The big boys of the NPL joined the 2024 Australia Cup today and all three of the top-flight teams in action advanced to the WA Preliminary Round Five.
Bayswater City were given the closest run before beating State League Division One side Kingsley Westside 1-0. This was a far cry from when the two sides met in the competition two years ago, when Bayswater won 10-1. Today it needed a Chris Jackson goal 20 minutes from time to see City through at Frank Drago Reserve.
Fremantle City claimed a few scalps last year when they were a first division side. Now an NPL outfit, they made sure they were not the victims of an upset as they brushed aside Division Two team Quinns FC 4-1 at Hilton Park. They had to come from behind, Chris Williams putting Quinns ahead on 36 minutes. But Jesse Fuller’s equaliser before half-time settled things for City, who scored three times in the last 19 minutes through Taj Bingwa, Ollie La Galia and Patrick Loughrey.
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Perth SC also got the job done after conceding first to a side from the State League. Ivan Skorich netted for Division One Cockburn City on 16 minutes, with Ethan Banks getting the Azzurri on terms late in the half. It was a one-way affair in the second period at Dorrien Gardens, Gordon Perkins, Sam Cook (2) and Federico Achilli putting the game to bed as Kenny Lowe’s team ran out 5-1 winners.
Today’s other game was an all-Division One clash at Besteam Stadium between Murdoch University Melville and Rockingham City, which City won 1-0 thanks to Taylor Carter’s first-half effort.
The other WA matches in the Australia Cup take place on the weekend.
Results
Thursday
Fremantle City 4-1 Quinns FC
Bayswater City 1-0 Kingsley Westside
Perth SC 5-1 Cockburn City
Murdoch University Melville 0-1 Rockingham City
Saturday
Western Knights v Floreat Athena (2.30pm)
Gwelup Croatia v Joondalup United (2.30pm)
Inglewood United v UWA Nedlands (3pm)
Stirling Macedonia v Forrestfield United (3pm)
Wanneroo City v Kalamunda City (3pm)
Ashfield v Alkimos (3pm)
Perth RedStar v Baldivis (3pm)
Mandurah City v Subiaco (3.30pm)
Dianella White Eagles v Olympic Kingsway (5pm)
Armadale v Balcatta Etna (7pm)
Sunday
Wembley Downs v Joondanna Blues (3pm)
Maccabi v Sorrento FC (3pm)