Football West
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Soccer: Balcatta nabs NPL WA top 4 spot

Justin BianchiniStirling Times

BATTLING Balcatta sneaked in to claim the final NPL Top Four Cup spot on Saturday as Bayswater City finished the season empty handed.

John Kearney’s second-half penalty against Stirling gave Balcatta the win they needed to have any chance of claiming fourth spot.

Even then they were banking on Bayswater losing at home to Cockburn and that is what happened, with goals from Hayden Stevens and Ash Rosindale setting up the Cockerels for a shock 2-1 victory.

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Capping a miserable afternoon for Bayswater, striker Daryl Nicol was denied a second successive Golden Boot after Perth SC’s Michael Domfeh scored late on at Dorrien Gardens.

Domfeh’s goal, his 15th of the season, wasn’t enough for the champions to complete a comeback against Sorrento, who won 3-2 on the back of Alex Morgan’s first half hat-trick.

With bottom club Stirling’s fate already sealed, the pressure was off Armadale and ECU Joondalup when they met at Alfred Skeet Reserve. Armadale won 1-0 but it has been a season to forget for both clubs.

Rockingham City rounded off their first campaign in the NPL with a thumping 6-3 victory at Floreat Athena, a result which cost Garrett McDuling’s side second place and a double chance in the Top Four Cup.

The runners-up spot went to Inglewood United, who beat Perth Glory 2-0.

Relegated Stirling will be replaced by Gwelup Croatia or Western Knights in the 2020 NPL. Gwelup are three points clear of their rivals heading into the final round of State League Division One matches this weekend and their goal difference is better by six goals.

Meanwhile the NPL Top Four Cup gets under way on Saturday, with both matches being livestreamed on the Football West YouTube and Facebook pages

At Dorrien Gardens Perth SC will face Inglewood United for a place in the final, with the losers getting a second bite of the cherry against the winners of the Floreat-Balcatta semi-final.

Whoever loses out of Floreat and Balcatta will be eliminated from the competition.

Fixtures

Saturday, September 7

NPL WA Top Four Cup Semi Finals (both 3pm)

Perth SC v Inglewood United (Dorrien Gardens)

Floreat Athena v Balcatta (E&D Litis Stadium)

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