DIVISION ONE
Dianella White Eagles maintained their slender lead at the top of State League Division One after picking up a 2-1 win over third-placed Joondalup City on Saturday.
A goal in each half got the job done for Ian Ferguson’s side, who are ahead of UWA Nedlands on goal difference with four games remaining.
They led their Round 18 clash on 25 minutes when Anthony Dolan’s drive found Cory McNelis, who saw his initial effort blocked before putting in in the rebound. Gavin Byars doubled the lead with 10 minutes remaining when Albert Luwi’s deflected shot broke to the striker in the box.
City set up a nervous finish for the leaders thanks to a terrific free-kick from substitute Jamie Sinnott. They were unable to force an equaliser, though, and sit nine points behind the top two, but do remain in good position to secure a place in the promotion play-offs.
UWA has already secured their position in the inter-divisional playoffs but will be hoping to catch Dianella and put themselves in a position to go up automatically as champions. On Saturday, they came from two goals down at half-time to defeat struggling Kalamunda City 5-2.
Kalamunda found themselves two up via Andrea Erbetta’s free-kick and Farruh Mavlonov’s tap in, but the turning point proved to be Nicolas Roca’s 56th-minute red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity as the last man.
UWA immediately took advantage and stunned their opponents with three goals in five minutes. Sam Ince rifled in from the edge of the box to make it 2-1, Roberto Soares’ close-range finish levelled the scores, and Sebastian Hooshangian’s drive looped in despite the best efforts of keeper Jake Maley-Orr.
The visitors sealed victory in the final seven minutes when Mark Bauersachs fired through the goalkeeper from a narrow angle, before Iljas Ahmedov’s penalty made it five late on.
DIVISION ONE RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Kalamunda dropped into the bottom two after Inglewood United’s late win at Curtin University.
Lachlan Hannah stepped inside his marker and crashed home the opener for Curtin, but Inglewood equalised before the break when Martin Coughlan dropped his shoulder and waited for space to open up before firing into the bottom corner.
Matthew Keith put Cam Lord’s side ahead for the first time on 52 minutes when arriving to score from Coughlan’s cross, only for Nathan Smith to level from the penalty spot in the final 10 minutes.
Coughlan was the hero in the final minute of the 90 when putting in Jordan Black’s delivery from the right, as Inglewood picked up a much-needed win to move two points clear of the bottom two. Curtin sit one place and two points above their opponents.
Elsewhere, the race for the final promotion play-off place tightened up after Subiaco won 1-0 at fourth-placed Gwelup Croatia.
The game’s only goal came on 56 minutes when Ethan Johnson’s pass picked out Oliver Lebihan, who turned across goal for Issac Scellier to net from close range. Basil Lenzo’s side stay fourth but now have pressure coming from below with three points separating them and seventh-placed Subi.
Murdoch University Melville kept themselves in that mix after a comfortable 5-1 win away at bottom side Gosnells.
Two goals in two first-half minutes had MUM FC on their way with Gustavo Marulanda’s deflected free-kick looping in, before Adam Fields’ cross was tapped in by Ed Wynne-Willson.
Aaron Coslani’s penalty cut the margin to 2-1 at half-time, but Marc Anthony’s team plundered three second-half goals to leave Gosnells five points adrift at the bottom.
Declan Tanna arrived late in the box unmarked to stroke in for 3-1 before Angel Andres Rivera’s late double brought Murdoch within two points of the play-offs.
Fifth-placed Kingsley Westside are only one point behind Gwelup, but missed an opportunity to move back into the top four after drawing 2-2 with Mandurah City.
It took 51 minutes for the first goal to arrive as John Baird’s corner was headed back across goal by Harry Collins with Graham Tough on hand to finish.
The lead lasted four minutes, with Max Adamson bursting into the box to rifle in at the near post and bring Kingsley level. The visitors were then in front via a Luke Doyle free-kick, before Mandurah levelled with 20 minutes left when Ben Gallagher nodded in Robbie Galvin’s corner.
DIVISION TWO
Quinns remain two points clear at the top of Division Two after beating play-off chasing Balga 2-0 at Stylish Park.
Andrew Flint and Elliot Ireland netted in each half as Nick Jennings’ side kept their title charge going. They have a game in hand on second-placed Cockburn City who maintained pace with the leaders by winning 2-1 at bottom side Swan United.
Nicholas Burmej had given Swan a first-half lead, but they ended the weekend four points adrift at the bottom of the division, albeit with a game in hand, after second-half strikes from Ben Thorpe and Matthew Bowen.
The top three are still separated by four points. East Perth won 1-0 at fifth-placed Carramar Shamrock Rovers with Owen Patterson’s 51st minute penalty decisive.
DIVISION TWO RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
That meant fourth-placed Forrestfield United were able to extend their lead in the final promotion play-off position to four points after beating Canning City 3-1. Shale Moothen’s own goal combined with goals from Sam Platten and Austin Reynolds got the job done with William Higginson getting Canning’s consolation.
Elsewhere, the team’s positioned between eighth and 11th all drew with one another to edge a point further clear of the automatic relegation spot.
Ashfield rescued a late point in a 2-2 draw with Wanneroo City, who finished the game with nine men. Oliver Naughton and Kane Fitch had turned the game around for Roos after Jared Flavel’s opener, but RaviRaj Singh nabbed a draw for Ashfield at the death.
Wembley Downs and Rockingham City also shared the points in a 1-1 draw, with Regan Davidson’s goal for Rockingham cancelled out by Toby Robertson.
