Olympic Kingsway scored four goals in the final 20 minutes as they came from 3-2 down to win 6-3 against 10-man Perth Glory in Round Five of the NPLWA – Men’s competition at Kingsway Reserve.
David Tough’s team flew out the blocks to lead 2-0 after 11 minutes, only for Glory’s youngsters to mount a comeback with Sam Barry’s double helping them find the front early in the second half.
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However, a second rollercoaster affair in as many weeks went against John Walmsley’s side this time, as Giovanni De Abreu’s red card on 65 minutes was the pre-cursor to Kingsway’s late goal glut which saw them end the weekend in third.
The Green Machine were up after just five minutes with Joe Knowles’ cross headed in by Liam Boland. Josh Samson then doubled the lead as Calum O’Connell pulled back for the midfielder to net from six yards.
But Glory rallied to tie it up at the break as Sam Barry’s low volley from Royie Rahimim’s cross halved the deficit before Sean O’Connor converted from the penalty spot after he was fouled by James Fanelli.
Barry’s glorious free-kick put the visitors ahead, only for De Abreu’s sending off for a lunge on Boland to turn the tide.
Ryan Lowry stabbed home for 3-3 after Knowles’ corner broke his way, then a stunning piledriver from former Brisbane Roar striker Knowles saw Olympic strike twice in as many minutes to suddenly lead.
Knowles dispatched a penalty to make it three goals in seven minutes for the hosts, and Joe Hobson would put the game out of reach as he scored following some late calamitous defending. The result means Kingsway made it three games without defeat, while Glory lost for the first time this season.
Western Knights are still the league leaders despite dropping their first points of the season in a 1-1 draw at home to Armadale.
The visitors were chasing their maiden win of the campaign and were boosted when awarded a penalty late in the first half as Pieter Jacobsz was pulled down when through on goal. Canadian Ryley Wishart-Stephen did the rest from the spot to make it two goals in 2024.
Knights levelled 37 seconds after the restart when a long throw was eventually turned home by Owen Goodlife, with the forward making it goals in back-to-back games. That’s how it finished with Knights three points clear at the summit, while Armadale are 10th with three draws and two defeats.
Floreat Athena are in second place ahead of Kingsway on goal difference after a 5-0 win away at Inglewood United.
Sean McManus outmuscled his opponent to put Athena in front midway through the first half with the Scot making it two goals in two matches.
A second yellow card for Aiden Formston on 65 minutes triggered a home collapse with Floreat firing four goals in the final 20 minutes to record a blowout win.
Noah Shamaki continued his fine start to the season as he held his nerve to rifle into the top corner, and the striker made it four goals this term with another determined effort inside the box.
Gloss was added in injury time with youngster Guy Davies coming off the bench to bag his first two NPL goals, as Floreat made it back-to-back wins while Inglewood are yet to register a point at the foot of the table.
Stirling Macedonia have climbed into fourth place following a 4-2 win over Fremantle City at Macedonia Park.
Ollie La Galia ran through on goal to net the opener inside the first minute which was a lead Matty Sparrow’s side took to the interval.
Two goals in five minutes turned it in the hosts' favour, with Kade Fearnall’s curling finish from 18 yards followed by Calvin Whitney’s header from a Fernall free-kick.
But Freo have the division’s top scorer in their ranks, and it was Alex McLean who made it five goals in five with a close-range header levelling the score.
However, a couple of goals in the final 10 minutes from Ian Ferguson’s side made it three wins in four matches. Louis Hadfield ran in to poke home a first league goal for Stirling before Fearnall capped a man-of-the-match display with a drive from the edge of the area.
Perth RedStar are a point behind Stirling in fifth place after an impressive 3-0 win at Bayswater City made it three games undefeated for the defending champions.
All the damage was done in the first half at Frank Drago Reserve. Theo Leeming’s fleet-footed run and finish into the roof of the net gave the visitors a fifth-minute advantage, and it was 2-0 when Matty George set up Joel Chianese to hammer in another fine RedStar goal.
Declan Hughes capped an excellent first half for Callum Salmon’s side with a classy outside-of-the-boot finish against his former side.
Finally, Kenny Lowe made a winning start in his first game as Perth SC head coach thanks to substitute Sam Cook’s brace in a 2-1 win.
The Azzurri got themselves in a tangle at the back and conceded an early penalty with Ben Hinshelwood scoring from the spot for his fourth goal of his season.
But it was the same story again for winless Balcatta, who led for a fifth game in a row only to see their advantage again disappear in the final 12 minutes.
Luke Alessandrino’s header fell nicely for Cook to drill low beyond Connor Campbell, before the number nine rolled into a vacant net to bring up Perth’s second win this season and help them move clear of danger.
Balcatta’s defeat dropped them to 11th ahead of next week’s home game with bottom-side Inglewood.
