Western Knights returned to winning ways in Round Eight of the Men’s State League Division One after a stoppage-time own-goal gave them a 2-1 win at UWA Nedlands.
The result keeps Adam Kostrencic’s team one point clear of Mandurah City at the top of the league, while Fremantle City sit three points behind the leaders after dropping two points.
UWA hit the front against Knights when Adam Falcone whipped in a free-kick and David Molinari powered in a header on 20 minutes, but the league leaders hit back minutes later in spectacular fashion through Jack Bardsley’s volley.
It seemed a draw was on the cards until Knights struck two minutes into second-half stoppage time. Jay Sheridan’s cross was headed back across goal by Bardsley with Adam Harris in the mix and the final touch deemed to be an own-goal off Darran Quinncroft.
Mandurah City kept pace with Knights by winning 2-0 against Gwelup Croatia, their fourth win in a row.
After a goalless first half, Mandurah led four minutes into the second period with top scorer Joe O’Brien hooking into the top corner to continue his electric form in front of goal.
The Dolphins doubled the lead when Sam Byrne lifted a clever finish over an onrushing Josiah Godfrey following a one-two with John Baird.
Gwelup thought they had pulled a late goal back when Jacob Williamson headed in Charles Chechlacz’s corner, but an alert official spotted that Chechlacz had played the ball twice without another player touching it after the ball returned straight to him via the post. The defeat means Gwelup drop into the bottom half of the table.
At Hilton Park, Hamza Hina’s late goal earned Fremantle City a 3-3 draw with Dianella White Eagles, who remain eighth.
Hayden Stevens’ thunderous header put City in front, but they were pegged back a minute later when Angel Andres Rivera beat Jordan Barbas to a ball forward and finished from a tight angle.
Ollie La Galia nodded Pat Loughrey’s second set-piece assist past Peter Pilkadaris for 2-1 Freo, but Dianella struck twice before the break to turn the game on its head.
Two set-pieces were the source again with Mitchell Byrne glancing a header over Barbas to tie it up, before the hosts struggled to clear their lines and Josh Kuser turned in the area and finished low past the goalkeeper.
Dianella could not make it back-to-back wins though and Freo rescued a point when Hina arrived to score from two yards.
Joondalup United were the day’s big movers jumping from seventh to fourth following a 3-1 Saturday evening win at Rockingham City.
Sam McKearnan’s cross was met by a stooping header from Joshua Allum for the opener and United had two inside half-an-hour thanks to Elliot Tattersall’s superb curling strike.
Rockingham pulled a goal back when Bradley Vlachy’s drive fell kindly for Jayden Leader to net, but with the hosts down to 10 men United sealed it when Callum Stocks prodded home with Joel Sollitt having rattled the bar.
Murdoch University Melville dropped points for the third game in a row as they were held 2-2 by Gosnells City at Besteam Stadium.
It started well for Taki Nicolaidis’ team when Christos Vaenas picked out the corner from Sebastian Hooshangian’s cut back, only for Scott Pereira’s back-post finish from Blake Adams’ free-kick to make it one-each at the break.
Aden Hoddy’s low free-kick from the edge of the box put the visitors ahead as they looked to respond to Tuesday’s Australia Cup exit against NPL side Inglewood United.
But Declan Tanna’s outside-of-the-foot finish from inside the area meant City were not in front for the long, and that is how it stayed with MUM FC down one place to fifth and Gosnells up one place to ninth.
Finally, there were four goals in the second half as Forrestfield United twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Subiaco at Rosalie Park.
Gavin Knight laid off for Aaron McGurk to lash home left-footed for Subiaco, but Ali Nazary’s free-kick from range caught the goalkeeper off guard and crept into the bottom corner.
That equaliser came with six minutes to play, but Subi immediately regained the lead straight from kick-off. Dominic Manno got the goal as he burst into the area, beat a man, and finished high into the net.
But having dramatically won their first game of 2023 last week against UWA last time out, the bottom-of-the-table visitors once again snared a late result as Mohamed Rezai curled into the top corner to earn a point which closes the gap on those above them.
Division One results
Fremantle City 3-3 Dianella White Eagles
Mandurah City 2-0 Gwelup Croatia
Murdoch University Melville 2-2 Gosnells City
Rockingham City 1-3 Joondalup United
Subiaco 2-2 Forrestfield United
UWA Nedlands 1-2 Western Knights
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In Division Two, Kingsley Westside came from behind to win 4-2 against Swan United and maintain a three-point lead at the top of the league.
Luke Salmon cancelled out Cameron Anderson’s second-minute opener, before Rhys Loxley’s goal on the hour gave Swan hope of inflicting a first defeat on the leaders.
But two goals in the space of three minutes from Paul Stewart and Salmon turned it back in the hosts favour, before Stewart’s late penalty ensured Kingsley’s advantage remained intact while Swan drop from third to sixth.
Morley Windmills stay second after putting four goals past Canning City, who are now bottom following Saturday’s results. Michael Rizidis made it 1-0 at half-time before second-half goals from Steve Purton, Stephen Musonda and Ishmael Dawson fleshed out the result.
Carramar Shamrock Rovers went third with a 3-0 win at home to Balga, Chris Pugh, Callum Trayner, and Drew Johnston, while Wanneroo City also put themselves in promotion contention with a 2-1 victory against Curtin University. Nathan Smith gave Curtin the lead early in the second half, Dion Berman levelled and Jaydan Licastro found the winner 19 minutes from time.
Ashfield made it back-to-back wins with goals from Gareth Hamilton and Jake Flavel in the final five minutes earning them a 2-1 win against Quinns, who had led through Harry Edwards.
And Joondalup City registered their first win of the campaign 2-1 at home to Maddington-Kalamunda White City thanks to goals from Sam Rawlings and Marcel Dzwonik.
Division Two results
Ashfield 2-1 Quinns
Canning City 0-4 Morley Windmills
Carramar Shamrock Rovers 3-0 Balga
Joondalup City 2-1 Maddington-Kalamunda White City
Kingsley Westside 4-2 Swan United
Wanneroo City 2-1 Curtin University