Two goals in second-half stoppage time gave 10-man Dianella White Eagles a dramatic 4-3 win over Gosnells City to ensure they kept pace with State League Division One leaders Sorrento FC.
Angel Andres Rivera’s side remain a point from the top, while Gosnells will be frustrated to let one slip as they ultimately dropped to the bottom of the division.
Things looked on course for White Eagles when Kevin McEvoy teed up Andy Keogh for the former Perth Glory striker to pick out the bottom corner for 1-0. But Gosnells levelled before the break when Luqman Sayyed’s blocked shot broke nicely for Blake Pritchard.
An upset was on the card midway through the second half when Shawn Peppin set up Pritchard to finish with the outside of his boot, before Dianella responded when Roberto Soares’ cross was helped on by Keogh and Isaac Toah Ntow forced the ball over the line.
Things took a bad turn for the hosts with five minutes remaining when player-coach Andres Rivera was sent off, and his side were plunged into further jeopardy when poor marking saw Wade Farmer nod in Deng Dut’s free-kick.
But Dianella made an astonishing comeback in added time to ensure they bounced back from last week’s loss to Kingsley Westside. Alen Patarov’s unstoppable strike brought the scores level before Soares’ 94th-minute corner was headed in at the near post by Ntow.
The Round Nine win was vital as Sorrento had earlier defeated third-placed Murdoch University Melville 2-0 at Percy Doyle Reserve.
Connor Simpson had seen a goal disallowed for handball moments before opening the scoring when following in after his initial effort had come back off the post.
The result was settled six minutes from time when Keegan Chambers was fouled and Dean Cummings struck home from the penalty spot.
Daniel Tait saw an effort cleared from the line as MUM FC came close to setting up a nervy finish, but Steve McGarry’s unbeaten side held firm for a seventh win in nine games. Murdoch’s loss sees them remain third but they are now four points off the leaders.
Subiaco also lost ground on the pacesetters as they suffered a 5-2 defeat at Joondalup United.
The home side were off to a flyer with two goals in the first eight minutes as Jamie Gardiner shot through legs to find the bottom corner, before Jay Lang’s close-range finish after a miskick from Phil Arnold.
Arnold would score soon after to reduce the deficit after Ethan Johnson’s long throw caused chaos in the United defence, and it was 2-2 with half-an-hour gone when Moustafa Mohamed started and finished a free-flowing team move which involved Zac Benabid and Charles Breen.
Three second-half goals got the job done for Nick Jennings’ side who jumped a place up to seventh with the win. Gardiner played a one-two with Ben Campbell before running clear and keeping his cool to score, before Ben Wyeth’s corner was firmly headed in by Laurits Christopherson.
The win was rubberstamped by a breakaway goal from Tyler Holden as Joondalup United moved to within five points of Subiaco who occupy a promotion play-off spot.
UWA Nedlands squandered a chance to take Subiaco’s fourth spot when they fell to a 3-2 defeat at Cockburn City.
Jed Afenyo prodded in his seventh goal of the season to give the visitors a 1-0 lead on 10 minutes, only for Cockburn to level when Harry Lewis struck across the goalkeeper after sneaking in behind the Uni defence.
Sam Ince’s brilliant strike restored UWA’s lead but the Cockerels turned it around in the second half to move off the foot of the table with their second victory of the season.
A mix-up in the UWA defence saw Harry O’Brien finish into a vacant net before Ryan Cox’s free-kick wasn’t dealt with and Ben Pike was on hand to decide matters.
After going so close to promotion last season, Mandurah City have been slow burners this year. But their 4-2 home win over Gwelup Croatia has pushed them closer to the inter-divisional play-off places.
They went ahead on 13 minutes as Shaun Mukwevho fed Craig Barker who picked out former Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths at the back stick.
Gwelup levelled seven minutes later thanks to an excellent solo effort by Jeremie Mba, who beat three defenders and then rolled in from a tight angle.
John Baird’s daisy-cutter flew into the bottom corner to give the Dolphins their advantage back, but it was 2-2 on the stroke of half-time when Steve Hesketh turned Ryan Johnson’s cross into his own net.
A classy counter-attacking move finished by Mukwevho made it 3-2 to Mandurah and Barker’s near-post header from a corner confirmed the win, while Gwelup suffered a third defeat in four games.
Finally, in-form Kingsley Westside pulled further clear of danger as a 3-1 win over Rockingham City made it three wins in a row for Steve Dimitrovich’s team.
Hayden Lowe’s first-half double – a deflected effort which trickled into the bottom corner and a curling strike when unmarked in the area – put them 2-0 up by 27 minutes.
Another deflected goal, this time by Jonah Madeira, gave Rockingham a lifeline. But they were unable to get on terms and slipped into the relegation play-off position with this loss, which was confirmed late in the piece when Aston Montgomery caught the home defence napping on a short corner to net Kingsley’s third.
In Division Two, Kalamunda City are the new leaders after a 5-2 win at bottom side Wanneroo City.
They led 4-0 at half-time thanks to two goals from Nicolas Roca, one from Fernando Albornoz and another from Lal Cung.
Jordan Rowe and Asa Sippits sparked brief hopes of a comeback, but Farruh Mavlonov eventually iced a fourth straight win in stoppage time while the winless Roos are eight points behind second-bottom.
Forrestfield United are second and level on points with Kalamunda after a 3-2 win at Canning City saw them bounce back from successive defeats.
Sherwin Tucker had Daryl Platten’s side in good position with a goal in each half, but Mason Langham pulled one back soon after.
Alfie Bryant kept Forrie on the front foot with a third and they would hold on to take three points despite Tom Kinnane’s late goal for Canning, who drop into the bottom half with the loss.
Joondalup City are third and three points off the pace after losing 1-0 at neighbours Carramar Shamrock Rovers.
Drew Johnston got the only goal on the hour mark as Rovers registered back-to-back. They are two points clear of safety, while City’s loss was a third in a row after winning their first five games.
East Perth also dropped off the pace after a 3-1 loss at home to Balga which saw the visitors close in on the promotion play-off places. Luke Christie’s double and a late third for Albert Mombo did the job with Ryan McCready getting East Perth’s goal.
Curtin University are three points off fourth spot as two goals for Rowan Steed and one for Kieran Witt in the final 16 minutes gave Troy Reid’s side victory over Swan United.
Finally, Ashfield and Quinns shared the points in a 2-2 draw which saw the home side drop into the relegation play-off spot. All the goals came in the first half as Mou Marial and Liam Hunt registered for the northern suburbs club and Ashfield’s goals came via an own goal by keeper Jake Lumpkin and a Hanani Ndebele penalty.