Ten-man Baysie down Glory

Bayswater City claimed an impressive 1-0 win against high-flying Perth Glory despite being down to 10 men for most of the match.

New Bayswater signing Brent Griffiths was sent off in the 28th minute for violent conduct, with his side already 1-0 in front through Jason Mirco’s strike.

Glory piled the pressure on the home side and went close to an equaliser on several occasions. But Bayswater’s gallant defence held firm to claim a well-fought victory.

Just three points separate Bayswater in sixth and second-place Inglewood United as the NPL WA season continues to heat up, although Satuday’s results mean Perth SC have a very handy eight-point lead at the top of the table.

The only goal of Saturday’s match came midway through the first half after Kenny Keogh found Mirco in the box and his shot at the near post deflected off Glory defender Luca Bodnar and into the back of the net.

But the dismissal of former Glory A-League player Griffiths shortly afterwards gave the young Perth side a numerical advantage they used well.

Striker Gabriel Popovic was first to go close to equalising but his header from Henry Hore’s corner whistled over the bar.

Daniel Stynes was next to threaten early in the second half after the dangerous Ethan Brooks whipped in a cross from the right but his header sailed wide.

Bayswater then had a break from defending and could have doubled their lead but Glory keeper Nicolas Speca made a great low diving save to keep out Keogh’s close-range effort.

Glory continued to push extra bodies forward in search of an equaliser in the second half but credit must be given to Bayswater’s rearguard.

The closest Glory came to an equaliser was in 74th minute through a free-kick from Hore but his curling effort rattled the crossbar.

The three points for Bayswater come after a brilliant 3-2 comeback win in the FFA Cup against Cockburn City, a side they face again next week in an important league clash for both sides.

Glory have slipped to third, a point behind Inglewood United whom they meet at E&D Litis Stadium next Saturday.

Star Player: Kristian Popovic (Perth Glory)

Bayswater City 1 (Mirco 22min)
Perth Glory 0
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Frank Drago Reserve
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Shane Skinner
Assistant referees: Troy Malatesta, Alexander Wright

Bayswater City: 1. Devon SPENCE, 10. Jason MIRCO (5. Adam HARRIS 66), 11. Ryan PEARSON (3. 73), 13. Trent KAY, 17. Daryl NICOL, 18. Brent GRIFFITHS, 19. Gordon SMITH, 20. Giordano COLLI, 21. Kenny KEOGH (24. Jake SARDELIC 84), 27. Ross MILLARD, 30. Adam TONG
Unused substitutes: 2. Declan HARGREAVES, 9. Gustavo GIRON
Yellow cards: Mirco 13, Smith 30, Keogh 32, Colli 78
Red cards: Griffiths 28

Stirling Lions: 1. Nicolas SPECA, 2. Zayd FARAH, 3. Jaidon SELDEN, 4. Luca BODNAR, 5. Nicholas WALSH, 6. Kristian POPOVIC, 7. Ethan BROOKS, 8. Jack LEECH (14. Gomo DUKULY 67), 9. Gabriel POPOVIC, 10. Daniel STYNES, 11. Henry HORE
Unused substitutes: 12. Jacob MUIR, 13. Josh SAMSON, 15. Liam MURRAY, 16. Jacob RANGE
Yellow cards: Speca 26, Brooks 77
Red cards: Nil