Joondalup United moved into promotion contention after inflicting a second defeat of the season on leaders Western Knights in the Men’s State League Division One.
The 2-0 win for Nick Jennings’ team makes it five wins in their last seven outings and puts them five points off top spot, while they also closed the gap on Fremantle City and Mandurah City above them.
James Harmer stayed onside and raced away to score the opener three minutes into the second half, before Jay Lang’s late penalty completed the job at Forrest Park.
Despite the Round 11 loss, Knights remain three points clear of the rest.
Second-place Fremantle City were unable to capitalise on the leaders’ slip as they lost 3-2 at home to mid-table Rockingham City.
Dylan Urquhart headed home a first-half corner to put the visitors in front, but Freo are the league’s leading scorers this season and they turned it around to lead in the second period.
Pat Loughrey picked out Roberto Soares, who arrived to slot in for 1-1, and minutes later Ollie La Galia rifled high into the net to put City in front.
But Bradley Vlachy’s wobbling free-kick went all the way in to draw Rockingham level and they won it with a quarter of an hour left when Oliver McGee rose highest to nod in the decisive goal.
Gwelup Croatia sit fifth but missed a chance to put pressure on the top three as they were held 2-2 by bottom side Forrestfield United at Crazy Domains Stadium.
Mohamed Rezai put the hosts ahead when he struck low past the goalkeeper after nice work down the right wing, but Gwelup equalised when Charles Chechlacz crossed for Jacob Williamson to net.
An error from visitors’ goalkeeper Josiah Godfrey gifted Ali Nazary the chance to tee up Rezai for his second of the game, but Paul Vallerius’ team could not take all three points as Chechlacz scored from the penalty spot 14 minutes from time.
Trim Morgan’s team are four points off fourth while Forrestfield are now four points adrift at the bottom of the league after wins for the two sides directly above them, UWA Nedlands and Gosnells City.
Nedlands’ first win in seven games came with a 3-1 victory at Murdoch University Melville, who are now winless in six.
Daniel Iuliano hammered in a terrific drive for UWA on 10 minutes, but Sebastian Hooshangian found a fast response when he headed in Christos Vaenas’ cross.
But two goals in the final 20 minutes won it for the away side. Luke Salas’ penalty was too good for Preston Gilling, before Samuel Moffatt rifled in brilliantly from the edge of the box to cap the win.
Gosnells City also picked up three big points as they won for the first time since Round Four when edging Subiaco 1-0.
It was only the second victory of the campaign for Gosnells with the key moment coming on 57 minutes. Tony Chandler swung in a corner from the right with Adam Barker leaping to head home the winner.
Division One results
Forrestfield United 2-2 Gwelup Croatia
Fremantle City 2-3 Rockingham City
Gosnells City 1-0 Subiaco
Joondalup United 2-0 Western Knights
Murdoch University Melville 1-3 UWA Nedlands
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In Division Two, Kingsley Westside went six points clear at the top following a 1-0 win away at neighbours Carramar Shamrock Rovers.
Jayden Drummond’s excellent first-half run and finish brought the only goal for the league leaders.
Steve Dimitrovich’s side are sitting pretty at the summit, especially after second-place Morley Windmills’ surprising 5-2 loss at Joondalup City.
It was a horrible first half for Windmills, who found themselves 3-0 down following a double from Emilio Chacon and one from Jason Petrie. But half-time substitute Otto Van Der Poel and Christian Vest gave Morley a chance of snatching a point, before Joondalup made the game safe with two goals in the last two minutes. First Liam Peacock netted from the penalty spot, then Sam Rawlings added a fifth.
Swan United stay third and seven points off the top following a 2-1 win at Wanneroo City.
A Samir Ramos hat-trick put Maddington-Kalamunda White City in the hunt for back-to-back promotions as they won 4-2 at home to Curtin University. Jose Zuniga’s last-minute penalty wrapped up City’s sixth win in seven over a Curtin side who had recovered from 2-0 down to pull level through Jordan Valentini and Simone Sichel’s spot-kick.
Balga came from behind twice to win 3-2 against Ashfield as they remain five points off the play-off picture. Gareth Hamilton’ twice gave Ashfield the lead, with Balga’s goals coming from Marko Savic and two from Nathan Scully including a stoppage-time winner.
Quinns are off the bottom of the table at the expense of Canning City, whom they defeated 2-0 at Coker Park.
Division Two results
Balga 3-2 Ashfield
Canning City 0-2 Quinns
Carramar Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Kingsley Westside
Joondalup City 5-2 Morley Windmills
Maddington-Kalamunda White City 4-2 Curtin University
Wanneroo City 1-2 Swan United