Reigning premiers Perth RedStar were upset on the opening day of the NPL WA season, while Olympic Kingsway made a statement and enhanced their title credentials with a comfortable win.
Kingsway jumped to the top of the table after round one thanks to a 3-0 victory over Stirling Macedonia, while Floreat Athena caused the biggest shock with a 2-0 win against RedStar.
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Recently-promoted Western Knights got a perfect start with three points thanks to a win over Perth SC, while fellow new-boys Fremantle City earned a point with a 2-2 draw against Balcatta Etna.
Armadale and Bayswater also shared the points on round one, while Perth Glory overcame Inglewood United to begin the season.
Up in Joondalup, both goalkeepers were called into action early, but Athena’s Noah Shamaki broke the deadlock when he raced onto Mohamed Al-Zaidy’s though ball and had time to pick his spot and fire past Liam Reddy.
Red Star had their moments to snatch an equaliser, but their chances of a draw were put to bed with 10 minutes to go when Ethan Mom won the ball in the final third and danced his way around the defence before squaring for Alex Christodoulakis to fire home.
It meant last year’s league-winners began the season with a loss, while 2023’s Top Four Cup winners Stirling also started the season on the wrong foot, as Kingsway took the lead through a deflected Liam Boland strike which left Striling‘s ‘keeper wrong-footed.
With 15 minutes to play, two former Glory players combined to extend their lead when Aryn Williams nodded home Mitch Oxborrow’s corner, before another – Joe Knowles – put the icing on the cake from the penalty spot soon after.
Nash Field hosted Western Knights’ return to the top league, and the hosts had a lead over Perth within five minutes when Owen Goodliffe’s looping header from a corner found the net via the post – a lead they would hold for the rest of the match.
Their newly-promoted rivals Fremantle got off to a similarly flying start when Ollie La Galia outjumped Connor Campbell and headed into an empty net, but Liam Miller levelled the scores after pouncing on some hesitant defending.
A thumping Ben Hinshelwood strike gave Balcatta the lead at the break, but Fremantle secured a late point thanks to Alex Maclean’s clever lob from a half-cleared free-kick.
There was another 2-2 draw at Alfred Skeet Reserve when Armadale hosted Bayswater, and the hosts took the lead six minutes in thanks to a Chan Yelchan tap-in.
Samuel Dweh’s mazey run and ensuing long-range strike secured a pre-half-time equaliser for the visitors, and they looked to have won all three points late thanks to Jackson Stephens’ volley – but Yelchan’s second goal of the afternoon a few minutes later ensured the points were shared.
Inglewood and Glory looked like it was heading to a scoreless draw, until Daniel Jankuloski turned home Jaylan Pearman’s bouncing free-kick in the 80th minute.
Catch every game of the 2024 NPL WA season on Streamer.com.au.
Source Agencies
