Mandurah beat Kingsway to give chasing pack fresh hope
Murray Mackintosh’s goal nine minutes from time gave Mandurah City a 3-2 win against Men’s State League Division One leaders Olympic Kingsway.
It is a result which will give renewed hope for the chasing pack.
The Dolphins suffered a 4-0 loss to Dianella White Eagles last weekend but got off to a good start at GenesisCare Stadium John Baird swept home brilliantly from the edge of the area. After the interval it was Charles Breen who capitalised on an error at the back to score into an empty net.
Kingsway are not leaders for no reason and hit back with two goals in four minutes to tie it up. In-form Ciaran Byrne breezed through a couple of challenges and finished from outside the area for his ninth of the season, before James Fanelli netted from a tight angle after a defensive mix-up.
Mandurah would not be denied, though, and the league’s leading scorers made it 37 for the season when Mackintosh attacked a corner and planted a firm header past David Keenan.
City stay fourth, while second-place Fremantle City and Western Knights picked up high-scoring road wins to also close the gap at the top.
Fremantle ran out 5-2 winners at UWA Nedlands with Roberto Soares scoring a hat-trick. Ivwananji Simbile rifled high into the net after 25 seconds to give UWA a perfect start, but Soares got a quick equaliser and Brian Patterson poked in from close range for 2-1 on 11 minutes.
Gavin Knight executed a gorgeous chip to make it 3-1 for his first goal since signing with City, and Soares took the game away from UWA with a powerful fourth early in the second half.
Dhamon Kalamaras struck a late consolation, but Soares completed his treble to cap a good afternoon as he flew solo down the left and picked out the corner.
Western Knights won 4-2 at Quinns to also keep pace. Declan Hudson put the home side up at the break, but three Knights goals in 15 minutes turned the tide.
Fionn O’Tighearnaigh, Jake Sardelic and Dean Hurley all struck from close range after crosses from the left to seemingly set up a third win in four outings.
Hayden Doyle pulled one back with seven minutes left to score for a fifth consecutive game and potentially set up a nervy finish, but Noah Shamaki’s late curler would seal the points.
Elsewhere, Joondalup United moved into the top half as they beat fifth-place Forrestfield 1-0 thanks to Reece Corrigan’s brilliant 90th minute winner.
Corrigan’s showed poise to lift the ball away from his marker before volleying high into the net from an acute angle, as Joondalup ended a three-game winless run.
Ten-man Dianella White Eagles jumped two places into eighth and leapfrogged Subiaco with a 2-1 win at Rosalie Park, their third victory in four.
Ethan Johnson’s volley put Subi up after seven minutes, but Dianella levelled later in the half when Daniel Mackenzie lashed in following a goalmouth scramble.
Nathan Diaz’s red card made it tough for the visitors, only for Darko Ristoski to come off the bench and stab in a winner.
Rockingham City also got an important win despite having a player sent off, as they moved five points clear of bottom side UWA with a 2-1 defeat of Murdoch University Melville.
Taylor Carter struck inside 20 seconds for the hosts and Shaun Mukwevho made it a flying start with a second after eight minutes when he raced clear to slot in.
Declan Tanna got one back, but despite a red card for Rockingham’s Connor Price on 36 minutes, the hosts saw it out for an important win.
In Division Two, the top four sides all won which means Carramar Shamrock Rovers still lead the league by four points.
Rovers won 3-0 at Canning City with Jamie Gibson scoring twice to go to 12 for the season, while Rhodes Boyce added his first of the campaign to wrap up the win.
Gosnells City are second after a crushing 6-0 win over Ashfield extended their unbeaten run to five games.
Darren Francis got a first-half brace for Marc Anthony’s side two up, before second-half goals from Alan Carroll, Juan Cabrera, Conor Kavanagh and Paul McCormack completed a handsome victory.
Third-place Curtin had four individual scorers as they enjoyed a 4-0 result away at South West Phoenix. Oscar Wright, Daniel Nocciolino and Theodore Chapota all netted prior to Kieran Witt’s sixth in four games and 10th of the season.
Kingsley Westside won 3-1 at home to Swan United with goals from Joshua Waldock, Cameron Bishop and Luke Salmon earning the win, on a day where Kingsley played in purple to raise money and awareness for the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. John Monterosso netted for Swan.
Fifth-placed Joondalup City were held 1-1 by Wanneroo City, William Woodhall’s first of the season for Roos cancelling out Harry Clisby’s opener.
Balga and Morley also drew 1-1. David Heagney gave Morley the lead from the spot, only for Balga to level in stoppage time through a penalty of their own, converted by Weldu Tekeste.