Subi safe, Kingsway receive title
Subiaco confirmed their Division One status for 2023 as they defeated Western Knights 2-1 at Nash Field on the final day of the regular season in the Men’s State League.
Subi only needed to better UWA Nedlands’ result at champions Olympic Kingsway to stay up and they did in style with a win over second place Knights – their first victory since May’s 3-2 win at Quinns.
Vasco Da Silva forced in from a goalmouth scramble to put Subi ahead at half-time. Dean Hurley’s penalty kick three minutes after the restart tied it up, but Elliott Ireland answered with a spot-kick of his own moments later to ultimately secure Subi’s safety.
The results means UWA drop into the inter-divisional playoffs where they will play Kingsley Westside in a two-legged semi-final, with Carramar Shamrock Rovers and Swan United meeting in the other tie. The two winners will face each other in the final to see who plays in Division One next season.
Uni likely had a tough task at league winners Kingsway, who had won 10 from 10 at home in 2022, and they won again on Saturday to cap off a fine season.
David Tough’s side claimed 58 points from their 22 matches this year to surpass Stirling’s haul of 55 in their 2021 promotion season.
Michael Zimarino got the only goal with 12 minutes left as he turned in Calum O’Connell’s pass to cap a celebratory day as Kingsway were presented with the title in front of their fans.
Elsewhere in Division One, there were plenty of goals with Mandurah City leapfrogging Knights into second place following a 4-2 win over Dianella White Eagles last Friday.
The Dolphins now host Knights in a Top Four Cup semi-final on Wednesday at GenesisCare Stadium.
The division’s leading scorers flew out to a two-goal lead at Genesiscare Stadium. Hamish Van Dieken rattled in the first before Joe O’Brien hooked in for 2-0 at the near post. But Dianella hit back to tie it up prior to the interval with Daniel Mackenzie and Vladimir Olujic volleying in from close range.
Leigh Griffiths got his second goal in as many guest appearances for Mandurah with a tap-in from O’Brien’s cross, while O’Brien himself secured himself the league’s Golden Boot with his 22nd of the campaign from the edge of the area.
Fremantle City took the other post-season spot despite a 4-2 loss to Rockingham City on the final day. They travel north to Kingsway Reserve to play Olympic Kingsway on Wednesday in their second Top Four Cup appearance in three years.
Riley Van Dieken rolled in the opener after 15 minutes, only for Shaun Mukwevho to tie it up from six yards moments later.
City restored their advantage via a Roberto Soares header, but it would be Rockingham who earned a top-half finish with three second-half strikes.
Taylor Carter’s lob squared it up before Robbie Galvin’s two goals in the final 10 minutes which included a curling strike at the end.
Joondalup United and Murdoch University Melville shared the points in a 3-3 draw.
MUM FC’s Feisal Zaw cancelled out Adam Buckley’s hooked finish before Taki Nicolaidis’ side went up at the break via a Zaw penalty.
The home side rallied to turn matters around with Callum Stocks capitalising on a goalkeeping mistake and Jude Baillie slamming in from close range.
But MUM FC scored a stunning leveller with five minutes left as Pat Sara scored from the edge of the area with the outside of the boot.
Forrestfield would also end their season on a high with a 3-2 win over relegated Quinns seeing them finish eighth.
Tyler Holden’s drive from a tight angle made it 1-0 to the visitors but Andrew Harold’s penalty on the cusp of half-time sent the sides in level.
A free-kick from Denzel Tshuma put the home side ahead briefly, only for Holden to make it 2-2 with another excellent strike.
But Tshuma had the final say in a scoring a spot-kick with 14 minutes to play, which gave the hosts a seventh win of the year.
In Division Two, Kingsley Westside claimed fourth spot and the final place in the inter-divisional playoffs thanks to a stoppage-minute 4-3 win over champions Gosnells City.
The score was 1-1 at half-time but Wade Farmer’s 58th minute goal put Gosnells ahead and threatened to derail hopes of the home team.
However, Jonathan Hulme and Luke Doyle struck within five minutes to turn the contest around, and at that point Kingsley had given themselves a real shot of the post-season.
But Gosnells were awarded a late penalty which was converted by James Burns beyond, leaving Steve Dimitrovich’s side requiring one more goal to stand a chance.
They got it with 93 minutes on the clock as Hulme stepped up to put Kingsley Westside in fourth spot provisionally on goal difference.
That result meant Curtin could have overtaken Kingsley in the evening’s late kick off at Edinburgh Oval with a five-goal win, but they could only defeat Ashfield 4-1.
Kieran Witt scored twice in the first 23 minutes for the hosts but Stephen Barnard’s penalty with 15 minutes left set Curtin a tricky task to qualify.
An own goal from Kurtiss Allen-Nash and Jeffrey Ledwith’s late goal gave the home side a sniff, but they ultimately fell two goals short to end the season fifth.
Carramar ended the season in second spot with a 3-1 win over Swan United at Swan Italian Club.
The pair will meet again next weekend over two legs to earn a spot in the inter-divisional playoff final.
In other results, Canning City and Balga ended their campaigns with big wins as they put five past Wanneroo City and South West Phoenix respectively, while Morley Windmills and Joondalup City finished the year in lower mid-table after a 2-2 draw.