Murdoch University Melville made it three wins from three on Saturday with a 2-1 victory at Mandurah City to sit outright top of State League Division One.
Marc Anthony’s side hit the front after three minutes at Poolmart Stadium when Edward Wynne-Willson played Feisal Zaw down the right and his cross found the unmarked Ishmael Dawson to turn and finish.
It got even better soon after as Brodie Langan lifted in a cross from the left and Iljas Ahmedow headed past Alfie Brincat into the top corner.
Mandurah halved the deficit five minutes before the interval when Leigh Griffiths teed up Robbie Galvin to stroke into the back of the net. But despite pressing in the second half, the Dolphins were unable to force an equaliser and they sit on one win and two losses.
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League leaders MUM FC are two points clear of UWA Nedlands, who conceded a last-gasp goal to draw 2-2 with Sorrento FC in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Clay Gibbs’ cross was finished from close range by skipper Dean Cummings as the Gulls took a 41st-minute lead into half-time.
But UWA have proven in their opening two games that they have plenty of firepower and turned the game on its head.
Jed Afenyo bundled in Sam Ince’s cross 90 seconds after the restart to continue his fine form in front of goal, but there was nothing scrappy about the goal which put Richie Abrams’ side ahead.
Ince went from provider to scorer soon with a stunning solo goal as he cut inside from the right and fired left-footed from distance over David Keenan.
There would be a late twist though as Sorrento levelled to earn a share of the spoils. Neil Kilkenny clipped into the area and Luke Salmon found enough space to guide in a header. Both sides remain unbeaten going into Round Four.
Dianella White Eagles are also undefeated as four second-half goals ensured they ran away with a 5-0 win over Cockburn City.
Andy Keogh slipped a pass through for Paul Zimarino to net his first league goal for Dianella 10 minutes before the break.
Father-son duo Angel Andres Diaz and Angel Andres Rivera both found the scoresheet early in the season half, before a Rivera penalty made it 4-0 to continue the flurry of goals.
Daniel Dols turned into his own net late on from Rivera’s free-kick which capped a challenging afternoon for Cockburn. The side relegated from the NPL last season sit bottom of the league and without a point from their first three matches.
Subiaco round out the five unbeaten sides left in the second tier despite being held 1-1 away at Rockingham City.
Moustafa Mohamed made it goals in back-to-back matches as he ran unchallenged to the edge of the area and fired low past the goalkeeper on five minutes. But it was 1-1 at half-time thanks to Ryan Kennedy’s penalty and that’s how it stayed.
Kingsley Westside also got their season up and running on Saturday with their first win in the second tier coming 2-0 at home to Gosnells City.
Daniel Harrison bagged both goals in the space of three first-half minutes to get the job done. Both were brilliantly taken with the former Bayswater youngster scoring low from outside the box, before capitalising on Duncan Lennon-Black being out of position in the Gosnells goal to loft into an open net from range.
Finally, in the Sunday fixture, Gwelup Croatia bagged their first three points of the season with a 2-0 win over Joondalup United at Pentanet Joondalup Arena.
The opener came inside five minutes when Jeremie Mba ran from halfway and finished at the second attempt, after Todd Hoyle’s initial save.
Gwelup made it two in similar fashion in the second period as Jai Rawling ran unchallenged from halfway to slot home against his former side.
In Division Two, Joondalup City continue to lead the way following a 3-0 win over Wanneroo City.
Mason Gallagher got the opener in the first half with goals from Noel Disha and Liam Peacock after the restart ensuring a second win in as many games.
Joining them on six points are Forrestfield United who won 2-0 at Curtin University to sit second on goal difference.
Two goals in two minutes early in the second half separated the sides with Emerson Di Mattina and Austin Reynolds on the scoresheet.
Canning City and Carramar Shamrock Rovers are also unbeaten after collecting week two victories. City held on for a 4-3 win over newly promoted East Perth at Centenary Park after leading 4-1 after an hour.
Ryan McCready put the visitors ahead inside five minutes, but braces for Ishmael Greywood and Tom Kinnane seemingly had Lee Hayward’s side in cruise control.
Ryan Murray’s penalty and McCready’s second of the game made things interesting as East Perth pressed for an equaliser but couldn’t find one.
Carramar, meanwhile, banked their win of the campaign 1-0 at Quinns as Daniel Airns netted the only goal on 59 minutes.
Kalamunda City got off the mark with a 3-1 win over Swan United providing the perfect bounce back from last weekend’s opening day loss to Forrestfield. All three City goals came in the first half through Jose Zuniga, Nicolas Pardo and Samir Ramos with Swan’s consolation scored by Liam Merrigan.
And finally, Ashfield also won on Saturday, 2-1 away at Balga. Albert Mombo registered for the hosts before goals from Hanani Ndembele and Ravi Singh turned it around, albeit Riley Stephenson’s late triple save went a long way to helping his side hang onto victory.