Gwelup back on top despite Eagles recovery
DIVISION ONE
Dianella White Eagles rallied from two goals down to earn a late 2-2 draw at Joondalup City as the top of the table tightened up in Round 7 of the Men’s State League Division One season.
Ian Ferguson’s side remain unbeaten but lost top spot with those dropped points on Saturday. Meanwhile, the draw see’s City remain in mid-table, albeit the bottom half in the second tier is only separated by two points.
The home side led on six minutes when Harry Edwards teed up Jaxon Temata who whistled an effort across the goalkeeper and in.
Albert Luwi’s penalty crashed back off the post before City doubled their lead in first half stoppage time when Mason Gallagher squared for Sam McKearnan to tap in.
Dianella got one back midway through the second half thanks to Cory McNelis’ low drive and they levelled three minutes into stoppage time when Franck Gamiz Quer headed home George Ballah’s cross.
Another McNelis strike deflected just wide before Francisco Caballero’s header from the resulting corner was tipped over as it ended level.
DIVISION ONE RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Gwelup Croatia replaced Dianella at the summit after a seven-minute blitz in the first half saw them win 4-2 at Subiaco.
Jeremie Mba took matters into his own hands down the left on 19 minutes and breezed past two players before slotting into the back of the net.
Jacob Rossi cut inside from the left and beat Tando Velaphi at his near post for two, and it was three when Jack Bardsley headed in Matt Lenzo’s cross.
Remarkably, they had a fourth when Christos Vaenas volleyed home to cap a run of four goals in seven minutes for the visitors.
Tarek Atta put in from a set piece and Kaleb Morrison arrowed across the goalkeeper to give Subiaco hopes of a comeback in the second half.
But they were short-lived as Gwelup went top on goal difference from UWA Nedlands who won 3-0 against Kalamunda City to leave the top three sides separated by one point.
It took 68 minutes for the deadlock to be broken as Iljas Ahmedov headed in Sam Ince’s set piece, before Kalamunda’s task was made harder by Nicolas Roca’s second yellow card.
Mitchell Foley was credited with UWA’s second soon after and it was game over 11 minutes from the end when Ince slipped in Ahmedov to slot the sealer past the goalkeeper.
MUM FC are up fourth and are five points off the leaders following a 2-1 victory over Gosnells City.
Charlie Breen stayed onside and ran into finish past the goalkeeper on 13 minutes, before Edward Wynne-Willson stabbed home a Breen cross from close range early in the second half.
Scott Pereira sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot with four minutes remaining, but no equaliser followed as the visitors drop to the bottom of the league.
They replace Curtin University who moved out of the relegation places with a 1-0 win at Inglewood United.
The only goal came on five minutes when Jack Murray’s corner was forced in from six yards by Alfie Bryant. Curtin’s second win of the season saw them also leapfrog opponents Inglewood, who are now second bottom after six games played.
Saturday’s other fixture saw Kingsley Westside and Mandurah City draw 0-0 with both sides remaining in the league’s bottom half. Earlier in the week, Kingsley had parted ways with State League Night Series-winning Richie Abrams Ben Andrews replaced him in the dugout.
DIVISION TWO
Cockburn City are the new leaders of Division Two after a 2-1 win over Rockingham City.
The Cockerels got the job done thanks to an own goal and Alex Andrade Basto’s effort inside 21 minutes, despite Shaun Mukwevho pulling one back for Rockingham in the final 20 minutes.
Cockburn replace Quinns who were held 1-1 by Wanneroo City, although Nick Jennings’ side do have a game in hand despite being two points off top spot. Ben Wyeth’s 64th minute opener was cancelled out by Kane Fitch as Roos stay in mid table.
East Perth stay third after a 3-2 win at Wembley Downs in the Friday night fixture at Butlers Reserve.
DIVISION TWO RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Ryan McCready had East Perth up at the break, but Wembley turned it around midway through the second half with two goals in as many minutes from Josh Chalmers and Lachlan Chamberlain.
But last year’s Golden Boot winner McCready tied it up five minutes from time and substitute James Burt won it in the 93rd minute for Colm Costello’s side.
Balga moved up to fourth and traded places with Carramar Shamrock Rovers in the standings as Silver Kelder’s 67th minute goal proved decisive in the 1-0 win at Grandis Park.
There was a 1-1 draw between Ashfield and Canning City as Ravi Raj Singh’s equaliser rescued a point following Alex Guzman’s first half opener.
And finally, Forrestfield United picked up a much-needed first win of the season as they defeated Swan United 2-0 with Austin Reynolds registering a goal in each half. They leapfrog their opponents to sit in 10th place and a point clear of bottom side Wembley.