RedStar are pulling away as Richard Garcia begins new Olympic era in dramatic fashion

Perth RedStar are starting to look like the real deal in NPL WA. Five straight wins. Five points clear on top of the table.

And suddenly the league leaders are building breathing space.

RedStar continued their dominant run with a gritty 1-0 win over Armadale in Joondalup, where Gordon Smith’s first-half penalty proved enough to separate the sides.

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For Armadale, the defeat dropped them back to the bottom of the standings.

Elsewhere, all eyes were on Olympic Kingsway and the beginning of a new era under former Socceroo Richard Garcia.

Just days after the shock departure of treble-winning coach David Tough, Garcia oversaw his first game in interim charge, but Olympic were denied victory in heartbreaking fashion.

Despite taking the lead through Liam Boland and appearing on course for all three points against 10-man Fremantle City, Olympic conceded a late injury-time equaliser in a dramatic 2-2 draw.

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Fremantle, meanwhile, continue to specialise in stalemates, with half of their league matches this season now ending level.

Perth Glory also made a statement in the title race as Louis Sollitt struck eight minutes from time to secure a 1-0 win over title-chasing Bayswater City.

Western Knights climbed back into the top four after beating Stirling Macedonia 2-1 in a crucial clash between fifth and fourth.

And Perth Azzurri left it late too, snatching a 2-1 away victory over Sorrento.

At the bottom end of the table, Balcatta Etna moved off last place after a dramatic 3-2 win away to Dianella White Eagles, their first away triumph of the season.