Night Series winners Mandurah City made an opening night statement as they put eight goals past Gosnells City in the first round of the Men's State League Division One.
Last year’s Golden Boot winner Joe O’Brien struck four times, with two of them coming in the first 10 minutes via opportune finishes.
A John Baird free-kick found its way into the net via a deflection for 3-0 before Hamish Van Dieken’s header brought up a fourth before the interval.
A flurry of goals in the final 12 minutes would close out proceedings with O’Brien squeezing a penalty under the goalkeeper for his hat-trick.
O’Brien completed his four-goal tally with a pinpoint finish, before Baird’s close-range finish and a Murray Mackintosh screamer ended the scoring.
Pre-season runners-up Fremantle City also put three points on the board with a 4-0 win over UWA Nedlands at Hilton Park.
City had defeated UWA Nedlands 5-2 the previous week in the Australia Cup. They were in the goals again as early as minute 15 when Ollie La Galia squared for Hamza Hina to roll home.
Nine minutes later La Galia netted via the leg of George Jackson and when the visitors went down to 10 men, Matty Sparrow’s side were able to capitalise with a further two strikes.
Riley Van Dieken finished La Galia’s pass to treble the lead and Pat Loughrey put the icing on the cake with a thunderous left-footed drive 13 minutes from time.
Western Knights also enjoyed opening day delight as they won 3-0 against Gwelup Croatia in the Croatian derby at Nash Field.
All the goals came in the second period with Albert Luwi bagging the first with a low strike 10 minutes into the second half.
Luwi then blazed in at the near post to make it 2-0 before Paul Lloyd slotted in a late third to give Knights a perfect start.
The other games all ended in draws, with Forrestfield United coming from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Rockingham City.
Ryan Kennedy’s free- kick was met by a diving header from Oliver McGee at the back post to make it 1-0 to Rockingham on 62 minutes. Moments later, they doubled their lead when Jayden Leader drilled a crisp low strike beyond the outstretched glove of Nick Stone.
But two quick goals for the hosts tied it up. Ali Nazary finished nicely across the keeper to halve the deficit and Nazary turned creator with seven minutes to play when his cross was headed in by Noah Appleby for a share of the points.
Murdoch University Melville and Subiaco also shared a 2-2 draw with all the goals coming in the first half hour.
Veteran striker Gavin Knight set Subi on their way inside the first minute on the synthetic, but Edward Wynne-Wilson’s penalty and Feisal Zaw’s goal turned the tables for MUM FC. Michael Janssen’s side were gifted their equaliser when Preston Gilling kicked the ball straight to Subi striker Dominic Manno and he gratefully drilled the ball past the MUM FC keeper and into the net.
It was a much quieter second half, that was until stoppage time. First MUM FC had Daniel Tait sent off. Then Wynne-Wilson had the chance to win it for the hosts in stoppage time after MUM FC were awarded a second penalty, for handball, but this time he had his spot-kick saved by Conor Hogan.
Finally in Division One, there was a 1-1 draw between Joondalup United and Dianella White Eagles with both goals coming inside 12 minutes. Former Sorrento stalwart Shaun Kilkelly headed in from a corner to cancel out a low free kick from former Armadale striker Angel Andres Rivera.
In Division Two, Curtin University are the early pacesetters after a 8-1 win over Quinns, who came down from Division One last season.
Tyler Holden had given Quinns an early lead at Edinburgh Oval, but Kieran Witt bagged four goals in the win with two of them coming in the first half. Jordan Valentini added a third on half-time to give Curtin further comfort.
Troy Reid’s side then piled on five second-half strikes with Witt’s four adding to 16 he scored in 2022. Nathan Smith, Ali Akbarzadeh and Simone Sichel completed the scoring.
Carramar Shamrock Rovers are second after a 3-0 win over Canning City on a day which saw no drawn matches. All the goals at Grandis Park were scored in the second period with Alan Reidy’s brace coming after Nathan Diaz’s opener.
Nathan Scully and Bleron Mamudi netted in each half as Balga won 2-0 over promoted Maddington-Kalamunda White City, while Morley Windmills came from behind to win 4-2 at Ashfield.
Four individual scorers got the job done in Marc Anthony’s first league match at Wotton Reserve after Jared Flavel’s fifth minute goal for Ashfield. Conor Kavanagh, Jordan Nikolajevic, Christian Vest and Steve Purton hit the target with 47 minutes on the clock prior to Jake Melia’s consolation.
Elsewhere, Rhys Loxley scored twice after his off-season move from Forrestfield United to give Swan United a 3-1 home win over Joondalup United.
And Kingsley Westside began their season strongly in the evening kick off with goals from Hayden Lowe and Nick Koefler either side of Dion Berman’s equaliser giving them a 2-1 win at Wanneroo.