’s league as Perth gain ground in women’s comp

There were goals aplenty in round 14 of the NPL WA men’s competition as Perth RedStar drew level with Olympic Kingsway at the top of the table.

A staggering 33 goals were scored across six fixtures, a nightmare for defenders and goalkeepers alike, with no match having fewer than four goals.

Amidst the goal-fest, RedStar’s 3-1 win over Armadale allowed them to move level with Kingsway on 32 points after the latter fell 4-2 to third-placed Fremantle City.

RedStar took an early lead against Armadale through Daryl Nicol, before the striker turned provider for Bryce Bafford soon after and although Pieter Jacobsz hit back, Nicol grabbed a second soon after the restart.

In Fremantle, Ollie La Galia continued his good form in front of goal to give the hosts the lead and Pat Loughrey doubled the lead not long after, only for Mitch Oxborrow’s free-kick to narrow the margin at the break.

Jesse Fuller made it 3-1 in the second-half and La Galia grabbed his second of the afternoon to make the points safe for Fremantle, while Joe Knowles grabbed a consolation for Kingsway.

Perth Glory moved closer to the foot of the table after a revitalised Balcatta Etna beat them 4-3, initially taking the lead through a Ben Hinshelwood penalty and a Shogo Osawa header.

But Sebastian Despotovski found the net for the Glory and Sam Barry equalised to erase Etna’s lead before recent A-League debutant Khoa Ngo put Perth ahead.

However, there was a late sting in the tail as Hinshelwood’s second of the game and a Liam Hudson strike secured all three points for Balcatta.

Inglewood United claimed their second win of the season with a 4-1 win over a 10-man Perth SC, despite falling behind to an early Ethan Banks strike.

It was all Inglewood after Josh Cala was sent off though, and they struck thrice in the space of three minutes as Kotaro Yamamoto and Benson Nsegetse (twice) flipped the game on its head, while Chad Nilson added a fourth late in the game.

Floreat Athena arrested their three-game losing run by beating Western Knights 4-2 as Nick Amborgio and Shaun McManus sent them on their way, the former scoring either side of the break to give his side a 3-0 lead.

Jesse Lazzaro’s brace made things interesting, but Noah Shamaki’s late goal ended the Knights’ comeback.

Stirling also found the net four times in a 4-1 victory against Bayswater City as their resurgence under new coach Ago Mujic continued thanks to two first-half goals to Ciaran Byrne, and further strikes by Louis Hadfield and Hugo Snowden came either side of Cameron Teece’s free-kick.

There were more goals in the women’s competition, with 20 goals across the four games as Perth moved within two points of RedStar at the top of the ladder.

Glory A-League Women striker Tanika Lala nabbed a hat-trick for Fremantle City in their 3-2 win over RedStar to inflict just a second loss of the season on the league leaders.

It allowed Perth to move to just two points behind RedStar thanks to a 4-0 win over NTC, with Sam Mathers finding the net before a late hat-trick from Ella Lincoln put the icing on the cake.

Balcatta dropped points from a leading position against Subiaco after Jamie-Lee Gale and Rachel Jarvis gave them a 2-0 lead.

Stella Zampogna and Abbey Meakins traded goals as Balcatta led 3-1, but two goals from Marianna Tabain completed the comeback for the hosts.

UWA Nedlands escaped last place with a 3-2 win over Murdoch University Melville, set up by goals to Emily Dinsdale and Andrea Preiato early.

After Ellis Glanfield had pulled one back for MUM, Dinsdale’s second gave UWA breathing space, although Sophie Patience set up a grandstand finish.

The NPL season is available to watch live on Streamer.com.