Western Knights were in the goals again on Saturday afternoon as they put six past UWA Nedlands and moved three points clear at the top of State League Division One.
Alex Kretowicz hooked into the net on eight minutes before Ciaran Byrne continued his rich vein of form with a tap-in, which extended his run of scoring in every league game so far.
Dean Hurley dispatched from the penalty spot and Kretowicz nudged home at the near post for 4-0 before Joshua Marocchi headed in from a corner to pull one back before the break.
But it turned into another emphatic result for Knights as Byrne went on to net his 12th goal in five games before Hurley curled in a late sixth as the unbeaten leaders marched on.
That three-point gap was established after Mandurah City came from behind twice to defeat 10-man Fremantle City and inflict a first defeat on the hosts.
The home side went ahead when Todd Howarth superbly curled in a free-kick but Alex Grayson rolled his marker and crashed low into the net for 1-1.
Noah Shamaki's third goal of the season after the break put City in front once more, but the Night Series winners came from three down against the Knights last week and a Jamie Burns-led comeback gave them the points here. They promptly made it 2-2 when Burns volleyed past Oliver Rigler before the former Wanneroo forward latched onto Jake Shaked's pass and secured Mandurah's first league win of 2021.
Fremantle's loss helped Quinns move into second place on goal difference after they drew 1-1 against northern rivals Joondalup United later that evening.
The hosts took the lead at Gumblossom Reserve when former ECU Joondalup striker Ben Hinshelwood netted his sixth of the season from the penalty spot. But Jay Lang levelled on 26 minutes with an excellent volley, his fifth goal in three games.
Stirling Macedonia joined Quinns and Fremantle on 10 points as they defeated Subiaco 3-2 at Rosalie Park.
Tim Page swept in the opener on 14 minutes, but Alex Tanevski scored from close range and Gavin Knight blasted in from distance to give the visitors a lead at the break.
Knight's second of the game and sixth of the campaign 57 minutes in ultimately proved to be the winner, despite Lachlan Hannah's first senior NPL goal in stoppage time providing late consolation.
Swan United continued their impressive start to 2021 as they went fifth following a 4-2 win away at Ashfield.
Boas Mtwale cancelled out Lewis Robinson's deflected free-kick and the goals continued to flow in the first half as Lawson Smith restored the Ashfield's lead seven minutes before the break.
But the visitors struck twice in two minutes before half-time through John Monterosso's fine strike and Ben Wantee's first goal since joining from Subiaco.
Mtwale's determined play resulted in a goal on 72 minutes which made it 4-2 and that sealed Swan's second win of the season and a position in the top half at the end of round six.
Finally, Forrestfield won their first game of the season as they defeated 2020 champions Olympic Kingsway 1-0 on the road. Tarek Atta's finish across the goalkeeper on 53 minutes proved to be the decisive moment as Graham Normanton's team leapfrogged the club he led to promotion in 2018 in the standings.
In State League Division Two, the top four sides all won with Dianella still leading the pack following a 2-0 victory at Wanneroo City.
Both goals came in the first half hour as Stephen Musonda netted his first strikes of the campaign and White Eagles maintained their one-point lead over Kingsley Westside at the summit.
Steve Dimitrovich's team scored twice in the final 15 minutes to overcome Kelmscott Roos after Jackson Bealey cancelled out Simone Sichel's fifth in five games.
Jayden Drummond and Cameron Bishop added to their season tallies as Kingsley won for a fourth straight game after an opening weekend defeat to Dianella.
Morley Windmills stayed third after a 4-0 win over Canning City at Wootton Reserve. All the goal came after the break as Grant Mowatt bagged his first two this season, with an own goal and Jack Kiama's late finish completing the result.
Elsewhere, Murdoch University Melville won 1-0 against 10-man Balga thanks to Jacob Flores' goal, Brice Rae and Tiago De Souza traded goals in a 1-1 draw between Gosnells and Curtin University, and reigning champions Carramar Shamrock Rovers drew 4-4 with neighbours Joondalup City. Two goals from Jamie Gibson helped Rovers establish a 4-2 lead early in the second half. But City dominated the final half-hour and a thumping header from Nicholas Koefler and Harry Clisby's follow-up finish ensured the visitors took something from the game.
Filed Under: Men's State League