Dean Cummings scored four times as Sorrento FC won 5-1 against Joondalup United to open a three-point lead at the top of State League Division One after 12 rounds.
This is the third time this season Cummings has scored four in a game, his latest haul giving unbeaten Sorrento a 10th win from 12 matches. United remain in the bottom half.
There was an early surprise in store at Percy Doyle Reserve as Nick Jennings’ side led on eight minutes. Jack Taylor’s shot was blocked after good work from Tyler Holden, but the ball broke kindly for Jamie Gardiner to set himself and finish emphatically on eight minutes.
The lead lasted only 10 minutes as Cummings bundled in Neil Kilkenny’s corner to tie it up, and the duo combined again soon after when former Perth Glory midfielder Kilkenny picked out the Scot at the back post.
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Cummings planted high in the net from another Kilkenny assist to complete a treble with two additional goals putting some gloss on the scoreline. Cummings’ fourth came from the penalty spot before Luke Salmon added the exclamation mark in stoppage following Andrew Maranta's run and back-heel as the Gulls continued on their merry way.
Second-place Dianella White Eagles had the chance to cut the gap back to one point but they were held 1-1 at Mandurah City on Saturday.
Dianella broke the deadlock on 65 minutes when Andy Keogh was fouled on the edge of the area and then fired home the free-kick with pace and precision.
But Mandurah earned a draw in the final 10 minutes as John Baird found Shaun Mukwevho who turned around the corner for Ben Gallagher to rifle in first time.
The Dolphins are four points away from the inter-divisional play-offs, while Dianella's lead over third place is now six points after Murdoch University Melville prevailed in a seven-goal thriller away to Kingsley Westside.
MUM FC's Ilyas Ahmedov burst in behind the home defence to run in one-on-one and confidently finish past Peter Stewart as the visitors made the perfect start on four minutes.
But their lead didn’t last long as Nick Koefler’s long throw was cleared only as far as Aston Montgomery who volleyed in spectacularly from outside the box.
Chad Samuels pinched the ball and squared for Shane Hulgraine to put the in-form hosts in front, but MUM FC bounced back when Pat Sara slipped in Declan Tanna to finish with aplomb.
Kingsley led again just before half-time when Daniel Harrison drove through midfield and nudged through for Hulgraine to roll home his second of the afternoon. But their hopes of extending their unbeaten run to six games came unstuck after the interval.
First Adam Fields headed in Ed Wynne-Willson’s corner, before Sara and Tanna again linked up for the latter to drill a low left-footed effort past Stewart.
Elsewhere, UWA Nedlands won 3-0 at Gosnells City to take the upper hand in the race for fourth place.
Richie Abrams’ side led on six minutes when Sebastian Hooshangian’s effort landed at the feet of Jed Afenyo, who reacted quickly to rattle in the opener.
Gosnells were reduced to 10 men when captain Scott Pereira was shown a red card midway through the first half. The hosts battled hard, but UWA were able to put the game away in the final 10 minutes.
Luke Salas’ wonderful pass was received and dispatched into the net by Afenyo, who made it 10 goals for the season. Then the visitors countered from a Gosnells corner with Toby Robertson pushing through for Salas to slot in.
Nedlands are now three points clear of fifth place Subiaco after they lost 1-0 to Gwelup Croatia, who in turn boosted their play-off hopes at Rosalie Park.
The game’s decisive moment came just past the 90-minute mark when Jeremie Mba beat goalkeeper Conor Hogan to a long ball forward. The former Perth SC forward touched it past the goalkeeper and rolled into a vacant net, despite the best efforts of a retreating Subiaco defender.
Finally, Cockburn City pulled three points clear of danger with a 1-0 win over bottom side Rockingham City.
Anthony Skorich’s nod down to Thomas Maycock-Hansen was laid off for Harry O’Brien to score the winning ball.
In Division Two, Kalamunda City are now five points clear at the top after a 3-0 win over Quinns at Maida Vale Reserve.
It was Ian Ferguson’s first game in his second stint at the northern suburbs club having recently parted ways with NPL side Stirling Macedonia. Jose Zuniga scored either side of the break for the leaders before Nicolas Pardo’s late goal as the hosts extended their unbeaten streak to seven games, while Quinns remain in the bottom half.
Kalamunda’s cushion at the top was extended thanks in part to a 1-1 draw between Joondalup City and Forrestfield United.
Lucas Reid’s goal just after the restart was cancelled out by defender John Philippidis’ goal nine minutes from the end as both sides remain in the inter-divisional play-off places.
They sit second and fourth while East Perth also lost ground on the leaders and stay third having being held to a 1-1 draw by bottom side Wanneroo City.
Ryan McCready’s fantastic form in front of goal continued with a 13th goal of the season in the first half, but Aaron Louttit’s equaliser before the interval earned a point for Roos as they built on last week’s first win of the season.
Wanneroo are now only four points adrift at the bottom after second-bottom Carramar Shamrock Rovers were thrashed 5-1 at Ashfield, who pulled clear of danger.
Gareth Hamilton’s opener was cancelled out by Phil O’Callaghan, but it was all Ashfield after that as goals from Ben Entwistle, Dean Kezurer, Anthony Orobio and RaviRaj Singh ensured a big win which moved James Sammut’s side moved up to seventh.
Elsewhere in the bottom half, Swan United and Canning City shared the points in a 1-1 draw as both sides maintained distance above the relegation play-off spot.
Jake Fritchley opened the scoring for the home side but they were pegged back by substitute Ben Godfrey’s leveller as the pair edged further away from the bottom two.
Finally, Curtin University closed in on the inter-divisional play-offs after a narrow 1-0 win over Balga in the fifth-versus-sixth encounter.
Kieran Witt’s 83rd minute goal decided matters at Edinburgh Oval and Curtin now sit just one point off fourth spot, while Balga remain within touching distance despite a first loss in four.