DIVISION ONE
Kalamunda City boosted their hopes of staying up after a 4-1 victory over Subiaco at Maida Vale Reserve in Round 19 of the State League Division One.
Farruh Mavlonov was the hero with a hat-trick as City stayed second bottom but move to within a point of safety.
Mavlonov’s opener came on 19 minutes when he capitalised on a slip from Subi defender Alex Coelho to latch onto a long ball and keep his cool to finish. Andrea Erbetta then stole the ball off Chris Harradine wide on the right and squared for Mavlonov to double his tally 10 minutes before the interval.
Kalamunda let slip a two-goal lead last week against UWA Nedlands. But they wouldn’t make this same mistake this time as Jeronimo Mottin bundled in from a set-piece, and Mavlonov beat the offside trap to rifle in for his treble and put his side 4-0 up.
It was a much-needed first win in five for Kalamunda and tightened up the bottom of the league with just three points separating eighth and 11th in the race to avoid the relegation play-off spot. Subiaco, meanwhile, did get a consolation through Dean Evans’ late penalty, but the defeat was a blow to their promotion hopes as they sit six points behind fourth.
There was also a big result for Inglewood United at the bottom of the league as Chris Tilson’s late goal earned a 2-1 win against bottom side Gosnells City on Friday night.
Tom Kennedy’s red card on 35 minutes did not help Gosnells’ cause but they still went in front on 71 minutes from the penalty spot after Christopher Michael went down under the challenge of Daniel Nikoloski. Scott Pereira saw his initial spot kick saved by Conor Hogan, but a retake was ordered and Aaron Coslani scored despite Hogan going the right way.
Inglewood levelled four minutes later when Martin Coughlan netted from Chad Nilson’s corner, before Tilson headed home Cammron Morris’ cross on 94 minutes to turn the game around.
Inglewood are two points clear of second-bottom Kalamunda and move up a place to ninth, while bottom side Gosnells are eight points adrift and will be relegated to Division Two if they fail to beat Joondalup City next week.
DIVISION ONE RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Finally, Gwelup Croatia opened up a four-point gap to fifth-placed Kingsley after a 3-2 win at fellow play-off chasers Murdoch University Melville.
MUM FC led on 21 minutes when Charlie Breen was fouled in the area and Ed Wynne-Willson sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot. But two goals in seven minutes saw Gwelup lead at half time with Jeremie Mba’s cross headed in by Ben Campbell, before Mba brought down Jacob Rossi’s pass to score himself.
David Heagney then marked his latest return to Gwelup by coming off the bench to make it 3-1 to the visitors with 12 minutes remaining. And it proved enough to give Gwelup a third win in four, despite Angel Andres Rivera rolling into the corner late on.
There was no change at the top of the league, as the top three sides all saw their fixtures washed out on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon. Leaders Dianella White Eagles’ trip to Kingsley Westside, UWA Nedlands’ home clash with Mandurah City, and Joondalup City’s game against Curtin University were all postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date.
DIVISION TWO
There were three games called off due to the weather in Division Two, including leaders Quinns’ trip to Wanneroo City, Canning City’s game against Ashfield, and Forrestfield United’s fixture with Swan United.
As a result, East Perth were able to close the gap on Quinns to one point after winning 4-2 against Wembley Downs.
Owen Patterson scored a double and James Burt the other as Colm Costello’s team were three up, before Josh Chalmers pulled one back before half-time.
Patterson completed his hat-trick in the second half, with Toby Robertson’s consolation reducing the deficit. East Perth are unbeaten in 12 and are now second, although they have played a game more than Quinns.
DIVISION TWO RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Cockburn City, meanwhile, dropped to third after being held to a goalless draw by Rockingham City at Lark Hill.
The Cockerels are only a point off the summit but have played more games than both the top two sides. The match marked 55 years for Rockingham, who stay second bottom but are now five points clear of bottom side Swan who have two games in hand.
Finally, fifth-placed Balga kept their promotion play-off hopes alive with a 2-1 win over sixth-placed Carramar Shamrock Rovers.
Nathan Diaz put Rovers in front on nine minutes, but first-half responses from Takumi Kumbai and Jose Zuniga saw Balga move to within a point of Forrestfield who have two games in hand.
