Byrne, Howles lead Kingsway charge
The top four sides in the Men’s State League Division One all won on Saturday afternoon with Olympic Kingsway maintaining their five-point lead at the top following a 6-0 win over Joondalup United.
A first-half flurry did the job on a wet and windy afternoon across the local grounds in Round 15. Ciaran Byrne tapped in Ewan Fawcett’s cross after seven minutes, before Richard Howles doubled the lead with a sensational strike against his former side.
It was 3-0 on 20 minutes with Byrne making it 11 for the season and moving to within a goal of Mandurah City’s Joe O’Brien in the Golden Boot race.
The scoring didn’t stop there as Howles lobbed in his second from David Perich’s perfect pass and then James Fanelli slotted a fifth before the interval.
Nick Koefler got in on the act after the break with a header from Calum O’Connell’s corner and that completed the scoring for Olympic’s eighth win in nine.
Western Knights remain the closest chaser with their game in hand, as they needed only the one goal to defeat Murdoch University Melville at Besteam Stadium.
Lucas Triglavcanin got the winner on 82 minutes after he stayed onside to arrive onto John Chalmers’ cross and volley home from inside the area.
There was a goal glut at Hilton Park for Fremantle City, though, as they defeated Quinns 8-1 at Hilton Park.
Three goals in the first eight minutes ignited City towards the emphatic scoreline, with Riley Van Dieken finishing Harry Hall’s cross in magnificent fashion for the opener. Hamza Hina then tapped in at the second attempt for 2-0 and then chested-and-volleyed in from inside the area to make it three.
An own goal continued the scoring for Freo, but Michael Currie’s first of the season gave Quinns something to shout about in the shadows of half time.
Things got worse in the second half, however, with City piling on four more goals for a fifth win in six outings. Van Dieken placed his second of the day into the bottom corner, before Gavin Knight looping header brought up a half dozen.
Brian Patterson’s shot deflected off Jackson Dongray with 15 minutes remaining for 7-1 and Adam Carlino came off the bench to roll in an eighth and complete the scoring.
Fourth-placed Mandurah came from one down to win 3-1 at UWA Nedlands thanks to two goals from O’Brien which took his tally to 12 for the campaign.
Samuel Moffatt struck UWA into the lead two minutes after half-time, but O’Brien latched onto a header 14 minutes later to roll in for 1-1.
The striker then headed in from close range to turn the tide in the Dolphins’ favour, before Charles Breen capitalised on a defensive mix up to add a third late on.
Elsewhere, Rockingham City and Subiaco played out a six-goal thriller with both teams earning a point in a 3-3 draw.
Adrian Manno’s first of the season kickstarted the visitors into life, but Rockingham had won their last three and equalised through Ryan Kennedy’s thumping long-range strike.
Robbie Galvin’s gorgeous free-kick made it 2-1 in the second half, but it was Subiaco’s turn to fire back when Ethan Johnson lashed high into the net after Jason Stepanovski’s free kick was saved.
The hosts took a step towards winning when Harry Geeves headed in Galvin’s corner, but Subi had another answer when Emmanuel Langoya picked out the bottom corner via the post.
Dianella’s home fixture with Forrestfield was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and will be replayed at a later date.
In Division Two, it’s as you were at the top of the league as Carramar Shamrock Rovers bounced back from last week’s loss to Balga to defeat Curtin University 4-0.
Jamie Gibson scored twice in the first half to take his tally to 15 goals in 15 games this season, with Thomas Forbes and Daniel Pearce netting after the break.
Gosnells City remain a point behind in second place with a game in hand after they beat Canning City 3-1 in a match which was abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch. James Burns was again the star for Gosnells with a hat-trick for the second successive week.
Balga backed up their win at leaders Carramar last weekend by holding third-place Kingsley Westside to a 1-1 draw. Luke Doyle’s 69th minute goal for Kingsley cancelled out Jimmy Taban’s first-half opener.
With third and fourth dropping points, Joondalup City moved into inter-divisional play-off contention following a 2-1 win over Swan United.
Brad Hayward’s side trail Curtin on goal difference only thanks to an 86th minute winner from Brad Burgess. Swan’s John Monterosso had earlier cancelled out James Veness’ screamer in the first half, but not for the first time this season United were undone by a late goal.
Elsewhere, Wanneroo City built on their midweek win over Kingsley Westside with a 2-2 draw at Ashfield.
James Sammut put Ashfield ahead, only for Greg Greenwood and Daragh Kavanagh to flip the script in Wanneroo’s favour. But Kurtiss Allen-Nash ensured the home side would come away with a draw which extended their unbeaten run to three games.
Bottom club South West Phoenix’s fixture with Morley Windmills in Bunbury was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.