Two Leigh Griffiths goals helped Mandurah City reclaim top spot in Men’s State League Division One as they defeated Joondalup United 3-0 in Round 18 action at GenesisCare Stadium.
Mandurah’s win, paired with previous leaders Western Knights losing 3-1 at Fremantle City, means John Baird’s side are two points clear with four rounds remaining.
Joondalup’s first loss in six saw them drop two places and out of the promotion play-off spots, given both Freo and Dianella White Eagles took three points.
The Dolphins were on course to extend their unbeaten run to seven games when Griffiths found the bottom corner from the penalty spot on 58 minutes.
The former Scotland International then scored at the back post from Craig Barker’s low ball across the six-yard box to make it 2-0 soon after.
A third goal arrived in the final 10 minutes when Griffiths returned the favour to Barker, who arrived from the right wing to take a touch and score from close range.
Mandurah were handed the initiative after Knights lost for the first time since Round 11 at Hilton Park.
Hamza Hina and Anthony O’Donnell gave Freo a fast start with goals inside the first quarter of an hour providing a platform to make it back-to-back wins.
Jay Sheridan’s free-kick flew past Jordan Barbas to give Knights a lifeline, but Hina raced clear with five minutes left to strike his second of the game and confirm three points for Matty Sparrow’s side.
Dianella are now third as their impressive run of form continued with a 5-2 victory at mid-table Murdoch University Melville.
Dianella have won six of their last seven games to loom as a promotion threat and they put this one to bed with three first-half goals.
Angel Andres Rivera got to Shane Barnes’ pass ahead of MUM FC goalkeeper Tom Allan to nod in the opener, and the pair combined again as Andres flicked on a set piece for Barnes to score from close range.
The visitors were in full control at Besteam Stadium when Spaniard Andres Rivera rifled home a third goal inside half an hour.
MUM FC pulled one back in the first minute of the second half through Taj Bingwa but hopes of a comeback were dashed when Barnes ran solo from halfway, cut inside and fired home for 4-1.
Brodie Langan finished stylishly to pull another back for Murdoch, only for Kevin Gallo to save the best until last with a sensational curling strike which went in off the post and capped a fine day for Dianella.
Elsewhere, the bottom five sides all took points in Round 18 with Subiaco’s 2-1 win over Gwelup Croatia the most notable result.
Marc Wingell’s first win as Subi boss closed the gap on 10th-placed Gosnells City to two points even though they remain in the relegation play-off place. Defeat for Gwelup saw their top-four hopes take a hit with the margin to fourth now eight points.
John Lahai had put Trim Morgan’s team ahead with a fine finish after being slipped through by Jacob Williamson. But two goals in 12 second half minutes saw Subi come from behind to win it. Agustin Ventre arrived untracked to head in Aaron McGurk’s cross, before McGurk capitalised on miscommunication at the back to score the decisive goal.
Gosnells, meanwhile, rescued a 2-2 draw with Rockingham City who took another important point to steer clear of danger.
Brice Rae shrugged off his marker to put Gosnells in front after 70 seconds at Walter Padbury Reserve, but Fraser Marr’s 30-yard daisy-cutter restored parity for Rockingham.
Ruben Joseph scored a terrific free-kick to give Rockingham the advantage, only for Aaron Coslani’s penalty to earn Gosnells an eighth draw this season.
Finally, UWA Nedlands came from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Forrestfield United.
Emerson Di Mattina’s low free-kick and James Bourne’s header from a corner had Forrestfield two up, but the league’s bottom side ended the weekend 10 points off safety following UWA’s fightback.
It may prove to be a handy point for Uni who are three points clear of second bottom Subiaco with four games left. Luke Salas’ cross went in off Oliver Naughton for an own goal before Toby Robertson’s toe poke came down off the crossbar and was adjudged to have crossed the line.
In Division Two, Morley Windmills kept their outside title hopes alive with a 3-1 win over leaders Kingsley Westside in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash.
Kingsley’s advantage at the summit is four points with Tuesday night’s game in hand against Wanneroo City to come. Jon Hulme had given the leaders an 11th minute lead, but Charles Breen and Conor Kavanagh struck prior to half-time for the visitors, with Breen adding a third in the second period.
Maddington-Kalamunda White City are a point behind Morley and strengthened their promotion push with a 2-1 win at Wanneroo. Greg Greenwood had put Roos ahead, but Nicolas Roca and Gaston Bazet netted to make it four wins in a row for last year’s Belt Up Amateur Premier League champions.
Curtin University are three points further back in fourth after a 2-1 loss to Carramar Shamrock Rovers, which kept the latter’s hopes of promotion alive. Dean Cowbrough and Drew Johnston struck for Rovers who held on despite a red card for Seamus Edwards and a late goal for Janno Saks.
Swan United are level on points with Curtin after a 2-0 win over Quinns FC as Rhys Loxley added to a first half own goal. Quinns remain in relegation trouble, along with Joondalup City who lost 4-2 to mid-table Ashfield.
Four individual scorers got it done for in-form Ashfield with Gareth Hamilton, Isak Isak, Ben Entwistle and Debaba Mtwale all on the scoresheet. Jason Petrie got the two replies for City.
Four points now separate the bottom four sides in the league after Canning City defeated Balga 1-0 in the meeting between 11th and 12. Rowan Steed’s goal on 17 minutes was the winner as Canning won for the second time this year and they are now only two points behind Saturday’s opponents.