Joe O’Brien’s 93rd minute equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw for Mandurah City against Western Knights in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at Nash Field, which ensures the Men’s State League Division One title race will go to the final day.
Despite the late concession, Knights still have matters in their own hands with one round remaining as a win over Joondalup United this Saturday guarantees they will be crowned champions and claim automatic promotion.
Mandurah are a point behind their rivals but do have a superior goal difference. They host Dianella White Eagles on Saturday and to snatch the league and avoid the promotion play-offs, they must better Knights’ result.
Adam Kostrencic’s team knew a win in the penultimate round would see them return to the top flight for the first time since 2012 and it was looking good for them when they took a lead late in the first half.
Jack Bardsley headed Jay Sheridan’s cross against the bar before Albert Luwi’s follow-in was saved by a combination of Alfie Brincat and the post. The rebound fell straight to Alex Kreotwicz and he bravely forced the ball over the line from close range.
Knights held the initiative until late in the piece when a corner from the right was cleared only as far as Hamish Van Dieken whose volley was diverted into the net by O’Brien.
Elsewhere, Knights’ Round 22 opponents Joondalup United are all but assured of a promotion play-off spot after winning 2-1 at relegated Forrestfield United.
Nick Jennings’ side are third following losses for fourth-placed Fremantle City and fifth-placed Dianella. The gap between them and Dianella is three points while they also have an eight-goal better goal difference.
James Oldroyd got Joondalup’s opener at Crazy Domains Stadium and the lead was doubled in the second period when Elliot Tattersall hooked in from close range following a long throw.
Jason Pottier came off the bench to emphatically score from the penalty spot with 12 minutes left, but Forrestfield could not find an equaliser with their disappointing season almost over.
Fremantle City are two points behind United and one point clear of Dianella despite a 3-1 loss at Murdoch University Melville.
Mid-table MUM FC made a lightning-fast start at Besteam Stadium with two goals inside the first four minutes setting them on course for back-to-back wins.
Sebastian Hooshangian rifled in a 25-yarder to start proceedings before William Formston’s cross found Feisal Zaw who did the rest with a low shot across the goalkeeper.
Ryan Hogan’s header from a corner gave Freo life before half-time, but Murdoch sealed victory after a well-worked move down the right which ended with Declan Tanna’s curling finish.
Fremantle’s loss left the door open for Dianella to move back into fourth place, but they threw it away after suffering a 4-1 home loss to relegation-threatened Subiaco.
As a result, Dianella are winless in three and must beat Mandurah while hoping Freo slip up at Rockingham. Consequently, it was a massive result for Marc Wingell’s Subi who jumped out of the relegation play-off spot on goal difference at the expense of UWA Nedlands.
Subiaco’s Aaron McGurk showed good fight to keep the ball alive and leave Kaleb Morrison with an opportunity to open the scoring.
Shane Barnes levelled promptly from close range which made it 1-1 at the break, but the visitors struck early in the second half when Morrison teed up with veteran striker Gavin Knight.
Knight stayed onside to drill low into the corner to send Subiaco towards three points and the job was done when Alex Fisher failed to keep out Morrison’s late strike.
A win against Gosnells in Round 22 means Subi will likely be safe given their favourable goal difference over UWA, who dropped to 11th place following a 3-0 defeat at Gosnells which confirmed the hosts’ safety.
Brice Rae surged through on goal and put the home side 1-0 up inside a quarter of an hour, which was a lead they held until half-time.
Tom Kennedy nodded in Tony Chandler’s corner to put Gosnells in control and their goal of survival was achieved midway through the second half when Jack Kiama timed his run to perfection and poked past the goalkeeper.
Finally, Gwelup Croatia and Rockingham City drew 1-1 in a fixture between two mid-table sides which was abandoned at half-time.
Jacob Williamson’s brilliant curling strike put Trim Morgan’s side ahead before Ruben Joseph’s excellent end to the season continued as he cut in from the right and scored for a fourth straight game.
In Division Two, Kingsley Westside’s seemingly inevitable title win was finally rubberstamped as they defeated Canning City 5-0 at Burrendah Reserve.
Luke Salmon scored twice to set Kingsley on their way with Jon Hulme adding a third before the break. Goals from substitutes Paul Stewart and Jack Reilly added late gloss as the champions sit seven points clear of Maddington with one game remaining.
Maddington, meanwhile, are guaranteed a promotion play-off spot after drawing 2-2 with Quinns in the late kick-off.
Mason Gallagher put Quinns up before goals from Maiki Balbinot and Gaston Bazet in the final 16 minutes had the home side on the track for victory.
But City’s Cristian Zuluaga received an 89th minute red card and Quinns’ Tyler Holden grabbed a crucial late equaliser for the northern suburbs club, which just about keeps them safe after they moved three points and goal difference clear of the bottom two.
Curtin also cemented their promotion playoff spot with a 1-0 win at Ashfield where Kieran Witt scored the winning goal.
Swan United are set to join them after hammering Carramar Shamrock Rovers 4-0 at Grandis Park in the battle between fourth and fifth. Rhys Loxley and John Monterosso registered braces as Swan moved three points and significant goal difference clear of Rovers going into the final day.
The fight to avoid the relegation play-off spot is likely between Canning City and Balga, who lost 2-0 at Joondalup City with the latter now safe. Sam McCracken and Jaso Petrie got the goals.
Balga in 10th go to Ashfield on the final day needing to better 11th-placed Canning’s result at Quinns, with the struggling pair level on points.
