Belt Up Amateur Premier Division side Emerald FC pulled off one of the big upsets in WA football on Sunday as they dumped NPL side Balcatta Etna FC out of the Australia Cup.
There was a glut of goals in the WA preliminary third round, with Perth Soccer Club and Armadale both scoring seven and Bayswater City hitting six.
But the big story was at Fraser Park Reserve where the hero was Emerald's Andrew Wood, who scored both goals for Shane O’Donovan's Sunday side either side of the break.
Michael Scafetta brought Balcatta level early in the second half but the result capped a nightmare week for the NPL's bottom team, who crashed 6-0 in the league to Armadale.
Emerald are now the last remaining Amateur team in the competition after Perth AFC and South Perth United Football Club - SPUFC were unable to match their achievement.
Amateur third division outfit Perth AFC gave a good account of themselves against Cockburn City Soccer Club until the NPL team eventually proved too strong. It was only 2-0 with five minutes left, before a late flourish saw the visitors finish 5-0 winners.
South Perth United, from the Amateur first division, went even closer against State League Division Two Ashfield Sports Club, Israel Tan scoring the only goal on 84 minutes.
Bayswater City Soccer Club dispatched State League Division Two Wanneroo City Soccer Club Inc. 6-0. Despite the dismissal of Thomas Southgate on 30 minutes, Bayswater were always in charge as Fraser Dunlop and Ndumba Makeche scored two apiece.
The all-Division One tie between Quinns FC and Western Knights Soccer Club at Gumblossom Park went the way of the visitors 2-1, Benjamin Campbell netting the winner.
Two goals each from captain Paul Zimarino and youngster Ethan Banks set up 2021 NPL champions Perth SC for a 7-0 drubbing of State League Division One side Rockingham City Football Club.
Armadale Soccer Club Inc. also hit seven, Pieter Jacobsz's hat-trick helping them win 7-3 at Gosnells City FC of Division Two.
The top four in the NPL thrashed out between themselves who was going through - Sorrento Football Club won 3-1 at Perth RedStar FC while Stirling Macedonia FC defeated Floreat Athena 3-2, Luke Garas scoring the extra-time clincher for 10-man Stirling.
Another evening game produced even more goals, as Paul Stewart's late strike gave Kingsley Westside Football Club Seniors a 4-3 win at Curtin University Football Club.
Belt Up Amateur Division Two side Ballajura AFC bowed out 2-0 at Official Balga Soccer & Social Club, Inglewood United Football Club won by the same scoreline at Joondalup City Football Club, as did Gwelup Croatia SC away to Swan United FC.
Mandurah City FC brushed aside UWA Nedlands F.C. 4-0, while Murdoch University Melville Football Club had too much for South West Phoenix Football Club, winning 3-0 with a double from Christos Vaenas.
The draw for the preliminary last 16 will be at 5pm this Wednesday.
Filed Under: Australia Cup