DIVISION ONE
Bottom defeated top in Round Eight of the Men’s State League Division One season as Inglewood United overcame Gwelup Croatia 2-1 at Proto DPS Stadium.
Despite a second defeat of the campaign, Gwelup remain at the summit after closest rivals Dianella White Eagles were beaten, with the top three teams now separated by one point.
Inglewood made a perfect start when Daniel Nikoloski crossed from the right for Chad Nilson, who took a touch to make a yard before finishing from inside the box.
The hosts made it two just past the hour mark when stealing possession and counter-attacking rapidly with Nilson racing away to dink stylishly over the goalkeeper.
Gwelup pulled one back when Emmanuel Langoya broke down the left and crossed for Ben Campbell to volley low into the net.
DIVISION ONE RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
But time ran out for Basil Lenzo’s side who are now top on goal difference only after UWA Nedlands joined them on 18 points with a 2-1 win over Dianella, who drop to third.
Ian Ferguson’s side had gone ahead when a free-kick was headed back across goal by Francisco Caballero and Kian McGuigan applied the finishing touch.
Iljas Ahmedov equalised barely a minute later from the penalty spot before Dianella were reduced to 10 men with Albert Luwi shown a straight red card for a high boot.
UWA capitalised on that advantage and won it in second-half stoppage time as Luke Garas’ drive from range came back off the bar with Joe McInnes quickest to react and net all three points.
Subiaco round out the top four after winning 2-0 over Murdoch University Melville at a wet and windy Besteam Stadium.
Dean Evans’ superb long-range strike flew into the top corner to give Marc Wingell’s team the lead after half an hour.
It was 2-0 on 63 minutes when Ben Bathgate beat the offside trap from Kaleb Morrison’s pass and ran in to square for Tarek Atta to score.
Despite losing Rubens Faure to a straight red card in the final 15 minutes, Subi got the job done to win for the fourth time in five games, while MUM FC drop into the bottom half.
Joondalup City stayed in touch with the race for the promotion play-off place and made it back-to-back wins following a 2-0 defeat of Gosnells City.
Harry Edwards netted in each half to secure victory as he headed home midway through the opening period before converting Mason Gallagher’s cross just past the hour mark.
Guy McDonald’s side are just one point off fourth place, as are Mandurah City who extended their unbeaten run to four matches with a 2-1 win on the road at Kalamunda City.
The Dolphins led at half-time via a nicely worked move which resulted in Jordan Callaghan’s low cross from the left being tapped in by Louie Evans.
Gerard Clark doubled the advantage from the penalty spot when sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, and that proved to be the winner despite Ignacio Gomez getting one back with 10 minutes remaining after putting in from a set piece.
Finally in Division One, Kingsley Westside bagged their first win since Round Three as they defeated Curtin University 1-0 at Chichester Park.
Raeez Pandor scored the only goal from the penalty spot on 68 minutes as Kingsley sit eighth and three points clear of Curtin, who dropped to the bottom of the league following Inglewood’s win.
DIVISION TWO
A stoppage-time goal from Mattheus Kika put Cockburn City five points clear at the top of the second division as they recorded a 2-1 home win over Canning City.
Kika’s goal capped a late comeback from City, with his fellow substitute James Bourne scoring 13 minutes from time to cancel out Mason Langham’s first-half opener.
East Perth also had to come from behind as they won 4-2 at Quinns to overtake their opponents and go second on the table.
It was 1-1 inside the first 15 minutes, Joel Sollitt netting for Quinns and Chris Smith levelling for the visitors. In the second half, East Perth took charge. Kealan McDermott put them ahead, substitute Andy Keogh added a third and Ryan McCready made it 4-1 before Ben Johns converted a last-minute penalty for Quinns.
DIVISION TWO RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Carramar Shamrock Rovers are up to fourth after they won 3-2 against Rockingham City at Grandis Park. Jack Reilly, Cameron Hendry-Munford and Nathan Diaz had Rovers three up after 50 minutes, and though Rockingham hit back through Dylan Rogers and Noah Wittstrom Lea, the hosts took the points.
Wanneroo City won their first game in five, 2-0 away to fifth-place Balga. Samir Ramos and Asa Sippits were the scorers.
Elsewhere, a goal early in the second half by Matthew Evans saw Forrestfield United beat Ashfield 1-0. Forrestfield wore a special pink kit in a game dedicated to young Scarlett Oliver, who died from cancer just over a year ago.
Finally, Wembley Downs moved off the bottom of the table at the expense of Swan United, whom they beat 7-3. Josh Chalmers claimed a hat-trick and Hayden Boffey a brace for Wembley, with Lachlan Chamberlain and Rory Hannon their other scorers. Swan’s goals came from Luke Ross, Henri Mulwila and Mohammed Khanoussi.
