Two-goal Mba inspires Gwelup to third straight win

DIVISION ONE

Gwelup Croatia continued their excellent start to the season as a 4-2 win over UWA Nedlands kept Basil Lenzo’s side top of the State League Division One table with three wins from three games.

Uni led twice at the Croatian Sporting Complex with Joe McInnes scoring one-on-one past the goalkeeper and then nodding in a free-kick, either side of Robert Ferrante’s header late in the first half. However, Jeremie Mba levelled on 71 minutes, before Miklos Imre’s header from a corner and Mba’s penalty saw Gwelup complete the turnaround. And to compound the visitors' afternoon, they ended the game with nine men after red cards for Jack Hilaire and George Cooper.

Kalamunda City are also unbeaten after three matches as a 1-0 win at Inglewood United keeps them second and two points off top spot.

The game’s only goal came after quarter of an hour when Gaston Bazet was left unmarked to take a touch and slot past Conor Hogan from Carl Dias’ cross. Inglewood are still waiting for their first win since dropping to the second tier.

Dianella White Eagles and Murdoch University Melville have won their opening two matches ahead of their catch-up game from Round Two this Thursday.

Dianella beat Curtin University 2-1 on Saturday evening with the game evenly poised early in the second period after Curtin's Kieran Witt latched onto a long ball and lobbed home to cancel out Albert Luwi’s penalty. Dianella won it near the end when substitute Magai Deng headed in Sasa Njegic’s corner. Ian Ferguson’s side have gone third, while Curtin are still to win.

MUM FC scored two first-half goals which set them up for a 3-2 victory at Joondalup City. Charlie Breen raced between two defenders to slot in the opener on 27 minutes before turning provider to set Farruh Mavlonov clear who did the rest.

Callum Stocks’ unstoppable free-kick early in the second half reduced the arrears for Joondalup, only for Breen to tee up Pat Sara for MUM FC's third. Liam Peacock’s looping header made it 3-2 but City were unable to level.

Elsewhere, 10-man Gosnells City won their first game of the campaign with a fine 1-0 victory at Mandurah City.

Dami Afolabi got the decisive goal midway through the second half as he burst toward goal, shrugged off a defender and rolled into the bottom corner. Peter Allan’s side held firm for the win despite a second yellow card for Thang Sangpichung.

Kingsley Westside are also up and running for 2025 following a 2-1 win over Subiaco at Chichester Park.

Luke Salmon’s flick-on was picked up by Ryder Leasor who drove towards goal and rifled past Tando Velaphi, but there was a setback for the hosts when Lachlan Fay was shown a red card for a lunging challenge late in the first half.

Richie Abrams’ side doubled their lead on 71 minutes when Raeez Pandor pulled back for Elliot Tattersall to set himself with his first touch and drill low into the back of the net with his second. That proved to be the crucial as Oscar Barry bent home a free-kick in the final five minutes, only for Subi to fall short and they currently sit bottom of the league.

DIVISION TWO

East Perth are the early leaders in the second division after a 5-1 thrashing of Ashfield at Hudson Park.

2024 Golden Boot winner Ryan McCready bagged a hat-trick with Gavin Dillon and Darragh Kavanagh netting the others, while Luca Macri got Ashfield’s consolation in second-half stoppage time.

Quinns are up to third after ending second-placed Cockburn’s unbeaten start with a 2-1 win in the northern suburbs. James Bourne cancelled out James Elkington-Soan’s opener, but Tyler Holden got the 65th-minute winner for the home side.

Wanneroo are up to fourth after coming back from two goals down to win 3-2 at Swan United in a game which saw both sides end the game with nine men.

Liam Merigan and Connor Boland got the goals in a first half which saw Swan duo Nicholas Burmej and Marcus Puia, and Wanneroo's Juma Awaka all dismissed.

Boas Mtwale, Asa Sippits and Daniel Stefoski hit back for Roos, who held onto the three points despite a second yellow card for Josh Allum late on.

Rockingham also came from behind to beat Canning City 3-2 thanks to second-half goals from Taylor Carter and Harry Stonehouse. Tom Kinnane and Alfred Moore had earlier put the visitors in front following Dylan Rogers’ opener.

Balga defeated Forrestfield 4-2 on the road to notch their first win of the campaign with all the goals coming in the second period.

Charlie Bayliss was sent off for Forrestfield on 50 minutes and Gerhard Janssen’s side capitalised by taking a 3-0 lead through Silver Kelder, Nicholas Bahr Pike and Rommie Banda. Banda would net a second later in the game, in between consolations from Brian Patterson and Samuel Platten.

Finally, Carramar Shamrock Rovers are also off the mark with a 2-0 victory over Wembley Downs as Griffin Sture scored both goals for Ronnie Martin’s side.