Undefeated Sorrento FC remain at the summit with 10 games played in State League Division One season following a 3-1 win over Subiaco on Saturday.
The Gulls stay a point clear of second-place Dianella White Eagles, who also won, with third-place Murdoch University Melville now seven points off the top after losing heavily at home to UWA Nedlands. Subiaco, meanwhile, drop out of the top four with their third defeat in four matches.
Sorrento striker Keegan Chambers’ crisp low drive opened the scoring on 28 minutes at Rosalie Park, before Subi levelled soon after when Charles Breen pulled back and Moustafa Mohamed’s effort went in via a defender.
But Sorrento, who have a home Australia Cup preliminary semi-final against Perth RedStar on Wednesday, made it eight wins for the campaign with two second half goals.
SEE SQUADI FOR STATE LEAGUE RESULTS, FIXTURES & TABLE
Hamza Hina surged down the right and pulled across goal for Connor Simpson to tap in before Neil Kilkenny’s rasping drive opened the former Leeds United midfielder’s account for the season.
Dianella kept pace with the leaders by winning 2-0 at Rockingham City.
Andy Keogh played a part in both goals as he set up Shane Barnes to find the corner on 17 minutes, before the Irishman’s spot-kick sealed the win late on after Angel Andres Diaz was fouled.
It was a sixth defeat in a row for the hosts who drop to the bottom of the division.
Elsewhere, UWA Nedlands scored three times in the final 10 minutes to overpower 10-man MUM FC at Besteam Stadium.
Sebastian Hooshangian opened the scoring when following in Luke Salas’ shot, but it was level almost immediately when Feisal Zaw turned in from close range after blocked attempts from Ed Wynne-Willson and Iljas Ahmedov.
Pascal Sedgwick was quickest to react after Paul Leask saved Salas’ effort as UWA regained the lead and they took control of matters with 10 minutes left as Toby Robertson collected Salas’ pass to surge clear and score.
Kai Jones’ red card made a MUM FC comeback difficult and Richie Abrams’ side added gloss to the scoreline with two late goals in added time.
Robertson was key in both as he set up Hooshagian for a simple finish, before completing a brace himself when racing clear to finish one-on-one past the goalkeeper. It was a first win in three for UWA, while Marc Anthony’s Murdoch have now lost back-to-back games.
Kingsley Westside are now only two points off the inter-divisional play-offs as a 4-2 win against Mandurah made it four wins in a row for Steve Dimitrovich’s team.
Hayden Lowe continued his form in front of goal with the opener on seven minutes as he hooked in from close range following Adam O’Neill’s header from a Joel Gillespie corner.
Mandurah had levelled by the quarter-hour mark through a corner of their own as Chadley Edwards rose highest to head in Robbie Galvin’s set-piece.
Kingsley were awarded a penalty with 11 minutes remaining with Gillespie dispatching the spot-kick for a 2-1 home lead, before former Carramar player Callum Trayner extended their advantage.
Leigh Griffiths responded in spectacular fashion for the Dolphins as the former Celtic striker’s overhead kick from John Baird’s cross flew in for one of the goals of the season.
But the hosts had the final say as Gillespie’s cross was cleared only as far as substitute Shane Hulgraine, whose rising half-volley rippled the net. Kingsley are now in the top half for the first time this season and leapfrog their opponents who drop a place to seventh.
Elsewhere, Gwelup Croatia moved six points clear of the relegation play-off place following a 2-1 win over Cockburn City who drop to second bottom with the defeat.
Jeremie Mba got the first from the penalty spot after the former Perth SC winger was fouled in the area.
Harry O’Brien’s headed in to provide a quick response for the Cockerels. But a third defeat in four was confirmed for Cockburn after the break when Mba cut in from the left and scored via a deflection off teammate James Harmer, who would be credited with the goal.
Finally, Gosnells City won 2-1 at home to Joondalup United to leap out of the relegation zone.
All the goals came in the final 14 minutes at Walter Padbury Reserve. Wade Farmer picked out Shawn Peppin who broke the deadlock with a firm finish from the edge of the area.
Tom Kennedy played a one-two with Darren Francis and got the return pass to finish for 2-0 and put Gosnells within touching distance of a second win this season.
Substitute George McIlroy pulled one back after Jay Lang’s shot was cleared off the line, but no equaliser would arrive for United who fall from seventh to ninth.
In Division Two, Kalamunda City remain top despite being held to a 2-2 draw with Ashfield as the top six teams are separated by only four points.
The leaders had to come from behind when Hanani Ndelebe scored first on 27 minutes but led midway through the second half thanks to responses from Jose Zuniga and Samir Ramos.
But in-form Ndebele would strike late on to rescue a point and take his tally to 10 goals for the season. Ashfield stay second bottom with the draw but are now only a point behind Carramar Shamrock Rovers.
Joondalup City are up to second after snapping a three-game losing run with a 2-1 win over East Perth.
Ryan McCready moved alongside Ndebele at the top of the goalscoring charts with a goal inside 10 minutes, but two second-half goals from Mason Gallagher ensured the northern suburbs side would return to winning ways.
Forrestfield United have dropped to third after a 1-0 home loss to 10-man Balga, which was a third win in four matches for the visitors.
They went down to 10 men from the 49th minute when Christian Vest received two quick bookings, however Nicholas Bahr Pike won it in the final 10 minutes.
Curtin University are now in the final inter-divisional play-off spot after a 2-1 victory at Carramar had them leapfrog East Perth. Kieran Witt got both goals to take his tally to seven for the season, with Rovers’ goal coming from Daniel Airns.
Elsewhere, Canning City moved four points clear of the relegation play-off spot following an impressive 4-1 win at out-of-form Quinns.
Mason Langham netted a double with Freeman Nyatsambo and Tom Kinnane getting the others, while Jason Petrie scored Quinns’ second-half consolation.
Swan United have also lifted themselves a little further clear of trouble after a 2-1 win over Wanneroo City, who remain rooted to the bottom and are without a win in their first nine games. All the goals came in the first half with Rhys Loxley’s pair helping Swan hit back following Asa Sippits’ opener.