Report by Tommy Doleman
Floreat Athena remain on course to win State League Division One after a 2-0 win over play-off hopefuls Kingsley Westside at E&D Litis Stadium.
Athena’s fourth win in a row keeps them four points clear of nearest challenger UWA Nedlands, while Kingsley’s hopes of extending their season for the second year in a row took a hit with this defeat.
Two goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half decided the Round 19 contest with Harvey Tomlison’s volley bobbling into the back of the net, before Harry Lewis’ cross was met at the near post by Josh Willis.
The match was unfortunately marred by a serious injury to Kingsley’s Neil Gillies, who was reported to be receiving medical care in hospital.
Elsewhere, UWA defeated Mandurah City 3-0 to inflict a first defeat on the Dolphins since Round Seven.
The league’s leading scorer Joe McInnes had Uni ahead on nine minutes when nodding in Sebastian Hooshangian’s cross from six yards.
Hooshangian assisted the second goal with a back-post delivery met by Mark Bauersachs’ thumping volley.
Billy Banda made it three within 30 seconds of coming off the bench, as he shrugged off a defender and rifled in to guarantee UWA a top four finish for the second season running.
Mandurah’s 11-game unbeaten run came to an end, but they remain third and a point clear of Joondalup City, who were upset 3-1 at home by 10th-placed Cockburn City.
Matt Bowen starred with a second-half hat-trick for Cockburn, who trailed at the break to Louis Hadfield’s piercing 18th-minute drive.
Bowen then turned the game on its head with two goals in as many minutes early in the second period. The first saw him wriggle away from Cameron Stratton and fire low into the net, before beating Joondalup goalkeeper Brett Corey at his near post with an effort on his right foot.
Bowen lashed home from outside the box for his treble, which ensured a huge win for the Cockerels as it means they are all but safe with a nine-point buffer on the bottom two with three games left.
City remain fourth and maintain their four-point cushion on the play-off chasers who could not take advantage of their slip-up.
Fifth-placed Inglewood United were set to close that gap but conceded twice in stoppage time to suffer a 3-2 defeat at Quinns.
It was a case of déjà vu at Stylish Park as Christos Vaenas and Paul Grant netted in injury time after Chad Samuels bagged a brace in similar fashion in the Round Nine reverse fixture.
Magai Deng opened the scoring on 18 minutes when stealing possession in midfield and surging towards goal before delivering a powerful finish.
Inglewood answered quickly and led at the break. Rostyn Griffiths’ perfectly weighted pass was lobbed in by Declan Hudson against his former side, before Ciaran Salinger glanced home from a Jake Nicholson corner.
At that point, Inglewood were closing in on the play-off places. But Quinns had other ideas and their added-time double has put them just a point behind their opponents with an outside shot of promotion themselves.
First, James Bosdet launched the ball forward, it was chested down by Ben Johns and finished by Christos Vaenas for 2-2. United goalkeeper Jordan Barbas was shown a second yellow card in the aftermath of the equaliser and Quinns took full advantage as Paul Grant slotted in as Inglewood failed to clear another long ball.
At the bottom of the league, Curtin University breathed life into their fight to avoid automatic relegation to Division Two with a 2-1 win over Murdoch University Melville.
Jake Ruxton fed a pass through for Declan Tanna, who calmly finished on 18 minutes, before skipper Jeffrey Ledwith made it two from close range after a nicely crafted Curtin move.
Ed Wynne-Willson nodded in from six yards to get one back for Murdoch, who are six points above the drop zone with three games left.
Curtin’s first victory in 10 games saw them close the gap to one point on second-bottom Subiaco, who were beaten 2-1 by Gwelup Croatia.
Robert Ferrante cashed in on a goalkeeping mistake to give Croatia the lead on 48 minutes, before Daniel Iuliano completed a terrific team move just past the hour mark to score what proved to be the winner.
Gwelup are now mathematically safe but it’s a different story for the visitors, despite Kaleb Morrison’s strike from distance after some impressive one-touch team play. Subi remain in the relegation play-off spot and are looking over their shoulder going into next week’s six-pointer with Curtin.
In Division Two, Wembley Downs are the new leaders on goal difference after cruising past East Perth 4-1 at Hudson Park.
Wembley led 3-0 after 38 minutes thanks to Toby Robertson’s opener and Ilya Nebylytsta’s double.
Ceilum Coughlan-Maher made it goals in back-to-back games, but Josh Chalmers cemented victory and a handy goal difference boost.
Carramar Shamrock Rovers are second after they defeated previous leaders Rockingham City 2-0. Jack Reilly and Wayne Guest got the goals in the final 20 minutes at Grandis Park as Rockingham dropped to third, two points behind the leading pair.
Forrestfield United also lost ground on the leaders and sit four points off top spot after being held 3-3 draw away at bottom side North Beach.
Eddie Garrido’s side were 3-1 up in the second half thanks Noah Appleby’s brace and Joshua Bell’s goal after Luke Wearing’s fifth-minute opener. But Luke Jones and Mark Bailey netted in the final 10 minutes to give Beach a handy point in their fight to stay up.
Forrestfield at least had the consolation of fellow play-off hopefuls Kalamunda City and Balga drawing 0-0 at Aero Ranger Reserve.
Ashfield ended a month-long losing run to go sixth as Taboka Ndebele came off the bench to give them a 3-2 win at Canning City. Ben Entwistle twice equalised in the game after goals from Seydou Bayal and Brian Mashingaidze.
Finally, Morley Windmills are all but safe after a 2-0 win over Gosnells City. Brennan Borzecki and Omar Osman struck in the final seven minutes to win it as Morley pass the 20-point mark, while Gosnells remain two points above the relegation zone and eight behind Windmills.
