UPDATE: Two first-half goals for Abdul Osman helped Perth SC advance to the preliminary final of the NPLWA - Men's Top Four Cup as they won 3-0 at Olympic Kingsway on Saturday afternoon.
Danny Hay’s in-form side have lost only once in seven matches and they next face Stirling Macedonia this Tuesday for the right to face holders Perth RedStar in next weekend’s Top Four Cup final at the State Football Centre.
For Kingsway, it was the end of their 2023 campaign. But they can take plenty of positives from their first season back in the top flight for 24 years.
Perth were the sharper side in the opening half and they seized the initiative with two Osman goals in as many minutes. He arrived from midfield to finish right-footed from Hasani Sinclair’s pull-back, before linking up with Luke Collins soon after to net a fourth goal of the season on his preferred left.
Kingsway had their moments with Daniel Walsh hitting the post from a deep corner, while Cian Hirrell’s effort was tipped over by Perth stopper Rocco Liberti.
It could have been a greater lead for the Azzurri as well with David Ninkovich thwarted by David Keenan late in the first 45. The second period was more straightforward for Perth as they kept control of matters and Olympic at arm’s length.
They eventually capped a fine performance in the final 10 minutes when Zayd Farah cut inside from the right flank and fired firmly past Keenan to register his first goal of the campaign.
The Azzurri’s next challenge will be at Macedonia Park this week after Stirling fell to a 1-0 defeat against RedStar at RedStar Arena.
Callum Salmon’s NPL champions, who were met by a guard of honour from the Stirling players before kick-off, came into Saturday’s game having lost both league meetings to Stirling this season.
And the visitors started well again, as Sam Wynne blazed over an early effort, while at the other end Chok Dau fired a freeu-kick over the crossbar.
Stirling’s best first-half chance came when a stray pass fell for Asher Nelson, who ran in and put just wide of Liam Reddy’s upright, and the hosts made them pay for the miss soon after. RedStar countered down the left wing through Dau, whose pass inside enabled Daryl Nicol to rifle emphatically across goalkeeper James Bosdet.
Hristijan Jankuloski headed Kade Fearnall’s corner over the bar for Stirling early in the second period, while moments later RedStar almost went two up as James Bosdet diverted Gomo Dukuly's effort on to the bar.
While the result was enough for RedStar to advance to the final, Ian Ferguson’s team must now prepare for a clash against the Azzurri whose 3-0 win at Macedonia Park in the season's penultimate round killed off Stirling's title challenge.
In the NPLWA - Men's U20s Top Four Cup, champions Perth Glory head straight to the final after beating RedStar 2-1.
RedStar's second chance is against Bayswater City Soccer Club, who defeated Perth SC 1-0.
And Glory are also in next week's NPLM U18s Top Four Cup final after they drew 2-2 with Sorrento F.C before winning 6-5 on penalties.
Sorrento's second bite of the cherry is against Bayswater, who defeated Floreat Athena 3-1.
Top Four Cup semi-finals
NPLWA - Men's
Perth RedStar 1-0 Stirling Macedonia
Olympic Kingsway 0-3 Perth SC
NPLWA - Men's U20s
Perth Glory 2-1 Perth RedStar
Perth SC 0-1 Bayswater City
NPLWA - Men's U18s
Perth Glory 2-2 Sorrento FC (Glory won 6-5 on pens)
Floreat Athena 1-3 Bayswater City
Top Four Cup preliminary finals
Tuesday 12 September
NPLWA - Men's
Stirling Macedonia v Perth SC (Macedonia Park, 7pm)
Wednesday 13 September
NPLWA - Men's U20s
Perth RedStar v Bayswater City (Percy Doyle Reserve, 8.15pm)
NPLWA - Men's U18s
Sorrento FC v Bayswater City (Percy Doyle Reserve, 6.15pm)