Undefeated Sorrento FC bounced back from their midweek Australia Cup exit with a 2-0 win against Gosnells City to ensure they top the State League Division One table at the halfway mark of the 2024 season.
The Gulls have won nine and drawn two of their first 11 games to hold a one-point lead over Dianella White Eagles.
At the other end, Gosnells dropped into the relegation play-off spot on goal difference and just two points clear of bottom spot.
Steve McGarry’s Sorrento side took the lead on 20 minutes when Hamza Hina’s pinpoint cross from the left was headed in by Luke Salmon.
The second goal which settled matters was also created down the left as Dario Ramella’s deep delivery was headed in by skipper Dean Cummings to make it 10 goals this season for the league’s leading scorer. That proved enough for Sorrento, who have won eight games in a row.
Dianella continue to keep them honest, with the league’s second-placed side winning 5-1 at home to Joondalup United.
The hosts went in front when Shane Barnes and Andy Keogh combined, with the latter pulling back for Roberto Soares to finish from 12 yards.
Keogh’s pass ran through for Angel Andres Diaz to score low with the last kick of the first half as Dianella took control of the encounter.
Alen Patarov’s header from a corner all but secured the points with 20 minutes remaining before Keogh scored with conviction from the penalty spot to make it four.
Dianella charged forward to register a fifth through substitute Luka Mrdja’s deflected effort, while there was also time for United to score a late consolation through Andrew Flint. They stay ninth after three defeats in four matches, but have breathing space on the bottom three sides.
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Dianella have opened an eight-point gap to Murdoch University Melville in third after Marc Anthony’s side were held 2-2 by Gwelup Croatia.
Pat Sara threaded through for Ed Wynne-Willson, who drove across goal for Iljas Ahmedov to net from close range.
Gwelup levelled before the interval as Reece Kral intercepted Adam Fields’ pass before shooting low and hard from 30 yards to add another long-range goal to his collection.
The visitors hit the front six minutes after the restart following a nice piece of transition play. Jeremie Mba’s cross-field pass was eventually headed back across goal by Pierre Barilly and Robert Ferrante arrived to nod in from six yards.
But it was 2-2 with 63 minutes on the clock when Godfrey Asimwe waited patiently for an opening on the edge of the box before finding Adrian Ciampini, who showed quick feet and a fast finish to level.
That was how it finished with Murdoch now three games without a win, while the point for Gwelup keeps them eighth and clear of the drop, but five points off fourth place.
UWA Nedlands and Subiaco drew 1-1 at UWA Sports Park, as both sides remain two points behind third-placed MUM FC.
Subi struck first on 32 minutes when a cross from the right broke nicely for Moustafa Mohamed in the box. The striker’s shot was blocked by a wall of home defenders, but former Floreat midfielder Phil Arnold was on hand to force over the line.
The hosts rescued a point eight minutes from time when they were awarded a spot-kick, which Jed Afenyo scored despite visiting goalkeeper Conor Hogan guessing the right way.
The two drawn games proved to be good news for Mandurah City, who moved within two points of the inter-divisional play-offs with a 2-1 win over Rockingham City.
The home side led when John Baird’s cross was cleared only as far as Chadley Edwards, who was wide open to volley in and make it goals in back-to-back games.
The Dolphins doubled their advantage on half-an-hour when they were awarded a penalty which Leigh Griffiths emphatically dispatched from 12 yards.
Rockingham gave themselves a route back into the contest early in the second half when Shane Boyle picked out Dylan Rogers at the back post to head in and halve the deficit. But it would prove to be another defeat for the visitors who are bottom and without a league win since the opening day.
Finally, Cockburn City and Kingsley Westside played out a goalless draw at Beale Park.
Kingsley had goalkeeper Peter Stewart to thank after he kept out Harry O'Brien's penalty just before half-time. And the visitors may have clinched a fifth successive win in stoppage time when Jon Hulme was put clean through but his low effort was well saved by City keeper Michael Craggs. Steve McDonald’s Cockburn move out of the bottom two on goal difference, while Steve Dimitrovich’s team are in seventh but just four points off third.
In Division Two, Kalamunda City remain top of the league as a 3-1 win at Canning City extended their unbeaten streak to six matches.
Gaston Bazet’s goal was cancelled out by Tom Kinnane’s penalty just before the hour mark. However, Lal Cung and Jose Zuniga netted in the final 23 minutes to put Kalamunda three points clear, while Canning drop a place to eighth.
Joondalup City stay second despite being held to a 3-3 draw at in-form Balga. Lucas Reid had put City in front on 19 minutes, but Balga who have lost only once in their past five matches, took a 3-1 lead going into the final half-hour thanks to a penalty by Zandre Dique, Theo Gilsenan's own goal and Luke Christie's effort.
However, Cameron Stratton scored three minutes from time to throw City a lifeline before Sam Rawlings’ 93rd minute leveller rescued a draw for the visitors. The creditable point keeps Balga in fifth and two points from the inter-divisional playoffs.
East Perth returned to winning ways and jumped into the inter-divisional play-off spots following a 5-2 win over Curtin University.
Ryan Murray’s opener was cancelled out by Jai Coker for 1-1 at the break before Ryan McCready gave the home side a lead early in the second period.
Kieran Witt answered again for Curtin, only for McCready, Murray, and Cian Tuite to score in the final 22 minutes for East Perth.
Curtin are now sixth, three points off fourth-placed Forrestfield who fell to a 4-2 defeat at lowly Quinns.
Alec Robinson had given Forrestfield an early lead but a Jason Petrie brace and goals for Magai Deng and Liam Hunt had Quinns in full control.
Robinson struck before the hour with what proved to be a consolation, but that’s four defeats in five games now for Darryl Platten’s side, while Quinns go seventh and four points clear of the drop.
Ashfield beat Swan United 4-0 to move out of the relegation play-off place and above their opponents into ninth.
RaviRaj Singh, Anthony Orobio, Jared Flavel and Hanani Ndebele scored the goals at Paintseal Arena. The sides sit ninth and 10nth respectively after Ashfield’s first win in four.
Finally, Wanneroo City are off the mark after recording a first win of the season, 2-1 at fellow strugglers Carramar Shamrock Rovers. Boas Mtwale got the winner after Daniel Airns’ penalty had cancelled out Montee Benjamin’s looping first-half opener. The win for Roos leaves them five points adrift of Rovers, who are now second bottom and in the relegation play-off spot.