Pictured: Bayswater City's Jamie Coyne and Subiaco's Mitch Steinberg in action. Photo: Peter Simcox

Report by Peter Simcox

Bayswater City coach Chris Coyne was disappointed with his side's second-half defending despite opening the defence of their PS4 NPL WA title with a 3-1 win against Subiaco.

The home side led 3-0, with first half goals to new signing Hayden Doyle, Damian Catalano, and a second-half header from Chris Saldaris, before gifting Matt Akehurst a consolation.

“We got sloppy in the second half," Coyne said. "(We had) tired legs (and) tired minds. I'll watch the tape and we’ll go from there, but we need to do better.

“The pitch was spongy... we tired near the end, and we made some poor decisions. If they had scored again it would have been a close finish. So (it's) a good result but a disappointing performance."

But going forward Bayswater looked outstanding with the overlapping Sam Mitchinson and midfielders Todd Howarth and Doyle in control on his debut.

“He had a mediocre start in the Night Series and he would tell you that himself," Coyne said of Doyle. "But he is a cracking player, and he is a great lad to have a round the group and he will only get better for us.

“We played some great stuff going forward. Heagney and Marulanda combined well and we looked dynamic going forward at pace, and we will test a few back fours this season.”

Subiaco had the first chance in a fast start as Devon Spence had to be alert to deny Jackson Darnell's shot after only three minutes.

Bayswater then saw defender Saldaris’ shot crash off the base of a post, and moments later Jamie Coyne’s long-range shot also hit the frame of the goal.

But on 10 minutes the home side made the break-through when Doyle raced clear from Paul McCarthy’s through ball and fired low past Ryan Montgomery.

The home side continued to press and Saldaris headed over five minutes later, before Montgomery saved well to deny Mitchinson.

Bayswater’s dominance was rewarded in first-half stoppage time with a second goal. Doyle burst down the right and pulled the ball back to Catalano who fired home from the edge of the penalty area.

Bayswater made it 3-0 ten minutes into the second half, Saldaris rising high at the back post to head home David Heagney’s corner.

After conceding, Subiaco changed their formation and they were back in the game on 66 minutes. Danny Miller and Josh Booysen combined to feed Akehurst who fired past Spence.

Holes began to appear at the back for Bayswater and Spence was called into action on a number of occasions, while James Oliver headed over when unmarked in the box.

Bayswater continued to look dangerous on the attack and they hit the woodwork again on 80 minutes, this time through Doyle.

Chris Saldaris was satisfied with Bayswater's start to the season.

“We didn’t do well in the Night Series so it was good to come out and get the win in the first league game,” he said.

Bayswater City 3 (Doyle 10 mins, Catalano 45+1, Saldaris 55)
Subiaco AFC 1 (Akehurst 66 mins)
Saturday 28th March 2015
Frank Drago Reserve, Bayswater
Referee: Stuart Muldoon
Assistants: Marcus Watts and Adrien Liechti

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 5 Andy REALE (13 Trent KAY 72’), 6 Todd HOWARTH (c), 7 Hayden DOYLE (2 Aaron DELANEY 87’), 8 Paul MCCARTHY, 9 Gustavo GIRON-MARULANDA, 10 Damien CATALANO (12 Steve BURTON 66’), 16 Jamie COYNE, 20 Sam MITCHINSON, 21 David HEAGNEY, 23 Chris SALDARIS
Subs not used: RGK Jason SALDARIS
Yellow Cards: Nil

Subiaco AFC: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 2 Nathan DIAZ (c), 4 Jackson DONGRAY, 5 Mitch STEINBERG, 6 Danny MILNE, 7 Gojam NYUON, (3 Ger FITZGERALD 56’), 8 Kevin WHITE (14 James OLIVER 80’), 9 Ian MCMURRAY, 10 Matt AKEHURST, 11 Josh BOOYSEN, 16 Jackson DARNELL (15 Alex TRIGLAVCANIN
66’)
Subs not used: RGK Anastis FARSAKAS
Yellow Cards: Nil