Stirling Macedonia went top of the Men’s State League Division One on Saturday after a 2-0 win at bottom side UWA Nedlands.
The win, coupled with Western Knights' 2-2 draw against Fremantle City, means Ian Ferguson's side sit a point clear ahead of next week's clash between the leading pair.
Joshua Marocchi's own goal on 10 minutes put the hosts in front at Macedonia Park, before Shay Donovan's finish two minutes after half-time gave Stirling their fourth straight win in the league.
Knights, who gave up top spot with a third draw in four games, needed a Ciaran Byrne goal eight minutes from time to rescue a draw against Fremantle at Nash Field.
Byrne continued his stellar season in front of goal with the opener on 10 minutes, striking low past Jordan Barbas.
But City have an in-form striker of their own in the form of Noah Shamaki and he pulled his side level on 22 minutes with a rasping finish from the edge of the area.
Knights then stood off Shamaki again on the hour mark and he plundered his second and sixth in six games. However, they were unable to hold on for all three points as Byrne tapped in his 14th goal in seven games to maintain his side’s unbeaten start. There was even more late drama as Paul Lloyd and Andrija Jukic of Knights and Fremantle’s Maxwell Snelson all collected red cards.
Quinns moved above Fremantle into third place after a 4-0 win away at Swan United.
Glen Grostate's side got off to a fast start at the Swan Italian Club when Adam Buckingham's free-kick went through the wall on three minutes.
Buckingham curled in a superb second on the hour before Ben Hinshelwood's goal-a-game run continued and Kade Fearnall netted a late fourth.
Joondalup United's good recent form continued as they extended their unbeaten to six games and stayed fifth with a 3-1 win over Olympic Kingsway.
Anthony Taylor arrived at the back post to slam in United's opener on 29 minutes and they had further control of the game midway through the second half when Jamie Stewart hooked in.
Asa Sippits gave 2020 champions Kingsway hope of a fightback with a goal 10 minutes from time, but in-form Jay Lang's free-kick was his sixth goal in as many games and gave United the points.
Subiaco moved into the top half of the division with a come-from-behind win away at Forrestfield United.
It was goalless at the break, but former Bayswater skipper Trent Kay powered in a header from Rhys Loxley's free-kick to give United the lead.
The visitors, who came from behind to draw at Knights last weekend, stormed back again as Josh Kotio curled home a lovely equaliser to level the scores. Tim Page's cross was then fumbled by Luke Martino into his own net as Subiaco won their third game of the season, all away from home.
In the day's final game, Mandurah City won back-to-back games for the first time this season with a 2-1 win against Ashfield.
Jamie Burns rounded the keeper to net the opener on 20 minutes before Shane Boyle doubled the lead when he turned and found the bottom corner. Leon Anderson pulled one back two minutes into injury time at the end, but it wasn't enough for Ashfield who remain ninth.
In Division Two, the top two sides won to open up a four-point gap on the chasing pack.
Dianella White Eagles remain top following a 2-1 win over Morley Windmills. Josh Kuser's opener was cancelled out by Leigh Morgan in the first half, but Stephen Musonda found a winner to keep unbeaten Dianella a point clear of closest rivals Kingsley Westside.
Steve Dimitrovich's extended their unbeaten run to six games after rallying from 2-1 down to defeat defending champions Carramar Shamrock Rovers 3-2.
Jack Bardsley and Jamie Gibson scored either side of Jayden Drummond's fourth goal of the season to put the visitors ahead at the break. But Kingsley had the answers as Oliver Valentine and Josh Waldock struck in a three-minute spell midway through the second half to complete the comeback.
Third-place Murdoch University Melville dropped off the pace after they were held 1-1 at home to Gosnells City.
Jaihon Sedgley struck 10 minutes from time for Gosnells to cancel out Tom Speziali's goal, as Marc Anthony's side built on their memorable FFA Cup win over NPL side Rockingham City.
Elsewhere, Gareth Hamilton scored twice in Joondalup City's 4-0 win over Balga, Canning City moved into the top half of the league with a 3-1 win at bottom side Kelmscott Roos, while Curtin University and Wanneroo played out a goalless draw.
Filed Under: Men's State League