Hurley rescues Inglewood on State League return
Inglewood United began their first campaign in the second tier since 1991 with a 1-1 draw against Joondalup City as the new State League season kicked off.
City won promotion to Division One through the play-offs last year after six seasons in Division Two and took the lead on 15 minutes when Mason Gallagher stood up a cross from the right for Harry Edwards to nod home.
City keeper Joe Smith saved a Dean Hurley penalty just past the half-hour mark, but Hurley made up for that miss when making it 1-1 on 64 minutes after nicely controlling the ball with his back to goal and firing in on the turn.
Performance of the day came at the Croatian Sporting Complex as Gwelup Croatia came from two goals down to win 4-2 against Mandurah City as both sides finished an action-packed match with nine men.
Craig Barker had the Dolphins up after 30 seconds following an excellent pass from Luke Desmond and a slip by home keeper Rocco Liberti, but the visitors were reduced to 10 men later in the half after Ben Gallagher received a second yellow card.
Nicholas Echeverria’s handball on the line then saw Gwelup lose a man, with Robbie Galvin converting from the spot for 2-0. But Robert Ferrante shrugged off his marker to round the keeper and halve the deficit three minutes before half-time.
Last year’s NPLWA U20’s top scorer Jacob Rossi reacted quickest to make it 2-2 when Ferrante’s free-kick was spilled by Alfie Brincat, before second yellows for Oliver Fields and Jai Rawling saw both sides down to nine players.
Jeremie Mba’s brace in the final 13 minutes got the job done for the home side with his first coming from the penalty spot, before chasing down a seemingly lost cause out wide and running in to score.
DIVISION ONE RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
There was also opening day joy for last year’s promotion finalists Dianella White Eagles who started the season with a 3-1 win over Gosnells City.
It took Ian Ferguson’s side two minutes to open their account when new signings Albert Luwi and Corey McNelis combined and the latter swivelled to score.
Sam Burgess capitalised on a defensive slip to put Dianella into a two-goal lead inside 20 minutes.
Darren Francis’ header from Dami Afolabi’s deep cross reduced the arrears in the second half, but Dianella made sure of the points in added time when Paul Zimarino pulled back for Gavin Byars to net.
UWA Nedlands claimed three points in Round One after a 3-1 win over neighbours Subiaco.
Kris Donnell replaced Richie Abrams in the off-season as Uni’s new head coach and they made a good start as Luke Salas finished Roberto Soares’ cutback on 26 minutes.
Iljas Ahmedov, who arrived over the summer from Murdoch University Melville, then scored twice in a minute early in the second half. First he struck from the penalty spot before pinching the ball off Subi defender Jeremy Tshongo and making it 3-0.
From that point the result was never in doubt, despite Alex Coelho’s consolation from a short corner routine 19 minutes from time.
MUM FC also bagged a win as they defeated State League Night Series winners Kingsley Westside 2-0.
The hosts had the opener on 32 minutes when Farruh Mavlonov headed Brodie Langan’s cross back across goal with Josh Macri arriving to poke home from close range. Marc Anthony’s side had to wait until late on to wrap it up as Charlie Breen volleyed home emphatically from Pat Sara’s pass over the top.
Finally, Kalamunda City edged Curtin University 1-0 in a battle between two newly promoted sides on Friday night. The winner was scored on 52 minutes when Gaston Bazet chested down for Andrea Erbetta to lash in a low volley from 18 yards.
In Division Two, Cockburn City scored four first-half goals to account for Wembley Downs 6-3 and gain revenge for their Hahn Australia Cup elimination by the same opponents a week earlier.
It was the Cockerels' first season in the third tier since 1970 while for Wembley it was the start of their first-ever campaign in the State League, having won promotion from the Belt Up Amateur Premier Division last term.
Luke Coltman cancelled out an early own goal for Luke Thompson’s side, but hosts Cockburn hit back with a brace from Oliver Carr and another from Matthew Bowen making it 4-1 at the interval.
Wembley twice reduced the arrears through Rory Hannon and Sam Mattock either side of James Bourne’s fifth for the home side, before Ben Thorpe added late gloss with a Cockburn sixth.
DIVISION TWO RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
In another first, Nick Jennings claimed his maiden league win as Quinns FC coach in a 4-2 victory at Ashfield.
James Elkington-Soan and Jared Flavel traded first-half goals for 1-1 at the break, but Elkington-Soan completed his hat-trick with a pair of quickfire goals around the hour mark to see Quinns take control.
Nathan Scully’s penalty set up a nervous finish for the visitors, but Tyler Holden sealed the win in stoppage time to get the northern suburbs club up and running.
Another high-scoring Round One clash saw Wanneroo City edge Rockingham City 3-2 at home.
Rockingham levelled twice through Taylor Carter and Raphael Gomba after Daniel Stefoski and Asa Sippits had Roos up on two occasions. But Bosko Koloski’s 77th-minute winner proved to be decisive as last year’s bottom side in the third tier made a winning start.
Swan United, who avoided dropping into the Amateur League only through the play-offs last year, completed a dramatic late comeback against East Perth. Goals from Henri Mulwila and Corey Anderson saw the 10-man hosts steal the points 2-1 against an East Perth side, who had hit the front 20 minutes from time through Ben Coulter.
Carramar Shamrock Rovers defeated Forrestfield United by the same scoreline thanks to two first-half Jamie Gibson penalties either side of Austin Reynolds’ equaliser, while Canning City and Balga played out a goalless draw at Willetton Reserve on Sunday.