Stanmore scored early when Albero Parea found speedster Tim Wohlfiel and his cross was met by Peter Yannopoulos for a tap in.
Bankstown’s potent attack then started to make inroads testing the league’s best defence led by Sam Awad and Oliver Stickland.
Then 30 minutes in, a mistimed tackle resulted in Bankstown equalising from the penalty spot and they should have been in front a minute later but were thwarted by a spectacular save from Nick Carosi.
Jonah Carragher picked his defender’s pocket in stoppage time and found the feet of Yannopoulos who finished well for a 2-1 half time lead.
Stanmore started the second half with Connor Quilligan and Nathan Niski dominating the middle allowing marksman Jovan Blagojevic to turn his defender and finish in style for a 3-1 lead.
Angus Chance then took control to ensure Blagojevic got a well-deserved hat-trick when he crossed superbly for the skipper to head in after winning a penalty in extra time.
Stanmore are away to Sydney Uni next week, knowing that a draw or a win will secure the title and the club’s first ever, exciting win in that division.
Hawks need win or draw to swoop to title
WITH just two rounds to go in the NPL3, Stanmore took on second placed Bankstown City and came away with an emphatic 5-2 victory.