Dianella back top after Joondalup beat UWA
DIVISION ONE
Joondalup City kept alive their State League Division One title hopes after defeating frontrunners UWA Nedlands 1-0.
Third-placed City closed the gap on the leading pair to six points with their Round 16 victory, while UWA dropped to second having won once in their past four matches.
The game’s only goal came on 72 minutes when Cameron Stratton’s corner was headed in at the back post by skipper Liam Peacock.
Joe Smith saved a late free-kick from Sam Ince as Uni threw numbers forward to rescue an equaliser, but it did not arrive as this season’s back-and-forth title race continued.
That result opened the door for Dianella White Eagles to return to the top in Saturday’s late kick-off, which they did despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Murdoch University Melville.
Franc Gamiz Quer opened the scoring on 66 minutes when Murdoch failed to clear their lines from a corner and the defender drove home through a sea of bodies.
MUM FC levelled six minutes later thanks to a stunning free-kick from veteran striker Gustavo Marulanda. Dianella hit the bar twice in the final minutes in their search for a winner, yet despite dropping two points they went top on goal difference. MUM FC are four points off the play-offs.
Rounding out the top four are Kingsley Westside, who picked up a 2-0 victory at Kalamunda City to maintain their promotion charge.
Max Adamson’s hot streak in front of goal continued as he raced clear from Paul Stewart’s pass and finished with aplomb. That put Kingsley a goal up at the break and they doubled their lead when Raeez Pandor’s cross from the right went in via the post. Adamson and Kalamunda’s Gaston Bazet were later shown red cards as both sides finished with 10 men.
Kalamunda remain just above the drop zone while Kingsley are a point clear of fifth-placed Gwelup Croatia, who defeated bottom side Gosnells City 3-0 on the road.
Jeremie Mba sidestepped a defender and slotted into the bottom corner to give Gwelup the lead at the interval. Christos Vaenas headed in Jai Rawling’s cross to extend Gwelup’s advantage and late on substitute Diego Roman pinched the ball off Blake Perrin and raced clear to score.
DIVISION ONE RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Elsewhere, Mandurah City eased their relegation fears and moved to within five points of the promotion play-off places with a 2-1 win over Inglewood United.
The visitors led late in the first half when Dean Hurley’s free-kick was headed into his own net by Liam Bonner. Mandurah were awarded a penalty just before the hour mark when Steve Hesketh was fouled by Jordan Brown. Brown was sent off having picked up his second yellow card with Robbie Galvin dispatching the spot kick for 1-1. And it went from bad to worse for Inglewood as Mandurah won it in the 92nd minute with Galvin crossing for Craig Barker to volley home.
Filip Minic also picked up a late second yellow card as Inglewood ended the game with nine men and remain second bottom.
Finally, Curtin University pulled four points clear of danger courtesy of a 2-1 victory against Subiaco, their third win in four matches.
It was a case of third time lucky for Curtin when they hit the front on 54 minutes. Rowan Steed and Ronal Onek both hit the post before Kieran Witt followed in to score. Mackenzie Snooks’ volleyed pass then reached Onek who ran into double the visitors lead midway through the second half.
David Micevski headed in Dean Evans’ free- kick with 18 minutes left, but Subi lost for the third time in a row and slid into the league’s bottom half.
DIVISION TWO
Quinns returned to the top of the second division on goal difference after a 4-0 win over Wembley Downs.
James Oldroyd, Andrew Flint, Ben Johns and Tyler Holden all netted as Nick Jennings’ side moved level on points with Cockburn City, while also having a game in hand on their title rivals.
The lead changed hands after Cockburn fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to play-off chasing Balga.
Silver Kelder and Bleron Mamudi had the visitors two up early doors before Rory McGrath pulled one back on the quarter hour mark.
Jigme Tenzin restored Balga’s two-goal cushion which proved to be enough, despite a late scare provided by Andrew Rankin’s goal for the hosts.
Balga are now one point off fourth-placed Forrestfield United, who lost 3-0 at third-placed East Perth. It was a fourth win in five for East Perth, who were ahead in the opening period through Gavin Dillon. Andy Keogh scored twice in added time to seal victory.
DIVISION TWO RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Colm Costello’s team remain firmly in the title race as they sit two points behind the leading duo, while Forrestfield’s loss leaves them exposed to the chasing pack.
Carramar Shamrock Rovers are one of those looking to swoop in on a play-off place after they came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Wanneroo City.
Roos were rolling courtesy of a Kieran Harrison own goal and David Dimola’s effort, before two goals for Harrison at the right end and Cameron Hendy-Munford’s winner completed the turnaround.
At the bottom, Ashfield are now three games without defeat after beating fellow strugglers Rockingham City 2-1. Nathan Scully got both goals in the win as Ashfield moved out of the bottom two at the expense of their opponents.
Bottom side Swan also pulled level with Rockingham after picking up a point in a 2-2 draw with Canning City. Brennan Borzecki pulled one back after Canning led 2-0 through Greg Burns and Mason Langham. The visitors then went down to nine men following red cards to Burns and Paul Leask, with Henry Todd’s 89th-minute equaliser earning Swan a point.
