Olympic Kingsway win Division One title and promotion to NPL
Olympic Kingsway were officially crowned Men’s State League Division One champions on Saturday afternoon, doing it in style with a 7-0 win at Rockingham.
Ciaran Byrne bagged four as David Tough’s side won for a seventh time in eight matches to confirm promotion to the NPLWA – Men’s competition for the first time. It also sees them return to the top flight of WA football for the first time this century, where they will replace relegated Gwelup Croatia.
Win number 18 in 21 matches was ignited by Ciaran Byrne’s goal after 25 seconds, with Perich’s one-on-one finish and Byrne’s lob making it 3-0 after 13 minutes.
Rockingham held out for the remainder of the first half, but Kingsway started the party after the restart when Nick Koefler headed in Michael Zimarino’s corner.
Tommy Amphlett came off the bench to drive home a fifth, before another close-range Byrne finish and a penalty late on made it 19 goals this term for the striker. He trails Mandurah City’s Joe O’Brien by one goal in the race for the Golden Boot with one round remaining.
Kingsway will receive the league title trophy at their final league game, at home to UWA Nedlands on Saturday.
Elsewhere, former Scotland and Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths scored on his Mandurah City debut as the Dolphins kept their hopes of finishing second alive with a 3-0 win over Western Knights.
Craig Barker blazed in the opener from distance on 11 minutes, then a minute before half-time Mandurah fans celebrated a goal from Griffiths in the first of his two matches with City.
Griffiths received Barker’s pass with one touch to get it out of his feet before curling brilliantly beyond goalkeeper Sebastian Medica from outside the area.
The Scot’s afternoon ended on 68 minutes when he limped off after a hefty challenge, before Barker’s second of the game and 13th goal of the campaign from James Paylor’s cross completed the victory.
Murdoch University Melville sealed a top-half finish with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over fourth-placed Fremantle City.
MUM FC are not able to catch Freo despite the win but can be pleased with their first season in Division One, having won March’s Night Series against champions Kingsway.
Gavin Knight put Fremantle in front in first half added time but Kaito Imada’s third goal in four matches from outside the box made it 1-1 early in the second period.
The winner was scored on 89 minutes when Patrick Sara sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.
At the bottom of the league, Quinns FC were relegated following a 1-1 draw with Joondalup United.
It completes a tough season for Quinns, who were playing in a Top Four Cup final last September, but now return to Division Two after finishing in the automatic relegation spot.
Mason Gallagher’s first senior goal gave Quinns a chance of breaking a 14-game run without a win, but Adam Buckley’s second in as many games ensured the points were shared, despite a late red card for the visitors’ Alex Wheelhouse.
One of Subiaco or UWA Nedlands will maintain their Division One status for 2023, while the other will go into the inter-divisional playoffs with second, third and fourth from Division Two.
Both sides are currently locked on 17 points after the pair drew their respective matches at the weekend.
Subiaco are currently 10th and two goals better off than UWA after a 2-2 draw with Forrestfield United. They had to come from two down to register a point as Alex McLean’s header and Andrew Harold’s low strike put the visitors in a strong position.
But Subiaco rallied to net twice in as many minutes in the second half. Emmanuel Langoya rattled in his 10th goal of the season, before Mark Bauersachs’ strike tied it up at 2-2.
UWA drew 1-1 at home to Dianella White Eagles as both sides ended the game with 10 men. Sebastian Stenqvist found the first of the day on 11 minutes after a nice assist from Darko Ristoski.
The home side drew level midway through the second half thanks to Sam Moffatt’s penalty as Uni’s fight for guaranteed survival goes to the final day. Subiaco are away at Western Knights in Round 22, while UWA complete their regular season at champions Kingsway.
Division Two champions Gosnells City were presented with their State League Division Two title, but Curtin University crashed the celebrations with a 2-1 win at Walter Padbury Reserve.
Marc Anthony’s side had confirmed league glory and promotion in Tuesday’s catch-up win against Balga, but on Saturday it was Curtin who ended Gosnells’ 14-game unbeaten run to boost their own hopes of finishing in the promotion play-off spots.
Swan United enhanced their chances of finishing in the top four with a 3-0 win away to Wanneroo City. Swan made it five wins in six matches and a win in Wednesday’s catch-up game at relegated South West Phoenix will seal third spot.
Kingsley Westside currently hold the fourth and final play-off spot after a 2-0 win over second-place Carramar Shamrock Rovers. Jonathan Hulme and Ilya Nebylytsya got the goals in each half.
Balga also remain in the promotion hunt after winning 1-0 away at Ashfield. Bleron Mamudi scored the only goal from the penalty spot, but they must now win against leaders Gosnells in Tuesday’s game-in-hand to stand a chance of making it.
Finally, South West Phoenix’s relegation back to the Amateur Premier League after one season was confirmed despite a 1-0 win over Joondalup City at Hay Park.
Jayden Prosser’s winning goal ultimately was not enough as 11th-placed Canning City also won 1-0 at Morley Windmills to end the hosts’ play-off hopes. Rowan Steed scored the winner from the penalty spot.