Western Knights returned to the top of the Men’s State League Division One after three second-half goals saw them defeat UWA Nedlands 3-0 at Nash Field on Saturday.
Knights’ win, paired with Mandurah City’s 1-0 defeat to Gwelup Croatia, means the lead changed hands for a third successive week, with Knights now one point clear with three rounds remaining.
Jack Bardsley broke the deadlock for Knights on 58 minutes in when he headed in Jay Sheridan’s corner from the left. The former Carramar player then made it 2-0, hammering home after being teed up by Alex Kretowicz.
Sheridan wrapped up the win late on as he caught out Brendon Rintoul with a near-post free-kick.
UWA’s loss means there is still work for them to do to remain in the second tier next season, as they sit two points above the relegation play-off spot.
While Knights were winning, title rivals Mandurah were paying the price for a wasteful first half as they went down 1-0 to mid-table Gwelup Croatia.
Jacob Williamson won it four minutes from time at the Croatian Sporting Complex when he burst down the left wing and arrowed a low strike past Alfie Brincat.
Mandurah will still go up if they win their final three matches, as they travel to Knights for a potential title decider in the penultimate round.
Trim Morgan’s Gwelup team maintained their outside chances of reaching the inter-divisional playoffs, cutting the margin on fourth place to just four points.
Below them, Dianella White Eagles and Fremantle City maintained third and fourth place respectively after a 1-1 draw in the late kick-off.
It seems Freo have rediscovered their form and are now unbeaten in three, having previously lost three in a row. They took a first-half lead when Ryan Hogan headed in Anthony Topini’s inswinging free-kick.
Dianella have lost only once in their late eight games, though, and loom as a promotion threat themselves. They equalised before the break through Angel Andres Rivera’s penalty kick.
With third and fourth drawing, fifth-placed Joondalup United missed a chance to re-enter the promotion play-off places as they were held 2-2 by Rockingham City.
United led twice, with Jay Lang’s early penalty cancelled out by Rory McGrath’s low finish. Dylan Urquhart put through his own net as hosts Joondalup restored their lead, but Ruben Joseph’s deflected free-kick, his second goal in as many weeks, earned his side a point.
United remain a point off fourth, while the draw moved Rockingham up to seventh and seemingly safe from relegation danger.
Gosnells City picked up three valuable points to move four points clear of the relegation play-off place, defeating Murdoch University Melville 3-1 at Walter Padbury Reserve.
It was only a fourth win of the campaign for the home side, and they did it having trailed 1-0 at the interval following Edward Wynne-Wilson’s terrific free-kick from 22 yards.
However, Godfrey Asimwe’s second yellow card for a handball on the line turned the game on its head, as Aaron Coslani scored the resulting penalty for 1-1.
City made the extra man count as Brice Rae delivered two match-winning blows in the final 10 minutes. The first saw him slot in after unselfish play from Tony Chandler, before a close-range finish into the roof of the net from Josh Spencer’s cross sealed victory.
MUM FC are eighth and one point ahead of Gosnells in the standings.
Finally, Subiaco missed an opportunity to move out of the play-off spot after they were held 1-1 by Forrestfield United in a battle between the league’s bottom two.
Subi had led on 41 minutes when Gavin Knight found space in the box to head home, but they remain 11th after Forrestfield came back to draw for the second week in a row.
Ethan Reynolds’ long throw was helped onto Owen Yamungu who tied it up on 64 minutes, as the draw delayed Forrestfield’s seemingly inevitable relegation for another week.
In Division Two, Josh Waldock’s 94th minute winner steadied the Kingsley Westside ship as they won 3-2 at Swan United.
Kingsley are now five points clear with three rounds remaining having lost back-to-back games earlier in the week. They trailed when Rhys Loxley opened the scoring, but goals from Hayden Lowe and Daniel Harrison turned it around before the break.
Goalkeeper Peter Stewart was credited with an own goal after a long-range strike from Swan, but Waldock’s volley across goal went in at the end to inch Kingsley closer to the title.
Maddington-Kalamunda White City are now second after a 3-2 win over Joondalup City made it five wins on the spin.
Liam Peacock had City one-up at the break, but Nicolas Pardo and Cristian Polo came off the bench to put the game back in Maddington’s favour.
The league’s top scorer Samir Ramos provided a two-goal cushion with a 90th minute goal and White City held on to win despite Jason Petrie’s late consolation.
Morley Windmills dropped to third after suffering a 6-1 home defeat to Canning City. In-form Rowan Steed scored five times as City leap off the bottom of the table following back-to-back victories.
Curtin University round out the top four after Friday’s 2-1 win over Wanneroo City despite being down to 10 men early in the second half.
Janno Saks had put Curtin in front, before goalkeeper Daniel Marques was shown a red card which allowed Cosimo Figliomeni to score the subsequent spot-kick to tie it up for Wanneroo.
Kieran Witt’s winner on 77 minutes gave the hosts what proved to be an important victory and they are now three points ahead of fifth and sixth.
One of those sides chasing are Carramar Shamrock Rovers, who joined Swan United on 32 points following a 1-0 win at Balga. Veteran defender John Kearney got the winner to keep Rovers’ promotion play-off hopes alive, while Balga drop to the bottom after their loss and Canning’s big win.
Finally, Ashfield are now unbeaten in six following a 3-3 draw with Quinns. The point helps Quinns creep a little clear of the drop zone, while Ashfield are all but safe in mid-table.