Murdoch University Melville kept pace with the top two in State League Division One after they prevailed in a nine-goal thriller against Joondalup United.
Marc Anthony’s side led twice before being pegged back at Besteam Stadium, before United then found the front. Two Feisal Zaw penalties were key in turning the game back in MUM FC’s favour as they held on to sit a point behind new leaders Sorrento FC.
Daniel Tait got the hosts’ opener on 12 minutes when following in from Pat Sara’s shot which came back off the post. But it was 1-1 soon after as the home side failed to clear a corner and Jay Lang hooked over his shoulder to level.
Murdoch restored their lead when Brodie Langan’s enterprising run and release found Ishmael Dawson who whipped in stylishly for 2-1 at the break.
Nick Jennings’ side hit back and were in front by the 70th minute. Sam McKearnan clipped over the MUM FC defence for Andrew Flint to lob home before Jamie Gardiner teed up Lang who drilled in from 18 yards to complete the turnaround.
Zaw’s first spot-kick made it 3-3 with 11 minutes left before Sara’s cross was volleyed home by Paul McCormack as the home side led for a third time.
Zaw’s second penalty late on seemed a likely sealer, but Joondalup had one final scare up their sleeve in added time when Tyler Holden pulled back for McKearnan to finish from six yards. Time ran out for the visitors though as MUM FC made it three games without defeat.
SEE SQUADI FOR STATE LEAGUE RESULTS, FIXTURES & TABLE
The top three sides are separated by one point following the completion of the weekend’s action. Sorrento went top as they extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches with a 1-0 win at Cockburn City.
The Cockerels are bottom of the league and coached by former Gulls defender Steve McDonald, but it was his Scottish counterpart Steve McGarry who went home from Beale Park the happier of the two coaches.
Connor Simpson scored the game’s only goal on 41 minutes with the striker finishing from close range after Dean Cummings had turned Dario Ramella’s free-kick back into the danger area.
Cockburn’s loss is a seventh in eight games as they remain a point behind second-bottom Gosnells, while the Gulls turn their attention to next weekend’s important home fixture with Murdoch.
Sorrento are now top after Dianella White Eagles suffered a first defeat of the season at the hands of Kingsley Westside.
Daniel Harrison’s penalty set Steve Dimitrovich’s side on their way, but Angel Andres Rivera brought down a long pass from Mitchell Byrne and coolly finished to make it 1-1 at half time.
Harrison completed a brace when his free-kick from a wide position went through the visitors' wall and crept in past Peter Pilkadaris.
The home side were reduced to 10 men with seven minutes remaining when Nick Koefler received a straight red card. But they defended well in the final stages with Peter Stewart saving from Angel Andres Jr. late on to ensure back-to-back wins for Kingsley, who go ninth and five points clear of the relegation play-off place.
Elsewhere, Oscar Barry scored two beauties to ensure Subiaco stayed in fourth with a 2-0 win over struggling Gosnells who suffered a fourth defeat in a row.
Barry’s first came on 57 minutes when Phil Arnold played a quick free-kick and the midfielder advanced to the edge of the area before rifling home.
Martin Coughlan was sent off for the home side soon after, but Subiaco did not let that deter them and they doubled their lead courtesy of Barry’s stunning free-kick.
That win keeps Subi in touch with the leading trio and they extended their advantage over fifth-placed UWA Nedlands to three points after Uni’s 1-1 draw with Mandurah.
Richie Abrams’ side led just after half-time when Jed Afenyo scored a sixth goal of the season after Alfie Brincat had clawed Jacob Tuner’s effort off the line.
Tuner was involved in Mandurah’s leveller soon after as Tadgh O’Malley saved Leigh Griffiths’ header only for the defender to lose his bearings on the rebound and put into his own net. The sides ended round eight fifth and sixth respectively with the Dolphins four points behind UWA.
Finally, 10-man Gwelup Croatia came from a goal down with 20 minutes remaining to defeat out-of-form Rockingham City 3-1.
Max Worswick threaded through for Cory McNelis to run in and finish for City on 22 minutes and they soon had a player advantage when Jamie Johnstone saw a straight red for Gwelup.
But Rockingham’s losing run would extend to four games, not ideal heading into tomorrow night's Australia Cup tie with NPL champions Perth RedStar. First Paul Grant pulled Gwelup level with a header from Pierre Barilly’s free-kick with 70 minutes played. Another wicked delivery from Barilly resulted in Miklos Imre putting the hosts 2-1 up after Moses Macauley’s effort was blocked. Then midfielder Reece Kral's piledriver sealed the win to leave Gwelup four points clear of 10th-placed Rockingham.
In Division Two, the top four sides are all on 15 points as the first and second teams both lost for a second successive week.
Joondalup City remain top on goal difference despite going down 2-1 at home to Swan United.
Callum Stocks’ early strike put Joondalup ahead only for goals from Luke Ross and Rhys Loxley to lift Swan from 10th to seventh following a run of three wins in four matches.
Kalamunda City are second after a 3-1 win over Curtin University extended their winning streak to three matches. An own goal set City on their way before goals from Farruh Mavlonov and Lal Cung ensured a comfortable win despite Rowan Steed’s late consolation for Curtin who drop to eighth.
East Perth are also on 15 points following a 2-1 win over Forrestfield United, who dropped a place to third.
Forrie, with former Sorrento player Scott Witschge in their ranks, fell behind to Chris Smith’s opener before Lukas Johansson levelled. But Ryan McCormack re-established the lead for East Perth which made it four wins in five for the promoted club.
The top four teams have a five-point buffer on Quinns in fifth and Canning City in sixth.
Quinns were held to a goalless draw by bottom side Wanneroo City who remain without a win in their opening seven fixtures. Canning, meanwhile, defeated Ashfield 5-3 thanks largely to four goals from George Stephens.
Stephens struck twice to answer an early goal from Hanani Ndebele as Lee Hayward’s side led 2-1 at the interval. Stephens added two more to his tally in the second half before Bill Orr cemented the victory, despite Ndebele also ending the game with a hat-trick for the visitors, who now look ahead to tomorow’s Australia Cup tie with Sorrento.
Finally, second-bottom Carramar Shamrock Rovers picked up an important three points in a 3-1 win at Balga, which leaves Wanneroo five points adrift at the foot.
Warren Wadawu, Phil O’Callaghan and Daniel Airns all got on the scoresheet to end a four-game losing streak for Rovers following Christian Vest’s opener.