DIVISION ONE
UWA Nedlands and Dianella White Eagles remain firmly in the hunt for the State League Division One title with Round 15 wins.
UWA are a point clear of their main rivals following a tight 1-0 win over Murdoch University Melville at UWA Sports Park. A 71st-minute own goal from Adam Fields decided the contest, the defender heading into own net from Jack Hilaire’s cross.
MUM FC were given a great chance to grab a point in stoppage time when Charlie Breen was upended in the box. However, Angel Andres Rivera rolled his penalty down the middle and keeper Tadgh O’Malley saved easily. There was still time for Uni’s Jordan Pokler to be dismissed for collecting a second yellow card, but the home side saw out the game for a valuable win.
The result ensured UWA bounced back from last week’s loss at Inglewood United and maintained their slender lead at the summit over Dianella, who beat Gwelup Croatia 2-0.
DIVISION ONE RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Cory McNelis opened the scoring just past the hour when he received the ball on the half-turn, stepped around a defender and drilled home from outside the box. Reece Kral, on debut after signing from Olympic Kingsway, scored the sealer in stoppage time against his former side when finishing Albert Luwi’s cross.
Ian Ferguson’s side have won three in a row as they continue to apply pressure on UWA. They have also opened up an eight-point gap to third-placed Joondalup City, who were held 1-1 by Kalamunda City.
City saw their long winning run ended by Kingsley Westside last week but seemed back on track when Mason Gallagher hooked home after a long throw from the right broke his way. However, Kalamunda earned a dramatic point when Ramon Gajardo’s corner was volleyed in by Nicolas Roca on 95 minutes.
The point moved Kalamunda out of the bottom two at the expense of Inglewood. Cam Lord’s side are back in the relegation play-off spot after a 4-1 loss at Kingsley, who were the big movers of the weekend as they moved up three places to fourth.
Two goals late in the first half gave the home side separation from their opponents with Nick Koefler hammering in after Luke Doyle’s free-kick broke his way, before in-form Max Adamson doubled the lead when firing in from the edge of the box.
It was 3-0 when Paul Stewart’s strike from range evaded the keeper but Inglewood did pull one back when Stephen Christopher's perfect pass released Cammron Morris, who controlled and finished across the goalkeeper. Kingsley again had the answers with Adamson’s penalty taking his tally to seven for the season and ignited the home side's promotion hopes.
Curtin University were 11th going into the weekend but moved a point clear of the drop zone following a 2-1 win over bottom side Gosnells City.
Gosnells hit the front two minutes before half-time thanks to Darren Francis’ instinctive turn and strike from outside the box. But it wasn't enough as Curtin struck twice in a minute to ensure Gosnells ended the weekend six points from safety. Mackenzie Snooks lifted over the top for Ronal Onek to knock in for 1-1, before Rowan Steed sensationally curled home to claim all three points.
Finally, Mandurah City moved three points clear of the relegation play-off spot with a 4-1 win over Subiaco.
City led 2-0 at the break thanks to John Baird’s fifth-minute opener and Jordan Callaghan's effort. Baird’s header from Luke Desmond’s cross after the restart made it three before Louie Evans’ blocked shot came back to Michael Mejia, who made no mistake to kill off the contest. Substitute Ivan Skorich netted an injury-time consolation as Subi ended the weekend sixth and two points off fourth place.
DIVISION TWO
Cockburn City are three points clear of the rest after a 3-2 win over Quinns in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash.
The Cockerels raced into a three-goal lead with Ben Thorpe, James Bourne and Matthew Bowen on the scoresheet before half-time. Quinns, who drop to second, hit back with goals from Ben Wyeth and Elliot Ireland, but time ran out for Nick Jennings’ side, who at least have a game in hand on the new leaders.
Third-placed East Perth missed a chance to move level with Quinns after being held to a 2-2 draw at Ashfield. Gavin Dillon opened the scoring for Colm Costello’s side but Luca Macri and Jake Melia netted to turn the game around before half-time. Owen Patterson levelled for East Perth, but no winner came. east Perth sit five points off the pace, while Ashfield stay second bottom despite collecting a handy point.
DIVISION TWO RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Bottom side Swan United are now level on points with Ashfield with a game in hand on their relegation rivals after a 2-1 win at Wanneroo City. Kane Fitch scored for Roos, but two second-half goals from Brennan Borzecki gave Swan the points. Just one point separates the bottom three sides in the division.
Wanneroo are six points clear of the drop zone, as are Canning City, who won 3-2 against 10th-placed Rockingham City.
Freeman Nyatsambo had Canning in front, but Evan Ludgate and Regan Daidson netted to give Rocky hope of making it back-to-back wins in their fight for survival. However, Greg Burns equalised, and then Mason Langham won it on 83 minutes as Canning picked up a much-needed win to end a three-match losing run.
Free-scoring Wembley Downs also picked up an important 4-2 win at home to Carramar Shamrock Rovers to stay four points clear of the relegation zone.
Goals from Tristan Sullivan, Rory Hannon, Callum McLeod, and Luke Coltman earned the points for Wembley, who are the joint top scorers in the league. An own goal and a finish by Rovers’ Cameron Hendry-Munford briefly gave the home side a scare.
Finally, Forrestfield United solidified their position in the top four with a 2-1 win over fifth-placed Balga. Sam Platten netted twice for United, who saw out the final few minutes after conceding a late own goal. Forrestfield now has a four-point buffer on the promotion play-off chasers below.
