Carramar Shamrock Rovers are heading to State League Division One after a dramatic final day of the regular season.
It was a three-way fight for the Division Two title going into Saturday’s Round 22 fixtures, with Wembley Downs top on goal difference from Rovers, while Rockingham City were third, two points adrift.
Wembley knew a win at Balga would likely be enough to see them go up as champions. Carramar, who were at Kalamunda City, had to better Wembley’s result. As for Rockingham, they needed to beat Canning City, and for the two teams above them to lose, if they were to pull off an unlikely heist.
In the end, only Carramar were good enough to get their required result. Adam Walsh’s side got off to the ideal start with Lewis Jones opening the scoring inside five minutes. And with Wembley losing at Balga, the celebrations really started when Ravi Raj Singh doubled their lead seven minutes from time to secure a 2-0 win.
Just like Rovers, Wembley went ahead early thanks to Toby Robertson’s seventh-minute effort. But Balga, who were locked in a two-way battle with Kalamunda for a spot in the play-offs, were back on terms soon after through Jose Zuniga. And five minutes into the second half, Finn Wilson Pidgeon scored what proved to be the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory.
Rockingham will no doubt have been relieved that Carramar won, otherwise they would have been reflecting on what might have been after losing 1-0 at home to Canning City. Hanani Ndebele got the only goal just after the hour.
While Carramar now plan for life in the first division, Wembley, Rockingham and Balga are preparing for the inter-divisional play-offs, which start this Saturday. Rockingham take on Wembley in the two-legged semi-finals while Balga meet Subiaco, who finished second bottom in Division One.
Canning’s win ensured they will play State League football once more next season. But there was bad news for Gosnells City, who lost 4-3 at Forrestfield United and now face automatic relegation to the Amateur Premier Division.
Gosnells began the day second from bottom and led on 10 minutes through Darren Francis. And though Austin Reynolds quickly equalised, the hosts were soon back in front when Aaron Coslani struck.
But it then went downhill for Gosnells, as former Armadale skipper Nathan Costello struck twice before half-time and Davin Park added a fourth 11 minutes into the second period. James Burns grabbed one back for Gosnells, but it wasn’t enough.
That meant Gosnells were left relying on North Beach to fail to beat Ashfield if they were to grab the lifeline of the play-offs. However, it was North Beach who received assistance in the shape of an own goal, scored by the unfortunate Marc Hill. The 1-0 win saw North Beach set for a possible play-off and a chance to avoid an immediate return to Sunday football.
In Saturday’s other game, East Perth beat Morley Windmills 2-1. A Gerard Clark penalty put the home side in front before the break, and they doubled the lead when substitute Adam McLaughlin struck. Noel Disha pulled a goal back for Windmills from the spot a minute from time as both sides ended the campaign clear of danger.
Inter-divisional play-offs
Saturday 5 September
NPL/Division One semi-finals, first leg
Joondalup City v Armadale (3pm)
Mandurah City v UWA Nedlands (5.15pm)
Division One/Division Two semi-finals, first leg
Subiaco v Balga (3pm)
Rockingham City v Wembley Downs (3.30pm)
Saturday 12 September
NPL/Division One semi-finals, second leg
Armadale v Joondalup City (3pm)
UWA Nedlands v Mandurah City (3pm)
Division One/Division Two semi-finals, second leg
Balga v Subiaco (3pm)
Wembley Downs v Rockingham City (5pm)
