O'Brien inspires Mandurah to comeback win

Mandurah City made it two wins from two to start the 2026 State League Division One season after twice coming from behind to defeat Cockburn City 3-2 at Dalmatinac Park.

The Cockerels were looking to build on a hard-fought draw with MUM FC in Round One and made an ideal start when Luka Caceres’ cross was put in at the back post by an unmarked Isaac McVittie.

Mandurah levelled before half-time as Jordan Callaghan finished at the second time of asking from Charlie Breen’s right flank cross.

McVittie scored a carbon copy of his opener early in the second half, with Matt Bowen the supplier this time. But the Dolphins showed their firepower on opening night when putting five past Subiaco and two goals in seven minutes helped turn the game in their favour.

Joe O’Brien was involved in both, with his instinctive volley in the box making it 2-2, before his header was well saved by Ben Radonich with Callaghan first to the rebound for the winner.

Floreat Athena also have a 100% record and join Mandurah on six points after winning 2-1 against Joondalup City on Friday evening.

Harry Edwards put the visitors ahead late in the first half after Luke Steer cushioned down a cross from the right wing.

But two quickfire second-half goals ensured Alun Vernals’ team claimed three points for a second week running at E&D Litis Stadium.

Josh Willis got the equaliser when his low free kick went through a crowded penalty area to nestle in the back of the net. Then Harvey Tomlison was brought down in the box and Jordan Langley fired the resulting penalty into the roof of the net.

Elsewhere, there were a couple of 1-1 draws, with four sides still waiting for a first win this season.

One was at Proto DPS Stadium as Night Series runners-up Inglewood United were held to a 1-1 draw by Murdoch University Melville.

Both goals were bagged in the first half. Gustavo Marulanda’s long-range effort for MUM FC was cancelled out by Martin Coughlan, who finished after Declan Hudson’s give-and-go with Shane McMonagle.

UWA Nedlands also got their first point of the season with Lewis Nohar’s stoppage-time penalty earning a 1-1 draw with Gwelup Croatia.

Jeremie Mba had earlier put the hosts into a seventh-minute lead when pickpocketing a UWA defender and finishing low into the corner.

They held that advantage until the fourth minute of added time as Gwelup were penalised for handball in the area and Nohar sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick.

Kingsley Westside’s clash with Curtin University was postponed and will be played on Tuesday 7 April, while Subiaco’s match with Quinns FC was also called off. 

In Division Two, Wembley Downs were the weekend’s big winners as their 5-1 win over North Beach took them to the top of the table.

Tristan Sullivan and Alex Kretowicz traded goals in the opening 20 minutes, but four goals in the final 25 minutes saw Wembley cruise to victory.

Toby Robertson bagged a brace with Josh Chalmers and Taye Thistlethwaite getting the others for Luke Thompson’s early pacesetters.

Rockingham City join Wembley on two wins in as many games as a pair of late goals saw them come from behind to win 2-1 at Morley Windmills. Brennan Borzcecki had put Windmills into a fourth-minute lead but an own goal on 87 minutes and a stoppage-time winner from Shaun Mukwevho flipped the script for the visitors.

Kalamunda City picked up their first points of the season in a 2-0 win at Forrestfield with Isaac Spencer and Thang Sangpichung getting the goals in the opening 45.

There was a goalless draw between Canning City and Gosnells City, while Carramar Shamrock Rovers versus East Perth and Ashfield’s clash with Balga were postponed.