NPL WA Round 5 Wrap: Late Goals, Rising Stars and a Bayswater Juggernaut

James Stuart

Matchday 5 of the NPL WA had it all: teenage brilliance, last-gasp equalisers, red cards, and a continued march from the league leaders. With a third of the teams still unbeaten, another third winless, and drama across nearly every ground, the league is already shaping up for a fascinating 2025 campaign.

Despotovski’s Glory Day

The standout individual performance came at the expense of RedStar, where Perth Glory’s young gun Sebastian Despotovski ran riot. The 19-year-old bagged four goals in a stunning 5–0 demolition, announcing himself as one of the league’s most exciting prospects. Glory, still unbeaten, sit second with 14 points and a goal difference significantly boosted thanks to Despotovski’s breakout display.

Bayswater Blitz Continues

Top of the table and showing no signs of slowing down, Bayswater City maintained their perfect record with a 4–1 win over Armadale. Two early goals in the seventh and fifteenth set the tone, and while Armadale pulled one back, Bayswater were never truly troubled. Their record now stands at 5 wins from 5, with 15 points and a five-game winning streak that underscores their early title credentials.

Olympic Make a Statement

Olympic Kingsway also threw down a marker, comfortably dispatching Western Knights 3–0. After a hiccup in Round 2, Kingsway have strung together three straight wins and sit third, hot on the heels of Glory and Bayswater.

Perth SC and Floreat Serve Up Chaos

If anyone left Dorrien Gardens early, they missed one of the wildest finishes in recent memory. Floreat Athena struck early through a Noah Shamaki penalty in the 6th minute, but were forced to play nearly an hour with 10 men after Mohammed Al-Zaidy was sent off in the 32nd. Perth SC clawed back through Sean O’Connor in the 83rd, took the lead in stoppage time via Gordon Perkins (93’), only for Samuel Mapet-Riak to snatch a 99th-minute equaliser for Floreat.

The 2–2 draw leaves Perth SC in fourth with 11 points, while Floreat, who are still winless, remain 12th with just two points. Despite their fighting spirit, they’re in serious danger of falling adrift.

Stirling’s Smash-and-Grab, Fremantle and Sorrento Stall

Samuel Dweh’s 93rd-minute winner gave Stirling Macedonia a massive boost, edging out Balcatta 2–1 away from home. Stirling leap to 6th, while Balcatta remain just a point clear of the bottom. Meanwhile, Fremantle City and Sorrento played out a 1–1 draw that doesn’t do much for either side, both still winless and sitting on two points.

League Table Snapshot

Bayswater lead the way with a perfect 15 points, with Glory (14), Kingsway (12), and Perth SC (11) rounding out the finals spots. Armadale sit just outside on 8.

At the bottom, Floreat, Sorrento, and Fremantle all have just two points. Floreat’s inferior goal difference has them sitting in the automatic relegation spot for now.