Dianella White Eagles lead the way in State League Division One as their unbeaten start to 2024 was stretched to seven games with a 2-0 win over Subiaco.
Angel Andres Rivera’s side are two points clear of Sorrento FC, who are also yet to lose this year, while Murdoch University Melville remain a point further back.
Dianella went in front on 21 minutes when Mitchell Byrne got forward down the right, and as space continued to open up in front of him, the full-back took on the strike with a low hard effort across Conor Hogan.
Previously unbeaten Subiaco, who are now fourth, stayed in contention until the eighth minute of stoppage time when Roberto Soares’ shot beat the goalkeeper's dive and trickled into the bottom corner.
SEE SQUADI FOR STATE LEAGUE RESULTS, FIXTURES & TABLE
Sorrento kept pace with the leaders with a 3-0 win at mid-table Mandurah City for their fifth win of the campaign.
The Gulls struck the front five minutes before the interval when Hamza Hina capitalised on a mistake at the back before rounding the keeper to score.
Then two goals in the final five minutes finished the job. First, Dean Cummings followed in from Connor Simpson’s shot, before Simpson reacted quickest to a rebound from his own effort to make it three goals and three Sorrento points.
MUM FC are third as they returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory at Gosnells City.
Marc Anthony’s return to his former club started brilliantly with two goals in the first nine minutes. Ishmael Dawson struck a low left-footed effort before Patrick Sara slipped in Ed Wynne-Willson, who stayed onside to slot in for 2-0.
Gosnells halved the deficit with just under 20 minutes remaining as Darren Francis rose highest to head home Deng Dut’s free kick.
But hopes of a home comeback were dashed as MUM FC restored their two-goal lead moments later. Godfrey Asimwe latched onto a ball over the top and found the bottom corner to continue Murdoch’s strong start, while Gosnells sit a point clear of bottom side Cockburn City.
UWA Nedlands are fifth and are just outside the inter-divisional play-off zone following a 3-0 win away to Rockingham City.
The home side were reduced to 10 men in first-half added time when Joe Moss lunged in on Sebastian Hooshangian. That paved the way for UWA to take control after the restart and they broke through on 64 minutes when Sam Ince drove low across keeper Alec Radonich.
Ince made it 2-0 when finding himself through on goal and scoring at the second time of asking, having been initially denied by Radonich.
Jed Afenyo got the third late on with a superb long-range effort to make it back-to-back wins for Richie Abrams side, while Rockingham drop a place to 10th and are a point above the relegation play-off spot.
Joondalup United pushed into mid-table with a 3-1 win over Cockburn at Pentanet Stadium, their third win in four outings.
It did not look good early on for Nick Jennings’ side who trailed at half-time when a stray back-pass from Emmanuel Kankpeyeng was read by Harry O’Brien who ran in and slid under the goalkeeper.
The hosts fought back as Jay Lang brought Joondalup on level terms with a pinpoint outside-of-the-boot finish after his initial free-kick had hit the wall.
Lang then provided the goal which put United in front as he passed into the path of Ben Campbell who drilled low into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
The second half turnaround was complete as the home side countered from a Cockburn corner with Campbell’s cross picking out the head of Billy Quinncroft. The defeat was a sixth loss in seven games for the Cockerels and they remain a point adrift at the bottom.
Finally, Kingsley Westside moved up a couple of places into ninth spot with a 3-2 win over Gwelup Croatia, drawing them level on points with their opponents.
Jon Hulme’s corner was headed in by Aston Montgomery for Kingsley’s opener, but Robert Ferrante’s curler from the edge of the box brought Gwelup level in the second half.
Kingsley led again through Chad Samuels’ first goal for the club, but again Gwelup came back as Miklos Imre helped on for James Harmer to time his run and finish with 13 minutes left.
Daniel Harrison’s late penalty put the hosts ahead for a third time and this time they held on to end a three-game losing streak and move two points clear of the drop zone.
In Division Two, third-placed Kalamunda City ended Joondalup City’s 100% start to the season with a 4-1 result putting them within a win of the summit.
Farruh Mavlonov struck twice with Gaston Bazet and Lal Cung getting the other goals, as Kalamunda made it four wins in five games.
Harry Edwards’ gave Joondalup City a consolation, yet despite their first loss of the season they remain top of the league on goal difference after second-placed Forrestfield United saw their perfect start to the season end at Ashfield.
Hanani Ndebele scored twice and Jared Flavel got another to have Ashfield 3-0 up at the break against a Forrestfield side who had lost Justin Onek to two yellow cards.
Ndelebe completed a hat-trick after the restart and Anthony Orobio capped a great day for the Australia Cup preliminary quarter-finalists. Sherwin Tucker and James Oliver pulled goals back for United but Ashfield fully deserved their 5-2 victory.
East Perth stay fourth following a 2-0 win at Carramar Shamrock Rovers and the top four sides are now separated by just three points. Goals from Daniel Whelan-Dempsey and Ryan McCready made it three wins in four matches for East Perth, while Carramar drop to second bottom in the league.
Elsewhere, Quinns beat Curtin University 2-1 at Edinburgh Oval and moved above their opponents into fifth spot. An own goal by Simone Sichel and Dylan Morrison’s finish inside the opening eight minutes gave Quinns a healthy advantage, and though Nathan Smith reduced the arrears after the restart it was Quinns who took the points.
Balga jumped into mid-table with goals from Christian Lenz and Samuel Kent handing them a 2-0 win over Swan United who drop three places to 10th.
Canning City also collected three points on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Wanneroo City. Freeman Nyatsambo, George Stephens and Tom Kinnane got the goals to put Canning ninth, while Roos remain bottom and still await their first victory.