Perth Glory’s NPL status is hanging by a thread after they lost 3-1 to Mandurah City in the first leg of their inter-divisional play-off semi-final.
The Dolphins were in front inside six minutes when Jordan Callaghan got on the end of Graham Tough's knock-down to stab home.
The visitors were level on 52 minutes when Khoa Ngo beat two men down the left and squared for Jaylan Pearman to finish. But two minutes later Mandurah were back ahead as Leigh Griffiths turned and shot beyond Cameron Cook. And the former Celtic man added what could be a decisive third ahead of this Sunday's second leg when he scored from the penalty spot following a handball by Tadi Kuzamba.
The other NPLM/Division One play-off first leg saw Dianella White Eagles win 2-0 at Murdoch University Melville.
Andy Keogh opened the scoring with a back-post volley on 33 minutes, with Marcus Seydel capitalising on a defensive error to make it two near the end.
NPLM/Division One inter-divisional play-off semi-final, second legs
Friday 20 September
Dianella White Eagles (2) v MUM FC (0)
Dianella Reserve, 7pm
Sunday 22 September
Perth Glory (1) v Mandurah City (3)
Sam Kerr Football Centre, 1pm
There were two similar results in the Division One/Division Two play-offs.
At Dalmatinac Park, Curtin University beat hosts Cockburn City 2-0. The opener arrived when Jai Cocker slipped in Rowan Steed to score on 16 minutes. Then late on, Mighael Muller started and finished a counterattack which began deep in his own half and ended with an easy tap-in to leave Curtin in pole position to make the final.
Meanwhile, Joondalup City hold the upper hand in their semi-final after overcoming East Perth 3-1. Eddie Wilcock's screamer broke the deadlock on 27 minutes for City, only for Division Two Golden Boot winner Ryan McCready to head East Perth level before the break.
Joondalup got a second on the hour after East Perth failed to deal with a long throw and Harry Edwards came through to score. And four minutes from time, more defensive uncertainty cost the visitors with Edwards poking home following Noel Disha's clip into the middle.
Division One/Division Two inter-divisional play-off semi-final, second legs
Saturday 21 September
Curtin University (2) v Cockburn City (0)
Edinburgh Oval, 3pm
East Perth (1) v Joondalup City (3)
Venue, kick-off time TBC
- The inter-divisional play-off finals will take place at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Sunday 29 September.