Western Knights struck twice in the final five minutes to rescue a 2-2 draw at home to Swan United in Round 15 of the Men's State League Division One.
Despite the late rally, the two dropped points mean Knights slipped further behind champions-in-waiting Stirling Macedonia. For Swan it could prove a handy point as they look to avoid relegation.
Boas Mtwale curled in the opener for Swan on 26 minutes before John Monterosso hooked home in his eighth goal of the season from a long throw.
As it stood Swan were moving four points clear of bottom side Ashfield, but John Chalmers' stunning strike reduced the deficit to one. Then, a minute into stoppage time, Knights were awarded a penalty. Ciaran Byrne duly converted for his 19th goal of the season and a share of the points.
Stirling Macedonia extended their lead at the summit to 12 points with a 4-0 win over Ashfield. This was Stirling 12th straight win.
Greg Pellow headed in the opener from Brent Quick's corner on 12 minutes before Dhuors Chol drove in the visitors’ second from range.
Gavin Knight moved to 15 goals for the season with a penalty soon after and then Shay Donovan put an exclamation mark on the win when he tapped home from close range.
Quinns remain third as Ben Hinshelwood's second-half hat-trick led Glen Grostate's team to a 3-1 win against UWA Nedlands.
UWA were unbeaten in five going into this one and they went in front on three minutes when Ivwananji Simbile capitalised on a mix-up in defence to slot into an open goal.
The lead lasted until three minutes into the second half when Hinshelwood latched onto a long ball out of defence and slid past Peter Pilkadaris.
The former ECU Joondalup striker then finished acrobatically from Liam Hudson's cross to make it 2-1 and the pair combined again in injury time to seal the win on the counter attack.
There was another treble scored by Anthony Taylor as Joondalup United travelled south and won 3-1 at Mandurah City.
United were coming off successive league defeats but Taylor's cross-shot sailed over the Dylan Wilson and into the net.
His second and third strikes came emphatically from the penalty spot as Joondalup stay fourth, despite being reduced to 10-men when Ayden Dragun was sent off.
John Baird pulled one back late for City who lose for a third straight game and drop into the bottom half of the league.
Subiaco took Mandurah's place in the top six as they won 1-0 at Olympic Kingsway to snap a three-game losing run.
Mella Loding scored the decisive goal, his third of the season after a slick team move from Subiaco down the left wing.
Finally, Forrestfield United continued their improved recent form as they drew 1-1 at Fremantle City to go unbeaten in three and edge further clear of danger.
Tarek Atta fired in the opener for United a minute before the break, but Adam Carlino levelled 40 seconds after the restart with his first of the campaign as Fremantle remain fifth.
In State League Division Two, Dianella White Eagles extended their unbeaten run in 2021 to 15 games after a 2-1 win over Balga.
Nikola Talimdzioski scored the opener on 37 minutes, but Balga had won three in a row prior to this clash and levelled through Bleron Mamudi just past the hour.
The leaders eventually found the winner through Josh Kuser who struck with 17 minutes to play. Dianella are now 14 points clear of the rest.
Kingsley Westside remain second despite being held 1-1 by Joondalup City at Iluka Sports Complex. Both goals were scored in the first 21 minutes with Simone Sichel cancelling out Matthew Blake's opener.
That draw opened the door for Wanneroo City to pull level on points with Kingsley Westside after they won 1-0 at Canning City. Charles Breen's fifth goal of the season from the penalty spot won it for the visitors who finished the game with 10 men after Josh Booysen's red card.
In-form Gosnells City closed the gap on the duo to two points after a 4-0 home win over Morley Windmills.
Edward Wynne-Wilson, Scott Pereira, Aaron Coslani and Wade Farmer all scored as Marc Anthony's side continue their hot streak with a seventh straight win.
Elsewhere, 10-man Murdoch University Melville scored four goals in the opening half-hour but were forced to cling onto the points as Kelmscott Roos fought back and fell just short in a 4-3 defeat.
Finally, Ryan Creighan's first goal of the season gave Curtin University a 1-0 win over Carramar Shamrock Rovers which moved them from 10th to sixth in the standings.
Filed Under: Men's State League