Nicol double decisive for Bayswater

Bayswater City twice came from behind to record a 4-2 win over Armadale in a fiery six-goal thriller at Alfred Skeet Reserve.

Brent Griffiths cancelled out Angel Andres’ opener before new signing Sebastian Stenqvist restored the hosts’ lead soon after.

Daryl Nicol then took charge in the second half. First his cross was nodded in by Gordon Smith, before he scored twice himself.

There was plenty of drama off the pitch, too, with both sides ending the match with 10 men and coaches John O’Reilly and Chris Coyne carded.

New signing Brian Patterson was lively early on for the home side as he forced Devon Spence to tip over, while at the other end Sam Hutchings was down to deny Nicol.

An open start led to an early goal when Joshua Cortes surged down the right and pulled back for Andres to score on his Armadale debut.

Bayswater grew into the game as Hutchings was called upon to deny Luke Salmon one on one, but he was helpless when Griffiths side-footed home Todd Howarth’s corner.

The visitors were only level for two minutes though as Stenqvist, another new signing, twisted and turned in the area before prodding in at the second attempt.

It was a deserved lead for the Army, whose fans were in fine voice, and they could have gone further ahead had Patterson’s strike from distance been a yard either side of Spence.

Bayswater were out on the pitch early for the second half and they responded when Nicol picked up the ball wide left, skipped past Ali Nazary and teased a perfect cross to the back post for Smith to head home.

Then the game’s major flashpoint ensued. Smith’s late challenge on Chad Nilson brought a reaction from both benches, before referee Shane Skinner showed the Scot a straight red.

Armadale coach O’Reilly was also shown a red card in the aftermath, while Coyne received a yellow.

That gave Armadale an extra man for the final 35 minutes. But after Andres slid an effort wide, the home side gave up their advantage when Nilson was sent off after collecting a second yellow card for a coming-together with Dean Cummings off the ball.

Bayswater then took the lead. Cummings’ blocked shot fell for Salmon, who teed up Nicol to power in the visitors’ third.

Armadale threw bodies forward looking for a leveller and paid the price as Salmon countered late on and won City a penalty.

Nicol stepped up to score his second in the eighth minute of stoppage time and a valuable three points on the road.

Star Player: Hayden Stevens (Cockburn)

Armadale 2 (Andres 12min, Stenqvist 29′)
Bayswater City 4 (Griffiths 27′, Smith 55′, Nicol 79′, pen 90+8′)

Saturday, 14 March 2020
Alfred Skeet Reserve
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Shane Skinner

Armadale: GK: Sam Hutchings, 4. Nathan COSTELLO, 5. Ali Nazary, 7. Joshua CORTES, 8. Brian PATTERSON, 11. Chad NILSON, 12. Dannie RICHMAN, 13. Blake ADAMS, 14. Sebastian STENQVIST (10. Roberto SOARES 67′), 17. Angel ANDRES (20. Pieter JACOBSZ 82′), 18. Kevin ASHWOOD.
Unused substitutes: RGK: Blake HENSHALL, 21. Fillipo GIOFFRE
Yellow cards: Patterson 42′, Nilson 48′
Red cards: Nilson 77′

Bayswater City: GK: Devon SPENCE, 5. David STOKOE (30. Matt SPARROW 72′) , 6. Todd HOWARTH, 7. Daryl NICOL, 8. Gordon SMITH, 9. Gustavo MARULANDA (14. Gomo DUKULY 67′), 10. Jason MIRCO (11. Ryan PEARSON 67′), 12. Steve HESKETH, 18. Brent GRIFFITHS, 22. Luke SALMON, 29. Dean CUMMINGS.
Unused substitutes: 21. Kenny KEOGH, 22. Hamish VAN DIEKEN.
Yellow cards: Mirco 19′, Dukuly 74′
Red cards: Smith 58′