Champions Dianella! Eagles heading to NPL, Quinns clinch Division Two title

DIVISION ONE

Dianella White Eagles are back in the top flight for the first time since 1998 after a 3-0 victory at Kalamunda City in the final round of the State League Division One season.

Dianella fell at the final hurdle when they were defeated by Perth Glory in the inter-divisional play-offs last season. But they avoided any possibility of a repeat with a comfortable win at Maida Vale Reserve, which left Kalamunda in the relegation play-off spot at the other end of the table.

DIVISION ONE RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS

Ian Ferguson’s side had the title in their own hands after defeating UWA Nedlands 2-1 in Wednesday’s top-of-the-table clash. It took them 19 minutes to open the scoring on Saturday courtesy of a deflected effort by Alvert Luwi, who in 2023 scored the decisive goal which took Western Knights to the NPL.

Dianella’s cause was helped thanks to a second-half red card for City’s Ramiro Costes. And they took advantage as two late goals rubberstamped automatic promotion. Another Luwi effort broke kindly to Cory McNelis to net, before Hugo Snowden’s penalty on full-time sparked scenes of celebration from the visiting supporters.

The result meant UWA Nedlands are league runners-up, but they can still make the NPL via the play-offs. On Saturday they hammered already-relegated Gosnells City 7-1.

Uni were three-up after 27 minutes through Sam Ince’s opener, Jordan Pokler’s cool finish and Joe McInnes hitting the roof of the net after racing clear of the defence.

Iljas Ahmedov volleyed in Roberto Soares’ cross for four at half-time, before McInnes picked out the bottom corner on a couple of occasions to complete his hat-trick.

Ahmedov tumbled in the seventh which proved to be the goal that won him the league’s Golden Boot, before Stephen Grubber arrived late to steer in a Gosnells consolation from Aaron Coslani’s cross.

UWA will play Joondalup City in the inter-divisional play-off semi-finals after the northern suburbs club won 4-1 at Subiaco on the final day.

City had already confirmed their play-off spot during the week with a win over Curtin, and they were 2-0 up inside half-an-hour at Rosalie Park when Jack Overy put in Callum Stocks’ cross and Jayden Rowles scored from close range.

Subi halved the deficit early in the second half when David Micevski thumped in a header from Dean Evans’ free-kick. But Harry Edwards’ penalty and a Navarone Synnerdahl own goal ensured Joondalup City go into the post-season in good form with just one loss in their last eight games.

Kingsley Westside complete the inter-divisional play-off line-up after coming from behind to prevail 3-1 in a winner-takes-all clash for fourth place at Gwelup Croatia.

Ben Campbell helped on Robert Ferrante’s 40th-minute free-kick from the right to put Gwelup ahead at half-time.

In-form striker Max Adamson rifled in at the near post from Elliot Tattersall’s pass to bring the scores level midway through the second half.

Neil Gillies firmly headed in Luke Doyle’s set-piece to put Kingsley in front with eight minutes remaining before Adamson rolled in from a narrow angle moments later to seal the win.

Kingsley’s excellent form in the second half of the season sees them play NPL side Fremantle City over two legs in a fortnight’s time, while Gwelup will likely finish the season in sixth despite being the early pacesetters.

Murdoch University Melville are fifth after cruising to a 7-2 win over Inglewood United, but Kingsley’s win means they will fall just short of the play-offs despite having a game in hand.

Seagh Harris got on the end of two crosses to bag a brace in the opening 45 minutes before Gustavo Marulanda’s one-on-one finish and close-range effort had Murdoch four-up at the break.

Inglewood pulled one back through Chad Nilson’s penalty, only for Marulanda to complete his hat-trick when again released in behind the Inglewood defence.

Feisal Zaw applied a simple finish for six, and though Jordan Brown got a consolation from Dean Hurley’s free-kick, it was seven when Ed Wynne-Willson smartly volleyed in Zaw’s cross.

Finally, Mandurah City ended their season on a high with a 3-1 win away at Curtin University.

Jordan Callaghan tapped in the opener when the ball kindly broke his way two minutes before half-time, and it was two for the Dolphins early in the second half when Gerard Clarke scored past the advancing Alec Radonich.

Victory was confirmed when Oliver Fields crashed home from the edge of the box as Manudrah end the year seventh. Jude Baillie’s did score a late free-kick as Troy Reid’s Curtin finished two points above the drop zone and stay in Division One.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Quinns FC were crowned champions with a game to spare following a 3-2 win at relegation-threatened Swan United.

James Oldroyd twice put the leaders in front, but they were pegged back on both occasions by goals from Yousif Toto and Brennan Borzecki.

However, Vasco Da Silva scored the winner on 87 minutes to confirm promotion to Division One for Quinns and cap a successful first season for former Joondalup United head coach Nick Jennings.

It means Cockburn City and East Perth will now face one another in the inter-divisional play-offs. The pair will occupy second and third places, with just the final order to be decided.

Rory McGrath, Oliver Carr and James Bourne scored for the Cockerels in a 3-1 win at Forrestfield, whose consolation came from Jiddan Muhafidin.

East Perth, meanwhile, had a 2-0 win over Wanneroo with Michael Henry and a James Spurry own goal deciding the contest with the result putting Roos into the bottom two.

Elsewhere, Balga kept alive their hopes of a play-off finish with a 3-1 win at Rockingham City.

DIVISION TWO RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS

Ilya Nebylytsya was at the double and Jose Zuniga got the other as Balga led 3-0, with Dylan Rogers getting one back after the restart for the hosts. Balga need to win their final game at home to Swan and hope Forrestfield lose both their remaining matches to qualify for the post-season.

Four second-half goals gave Ashfield’s survival hopes a boost as they won 4-1 at nine-man Wembley Downs with Deng Dut, Luca Macri, Thabo Mazibuko and RaviRaj Singh on the scoresheet. They sit two points above the bottom two with a game in hand, while Wembley are already safe with Tristan Sullivan scoring their goal.

Canning City are also likely to stay in the third tier following a 2-1 win over Carramar Shamrock Rovers. Harry Bissett had put Rovers up, but Ethan Grant and Bill Orr turned the game around with Canning now needing a range of results to go against them to be in danger of relegation.