Dianella White Eagles produced a stunning recovery to stay on the coattails of State League Division One leaders Sorrento FC.
Dianella, who parted ways with head coach Angel Andres Rivera during the week, looked set to slip further behind the unbeaten Gulls after Harry O’Brien’s first-half hat-trick had Cockburn City 3-0 up at Beale Park.
But a second-half turnaround, capped by Andy Keogh’s stoppage-time winner, keeps Dianella six points behind Sorrrento.
The Cockerels made a flying start when O’Brien drilled home the opener from Anthony Skorich’s cutback before Harry Lewis got to the byline and pulled across for O’Brien to slot in his second.
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His treble was completed after a long free-kick was initially won by Ben Pike and O’Brien was first to react and bundle in to put the hosts in a commanding position.
But wounded Dianella recovered to launch a second-half fightback. Paul Zimarino’s drive was turned home from close range by Keogh to give the visitors early encouragement.
It was 3-2 on 53 minutes when Angel Andres Diaz brought down the ball expertly on the turn and fired into the bottom corner, before Dianella levelled with 20 minutes left as Cockburn could not clear deep in their territory with substitute Marcus Seydel cashing in to score.
The 2024 Night Series finalists then made a late raid down the right flank and Diaz’s cross was met by Keogh, who guided in a first-time volley to send the Dianella fans home happy and leave Cockburn in the relegation play-off spot.
Sorrento are still the team to catch as three goals in the final 18 minutes saw Steve McGarry's side win 3-0 against UWA Nedlands at Percy Doyle Reserve.
The deadlock was broken when Dean Cummings headed Hamza Hina’s cross back across goal and defender James McGowan forced the ball over the line.
The hosts had a second when Clay Gibbs picked up a loose pass and teed up Connor Simpson to drill low into the net. Hina then wrapped it up with a classy finish which was bent into the bottom corner.
The defeat for UWA Nedlands saw them drop out of the inter-divisional play-off spots, replaced by Mandurah City after their emphatic 6-2 win at third-place Murdoch University Melville.
Mandurah took the early initiative at Besteam Stadium when John Baird’s free-kick curled around the wall and in via the post.
The home side equalised when Pat Sara drove to the edge of the area with his pass reaching Jack Steele who finished crisply into the corner.
MUM FC led when a short back pass from Mandurah’s defence saw Likhwa Tshabangu sneak in to beat goalkeeper Alfie Brincat and score. But it was 2-2 at the break when Brian Patterson’s long-range shot deflected to Leigh Griffiths who made no mistake.
It was all Mandurah after the restart though, and they stretched their unbeaten run to four games courtesy of four second-half goals.
Jordan Callaghan lifted Baird’s pass over the goalkeeper and in via the underside of the bar as the Dolphins hit the front, before a sweeping move saw Shaun Mukwevho feed Baird with the midfielder finishing emphatically.
Callaghan added his second with a deflected curler from the edge of the area, before Mukwevho’s quick feet and finish brought up half a dozen as Mandurah went two points clear of fifth and three points off their opponents.
Kingsley Westside missed a chance to keep tabs with the top four as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at Gosnells, who boosted their survival hopes with a second successive win.
Kingsley led on eight minutes when Aston Montgomery’s corner was initially won by Shane Hulgraine and Callum Trayner was on hand to head in the opener.
The lead lasted only a few minutes with Gosnells equalising when Luqman Sayyed’s scuffed effort was smartly backheeled in by Scott Pereira.
The hosts had turned the game around by the half-hour mark when a cross from the right was headed up and over his own goalkeeper by Ryder Leasor and Tony Chandler was wide open to score into a vacant net.
Montgomery streaked clear of the Gosnells defence to finish low across the goalkeeper for 2-2 at the break, but the hosts would score late to move three points clear of the drop zone. Pereira was the hero as he hammered home brilliantly after a set-piece broke his way in the box to give Gosnells a boost, while Kingsley are now four points off fourth.
Elsewhere, Rockingham City improved their chances of reaching safety as a 2-0 win at Subiaco saw them end the weekend two points adrift of Cockburn.
Albert Luwi’s spot-kick set the visitors on their way on 27 minutes and soon after Max Worswick lifted forward for Shane Boyle to head into his own path and then lob brilliantly over Conor Hogan.
That was how it stayed as Rockingham tightened up the bottom of the table, while Subiaco slide down to seventh.
Finally, there was late drama at the Croatian Sporting Complex as Gwelup Croatia and Joondalup United drew 2-2.
Gwelup led three minutes before the interval thanks to Robert Ferrante’s 20-yard curler and that’s how it stayed until second-half stoppage time when three more goals were scored.
United hit back when they countered upfield with Ben Wyeth arriving to stroke into the corner, before the home side looked to have won it through Jeremie Mba’s 94th minute penalty.
There was one final twist though as Jamie Gardiner’s long ball seven minutes into added time was met by a looping header from substitute George McIlroy, as both sides had to settle for a point and sit eighth and ninth respectively.
In Division Two, the top three sides all won again with Kalamunda City setting the pace following a 1-0 win at struggling Swan United.
Nicolas Roca’s 72nd minute goal was the difference at the Swan Italian Club with Kalamunda five points clear, while Swan are without a win in four and are only one point above the relegation play-off place.
Joondalup City sit second after winning 1-0 against bottom side Wanneroo City with Harry Edwards getting the only goal in the northern suburbs. Joondalup’s position in the inter-divisional playoffs remains secure with Roos still four points off safety.
East Perth are third after their 2-0 win over ninth-placed Canning City stretched their unbeaten run to four games. Chris Smith and Ryan McCready netted in the first half.
It was bad news for Forrestfield United who started the day in the final play-off spot but lost 4-1 against Curtin University, who take their place in the top four.
John Philippidis’ penalty had given the hosts the lead, but they would end the weekend sixth after an own goal by Harry Knowles and strikes from Kieran Witt, Rowan Steed and Benji Mikhael turned things in Curtin's favour.
Forrestfield are now two points off fourth place, with Balga just below them after they won 2-0 against mid-table Ashfield. Cian Guest and Christian Vest bagged the goals in the first half.
Finally, it was honours even as Carramar Shamrock Rovers pulled a point closer to safety with a 1-1 draw against seventh-placed Quinns FC.
Jason Petrie’s penalty had opened the scoring for the visitors, but Kieran Harrison’s second-half equaliser made it back-to-back draws for Gerry McEwan’s side who remain second bottom.