Report by Peter Simcox

Bayswater City midfielder Paul McCarthy went from zero to hero in the space of the two minutes in their entertaining 3-2 win against Inglewood United at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Irish midfielder McCarthy lost possession in the middle of the park, and Inglewood went on to level the scores at 2-2 in stoppage time. But some individual brilliance moments later saw McCarthy score the winner and send players, coaches and supporters into a frenzy, and keep City’s 100% start to the NPL intact.

Brian Farrell gave the home side the lead at the break, but Jarrad McNally levelled early in the second half. Sahr Musa put City back in front with nine minutes remaining, before Inglewood levelled again through Ryan Francis.

McCarthy was pleased to be able to rescue his side after his mistake.

“First half we were quite comfortable and couldn’t extend the lead, but we gave away two goals, me the second one, and we thought that was the game and we’d lost the two points,” he said.

“But luckily I dug them out at the death and some redemption for myself.

“Their keeper (Luke Martino) kept them in the game in the first half with some stunning saves, but we have to have a look at ourselves with our finishing and we could have put the game out of reach, but it wasn’t to be.”

Bayswater coach Chris Coyne was happy to get out of the game with a win, but thought they should have been out of sight much earlier.

“The game should have been dead and buried at half time in my opinion, we dominated 70% of possession and played some great stuff, and if you take your chances the game would be over, but we didn’t,” he said.

“We paid for it in the second half and when it got back to 2-2 it looked like we’d thrown two-points away, but I’ve got a team of champions in there, they proved that last year and they showed it again today.”

Bayswater were out of the blocks early and went close to the opener after only two minutes. Todd Howarth’s cross picked out Danny Dixon at the back post, his first-time volley was superbly saved by Martino.

But on 16 minutes their pressure told with the lead. Inglewood defender Shane Pickering was caught in possession by Farrell on the edge of the penalty area and he raced forward and fired low past Martino from 12 yards.

The visitors opened the second half well and Devon Spence had to be alert to save from Francis early, and on 56 minutes they were level. Francis made space down the right and with the Bayswater defence looking for the offside flag which never came, his low shot was well-saved by Spence, but the rebound fell to McNally who fired home..

Inglewood were now on top and Greg Sharland’s long-range shot was saved low by Spence, before City skipper Trent Kay produced a superb last-ditch tackle to deny Ryan Clarke.

But somewhat against the run of play, City regained the lead on 81 minutes. Jamie Coyne played the ball forward but a slip from Inglewood defender Connor Devlin let in Burton, who crossed to the back post and Musa, who had been on the pitch for just four minutes, was jogging on the spot to fire home from close range.

It looked like two mistakes from young defenders would cost Inglewood the points, but in the second minute of stoppage time they found a stunning equaliser. McCarthy lost possession in the middle of the park and Clarke raced clear and crossed to Francis, who cut inside Kay and fired home from the edge of the penalty area.

The home crowd were stunned but two minutes later they were celebrating with a piece of McCarthy magic. Damien Catalano’s cross picked out the midfielder, whose sublime first touch and shot on the turn flew into the net to give City the win, and set off pandemonium in the crowd and the home side dug out.   

Bayswater City 3 (Farrell 16’, Musa 81’, McCarthy 94’)
Inglewood United 2 (McNally 56’, Francis 92’)
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Venue – Frank Drago Reserve
Attendance – 300
Referee – Steven Gregory
Assistants – Tim Mihevc and Walter Ciotto

Bayswater City – GK Devon SPENCE, 3 Adam BACHILLER, 6 Todd HOWARTH (17 Sahr MUSA 77’), 8 Paul McCARTHY, 12 Steve BURTON, 13 Trent KAY, 14 Danny DIXON (10 Damien CATALANO 63’), 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie COYNE, 18 James ISAIA (5 Andrew REALE 91’), 23 Chris SALDARIS

Substitutes not used - RGK Joel DRISCOLL, 2 Declan HARGREAVES
Yellow Cards – McCarthy 92’

Inglewood United - GK Luke MARTINO, 2 Joe PULLELLA, 4 Shane PICKERING, 6 Ryan FRANCIS, 9 Ryan CLARKE, 10 Greg SHARLAND, 11 David SESAY (5 Paddy DOYLE 92’), 14 Jarrad MCNALLY (8 Henock BUTSHIIRE 90’), 16 Sean BROWNE, 18 Jason COLLI, 19 Connor DEVLIN

Subs not used:  GK Jake LUIK, 3 Endalk ACHAMYELEH,  21 Ryan TREACY
Yellow Card - Nil