Mandurah City are within striking distance of top spot in Men’s State League Division One after a 4-2 win at Gosnells City.
John Baird’s side are two points behind leaders Western Knights with a game in hand after they were the only side in the top five to win in Saturday’s Round12.
Mandurah went ahead when Baird’s cross found leading scorer Joe O’Brien inside three minutes at Walter Padbury Reserve, and the marksman gave the Dolphins the insurance of a second goal from close range before the interval.
But Gosnells were set for a point with two goals in the final 18 minutes - Aaron Coslani scoring from the penalty spot and substitute Jordan Junco heading in to make it 2-2.
The visitors had other ideas, though, and Leigh Griffiths tucked a penalty into the bottom corner, before providing the corner which Craig Barker nodded in at the back post.
The win lifted Mandurah above Fremantle City into second spot after Matty Sparrow’s team were held 0-0 at lowly UWA Nedlands.
It was a handy point for Richard Abrams’ side who moved out of the relegation play-off spot on goal difference at the expense of Gosnells, while Freo missed a chance to close the gap on the pacesetters.
Leaders Knights were also held to a scoreless draw on the road, although it could have been worse after opponents Gwelup Croatia saw James Rushton-Woods’ late header ruled out for offside. Gwelup have drawn their past two games and sit three points off fourth spot and the promotion play-offs.
Joondalup United remain in fourth place despite a 4-3 loss to Dianella White Eagles which saw the latter move into promotion contention thanks to Angel Andres Rivera’s hat-trick.
Joel Sollitt’s close-range finish after a goalmouth scramble from a long throw put United up at Dianella Reserve, but Andres responded with a low, skidding free-kick which beat everyone and nestled in the back of the net.
The Spaniard capitalised on a mistake at the back to score into an empty net for 2-1 and it was three before half-time when Jonty Pearson’s left-footed finish made its way in.
A sensational turn and strike from Elliot Tattersal breathed life back into Joondalup after the restart and they tied it up when Jay Lang clipped in a cross for Vlad Naumovski to head home.
But Andres would ultimately win it with a stunning free-kick on 72 minutes which means White Eagles are unbeaten in six games and are only two points off their opponents in fourth.
Elsewhere, Rockingham City’s revival continued as they defeated bottom side Forrestfield United 3-0 for a third win in four games.
Harry Geeves and Josh Mackinder netted in the first half, with Geeves tapping home his second after the break, as Rockingham moved up to seventh and clear of the drop and only four points off a play-off spot.
Forrestfield, meanwhile, has only won once in 12 matches in 2023 and are five points adrift of second bottom with a challenging fixture ahead next week against leaders Knights.
Finally, Murdoch University Melville recorded a much-needed 3-2 win over Subiaco as eighth met ninth at Rosalie Park.
It was a first win in seven for MUM FC who came from behind twice to move to within five points of a promotion play-off place.
Gavin Knight beating the offside trap to slot in the first for Subi, then Christos Vaenas made it one-each with a fierce strike. A red card for Francisco Caballero and a second Subi goal from Adam McGurk seemingly made it tough for Taki Nicolaidis’ team.
However, two goals in a minute did the trick for MUM FC. Feisal Zaw rifled in from close range and Vaenas headed firmly past Conor Hogan as Murdoch got back on track.
Division One results
Dianella White Eagles 4-3 Joondalup United
Gosnells City 2-4 Mandurah City
Gwelup Croatia 0-0 Western Knights
Rockingham City 3-0 Forrestfield United
Subiaco 2-3 Murdoch University Melville
UWA Nedlands 0-0 Fremantle City
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In State League Division Two, leaders Kingsley Westside’s fixture with Wanneroo City was postponed, which meant Morley Windmills closed to within three points with a 1-0 win over Ashfield. Christian Vest scored the only goal five minutes from time.
Maddington-Kalamunda White City won by the same scoreline against Balga to go third as their fantastic run of form continued. Seven wins in eight games was confirmed by Nicolas Pardo’s solitary second-half goal, while Balga remain in eighth spot.
Fourth-placed Swan United’s unbeaten run ended at three as they suffered a 2-0 loss to Joondalup City. The latter have now won back-to-back games to pull five points clear of bottom spot and four above the relegation play-off position, with Jason Petrie and Sam McCracken scoring either side of half-time.
Curtin University are a point off the play-offs in fifth as Nathan Smith, Kieran Witt and Oscar Wright helped them register a 3-0 win over Quinns, who remain second from bottom.
They sit a point clear of Canning City who stay in the drop zone after a 6-1 reverse at home to Carramar Shamrock Rovers.
It was a return to form for the northern suburbs club who are only two points off fourth spot, despite three losses in a row leading into this one.
Alan Reidy’s double got the visitors going, and even though Rowan Steed got one back for Canning, Rovers pulled clear with Wayne Guest, Dylan McCann, Sam Lawless and Callum Trayner all on the scoresheet.
Division Two results
Canning City 1-6 Carramar Shamrock Rovers
Joondalup City 2-0 Swan United
Kingsley Westside P-P Wanneroo City
Maddington White City 1-0 Balga
Morley Windmills 1-0 Ashfield
Quinns 0-3 Curtin University