Bayswater City on top of Australian Championship group

Bayswater City have secured their first away win in the Australian Championship, defeating former National Soccer League side Sydney Olympic 2-1 to jump to the top of their group.

It puts the back-to-back NPL WA champions in a prime position to advance to the knockout stages of the national second tier competition for the first time ahead of a home clash with Oakleigh Cannons this weekend.

City can put some distance between themselves and the NPL Victoria champions, who are second in the group on four points.

Sydney had the first real opportunity in their clash on Sunday, with a long ball over the top leading to a quick shot.

But after absorbing early pressure, as well as the heat, Bayswater began to find their rhythm.

Sydney were forced into a save in the 11th minute and the visitors took the lead four minutes later. A long ball forward was flicked on by the front line, allowing Chris Jackson to get the better of the last defender before calmly slotting home.

Jackson almost doubled his tally in the 19th minute when a pass from Cameron Teece found him in space but his effort narrowly missed the target.

But the double would come not long after when Jackson rose at the front post to head home from a corner in the 32nd minute.

He nearly completed his hat-trick just four minutes later but the opportunity went begging as Bayswater continued to dominate the closing stages of the first half.

Sydney emerged from the break with greater intent, enjoying more possession, with four consecutive corners in the 56th minute creating pressure.

Dimitrios Petratos came close to pulling one back in the 60th minute with a shot from just outside the penalty area.

Bayswater were content to retain possession rather than chase a third goal, while Sydney searched desperately for a breakthrough. A long-range effort from substitute Kaan Nizam in the 88th minute forced Italiano into an impressive save.

Seven minutes of added time gave Sydney one final opportunity to mount a comeback and the breakthrough finally arrived in the 96th minute when Moudi Najjar produced a superb finish for Sydney Olympic.

However, it proved too late as Bayswater held on for a hard-fought 2–1 victory.

City face the Cannons at Frank Drago Reserve at 3pm on Sunday.