The top three sides in the Men’s State League Division One all won their Round 13 games as leaders Western Knights remain two points clear.
Knights eased to a 3-0 win at bottom side Forrestfield United for a first win in three games, while the hosts remain deep in trouble, five points adrift of safety.
Alex Kretowicz’s penalty got things started on 11 minutes at Crazy Domains Stadium and they doubled their lead when Jack Bardsley’s free-kick skidded through to Lucas Triglavcanin at the back post.
Albert Luwi stabbed home on the volley to round out the victory, which was the leaders’ ninth in 13 games this season and keeps them in contention for a return to the top flight for the first time since 2012.
Second-place Mandurah City will replace Knights at the top if they win their game in hand away to Dianella White Eagles on Tuesday. Yesterday they needed a late goal from Brian Patterson to get past Murdoch University Melville at Genesiscare Stadium.
Craig Barker’s diving header put the home team in front on 33 minutes, but Feisal Zaw pinched the ball off James Paylor and rolled in for MUM FC to make it 1-1 at the break.
The winner arrived in the 87th minute when Sam Byrne crossed for Patterson to bundle in from close range and give John Baird’s team a seventh win in eight games.
Fremantle City sit a point off the Dolphins in third following a 3-0 win over Subiaco, which was a return to winning ways for Matt Sparrow’s side after one point in their previous two matches.
The deadlock was broken on 40 minutes when Giovanni Soares produced a phenomenal assist, juggling the ball four times on the edge of the area before nudging through for Alex McLean to run in and score.
A second was added soon after the restart via Roberto Soares’ overhead kick, and Hamza Hina capped the result when going solo from a short corner to rifle home.
The result plunged Subiaco to second bottom and into the relegation play-off place.
Dianella are fourth, five points behind Freo with that game in hand against Mandurah this week to come. Yesterday they won 3-0 at Gwelup Croatia to register a fourth consecutive victory and stretch their unbeaten run to seven matches.
They leapfrogged Joondalup United into the final promotion play-off spot courtesy of three first-half goals at the Croatian Sporting Complex.
Uniss Kargbo bagged the first inside three minutes to get the visitors rolling and soon after the forward hit the bar in the driving rain.
Angel Andres Rivera then teed up Shane Barnes for two close-range finishes with almost identical crosses from the right to keep Dianella rolling.
Gwelup ended the game with nine men after second-half red cards to Cameron Yorke and Charles Chechlacz. They sit sixth and four points off fourth.
Elsewhere, Joondalup United dropped out of the top four on goal difference when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Gosnells City.
James Oldroyd put them ahead when he tucked away Adam Buckley’s poke towards goal. But Gosnells got their sixth draw of the season and took a handy point which moved them out of the bottom two, thanks to Sam McKearnen’s own goal on the stroke of half-time.
UWA Nedlands made it four games unbeaten with a 4-0 win over Rockingham City.
Oliver Ford broke through the visitors’ defence to finish on 13 minutes and they were two up when Luke Salas’ cross went through everybody and into the net shortly after.
Alfred Moore drove a third into the bottom corner for 3-0 at half-time, and despite Jordan Pokler’s second yellow card, they added a fourth when substitute Harvey Carew strolled in and finished left-footed from Salas’ pass.
Richie Abrams’ side are three points clear of the relegation play-off place after their fourth win of the campaign and are only two points behind mid-table Rockingham, who stay seventh.
Division One results
Forrestfield United 0-3 Western Knights
Gosnells City 1-1 Joondalup United
Gwelup Croatia 0-3 Dianella White Eagles
Mandurah City 2-1 Murdoch University Melville
Subiaco 0-3 Fremantle City
UWA Nedlands 4-0 Rockingham City
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In Division Two, Kingsley Westside are five points clear with a game in hand after a 2-0 win over Joondalup City, who stay 10th.
Goals from Luke Salmon and Jonny Hulme gave Steve Dimitrovich’s team a 10th win in 12 outings and a useful cushion at the summit after the two teams directly below them drew.
Maddington-Kalamunda White City and Morley Windmills finished 1-1, which kept the White City’s long unbeaten run going and Windmills three points clear in second place. Christian Polo put Maddington ahead within a minute of coming on as a second-half substitute. But Morley defender Kevin Ashwood earned his side a point when he levelled not long after.
Swan United also slipped up after conceding a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Ashfield. John Monterosso and Cameron Anderson had seemingly given Swan the points after Gareth Hamilton’s opener for Ashfield. But Jared Flavel’s 92nd minute goal gave Ashfield a first point in three games.
Curtin University moved up to third as a 2-0 win against Balga gave them back-to-back victories. Daniel Davey and Chris Sutton got the goals, with one point separating third to sixth in the race for the play-offs. Balga drop to ninth but are well clear of the drop zone.
Carramar Shamrock Rovers are just outside the play-offs in sixth after winning at one of the bottom two teams for a second successive round. A week ago Gerry McEwan’s side travelled to Canning City and won, this time it was nearer home as they edged out Quinns 2-1. Phillip O'Callaghan and Drew Johnston netted for Rovers, with Liam Hunt on target for Quinns.
Canning pulled level on points with Quinns at the bottom following their goalless draw against mid-table Wanneroo City.
Division Two results
Ashfield 2-2 Swan United
Canning City 0-0 Wanneroo City
Curtin University 2-0 Balga
Kingsley Westside 2-0 Joondalup City
Maddington-Kalamunda White City 1-1 Morley Windmills
Quinns 1-2 Carramar Shamrock Rovers