Bayswater falls short of Victory
WA has just one club left in the FFA Cup after local league leaders Bayswater City were beaten 2-0 by Melbourne Victory at the WA Athletics Stadium tonight.
Goals either side of half-time from Kosta Barbarouses and Archie Thompson were enough for the A-League heavyweights to see off the brave Bayswater, who took the game to their more fancied opponents after the break.
The loss saw Bayswater bundled out of the nationwide knockout competition in the round of 32 with fellow NPL WA club Stirling Lions, who were beaten 4-0 by A-League champions Brisbane Roar on Tuesday.
Perth Glory are through to the round of 16, with the draw to be conducted on Friday.
Victory controlled the first half against Bayswater and made their dominance count when Barbarouses opened the scoring in the 23rd minute.
Bayswater didn’t test Victory goalkeeper Nathan Coe until late in the first half when David Heagney’s swerving long-range strike forced the gloveman to push the ball over the bar.
They looked threatening after the break, but were undone when Thompson found room in the box to calmly guide a shot past goalkeeper Devon Spence in the 76th minute.
Bayswater coach Chris Coyne said he was proud of his side’s efforts.
“I think we started really slow but the second half was indicative of what we’ve done all year,” Coyne said.
“Until they (Melbourne) got their second I thought we were just getting in control and grabbed the game by the throat, but that’s just how football is.
“They’ve got that much quality that as soon as they go forward they can score, but for a part-time outfit I thought we were thoroughly professional.”
Bayswater’s focus will now turn to the final round of the NPL WA regular season, where victory in their final match against Sorrento on Saturday will guarantee them the league title.
Only Perth SC, who sit two points behind Bayswater and visit Cockburn City in the final round, can catch the league leaders.
“The matches are all big at this time of the year and we’re really looking forward to going to Percy Doyle (Reserve),” Coyne said.
“Hopefully the wind tunnel isn’t on up there and we’ll go and enjoy it. It’s another game of football that we’re looking forward to.”
