Saturday’s Men’s State League Division One action kicked off on an emotional note as Forrestfield United hosted Fremantle City in a tribute match dedicated to the late Rod Banjac.
A pipe band welcomed both teams onto the pitch as well as players from Perth Glory and Kalamunda United in front of a large crowd at a sunny Hartfield Park.
On the field, Forrestfield and Fremantle City played out a goalless draw which moves United a point closer to league leaders Western Knights, while the visitors stay in mid-table with a fifth draw of the season.
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Knights suffered a first defeat of the season as Mandurah City recorded a 2-0 win at Nash Field to move into third place.
Joseph O’Brien scored his fifth goal in four games to get the in-form visitors off to a flyer on 10 minutes.
Mandurah made the game safe when John Baird scored his fourth goal of the season two minutes after the restart to extend City’s unbeaten run to six games.
Elsewhere, Olympic Kingsway came from behind with three goals in 11 first half minutes helping them down UWA Nedlands 5-2.
Iwvananji Simbile gave UWA the lead after just five minutes, but Chris Balazs hit back four minutes later to square the ledger with his first goal of the season.
Moments later Kingsway took the lead through skipper Luke Palmateer and they led 3-1 after 20 minutes when Gyles Davies scored his seventh goal in eight games.
The visitors have won all four of their away fixtures prior to Saturday’s clash and they locked away another three points with second half strikes from Keylun Pollard and Ajak Riak in the space of 60 seconds.
Thomas White came off the bench to score a consolation, but it mattered little as UWA remained eighth in the standings.
Richard Howles scored twice against former club Joondalup United as Quinns FC ran out 5-1 winners at Gumblossom Park.
Howles hit 16 NPL WA goals for United back in 2017 and gave his old team a reminder of his goalscoring prowess when he made it 2-0 following Jamie Stewart’s 14th minute opener.
Joe Tweats and Brent Quick added goals in the shadows of half-time to all but seal the points and Joondalup United’s task was made even harder in first half stoppage time when Jamie Gibson was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Former Perth SC and ECU Joondalup striker Howles completed his brace on 66 minutes to make it 5-0 before a late own goal from Cameron Stratton gave United scant consolation.
Gavin Knight’s hat-trick helped Stirling Lions collect their first away victory of the season in a 4-1 win at Swan United.
Lions had to be patient in the opening half, but the experienced Knight struck twice in the final six minutes to give the visitors a two-goal cushion at the break.
Another former Balcatta striker, Nicholas Challot, made it 3-0 midway through the second half before Knight secured his treble four minutes from the end for his eighth goal of 2020.
Brendan Knox opened his tally for the season with a late goal, but Swan remain bottom while Stirling lift themselves up to ninth with victory.
Subiaco drew level with Ashfield in the league table after a 3-0 win at Rosalie Park.
After a goalless first half, Ben Johns, Joshua Booysen and Shay Donovan struck for Subiaco.
Murdoch University Melville moved to the summit of the Men’s State League Division Two with a 1-0 win over Carramar Shamrock Rovers at Grandis Park.
Both teams went in to the top-of-the-table clash in fine form, with MUM FC winning their previous four while hosts Rovers were unbeaten in four.
But it was the visitors who took home the three points thanks to skipper Mark Lucas’ goal six minutes from time.
It was a big result for the new leaders with the rest of the top five dropping points on Saturday afternoon.
Wanneroo City led 2-0 in the first half of their clash with Gosnells FC thanks to goals from Flynn Nolan and Simon Burt but were pegged back by strikes from Feisal Zaw and Jordan Parfitt.
Nolan then scored his seventh of the season on the hour mark to make it 3-2 for Roos, only for Zaw to complete his brace and make it three-all with a little over 10 minutes to play.
Then, in the second minute of stoppage time Alan Carroll popped up to give Gosnells FC a dramatic late winner and seal a third win in four games.
Joondalup City also slipped up as they twice had to come from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Kelmscott Roos.
Amos Doegolia Junior opened the scoring on 35 minutes with his fifth of the season for the Roos before Nicholas Koefler levelled three minutes before the break.
Arthur Gaye’s goal early in the second half gave the hosts a strong chance of winning their third game of 2020, but Luke Doyle’s second goal of the season with eight minutes remaining salvaged a point for City.
Elsewhere, Canning City pulled level on points with Dianella White Eagles after a 2-1 win, Dejan Andric and Kristian Despotovski both scored twice as Balga won 6-3 away at bottom-side Curtin, while Kingsley Westside played out a 1-1 draw with Morley Windmills in the late kick off.
Filed Under: Men's State League