MURDOCH University Melville (MUM) have maintained second spot on the State League Division Two ladder after overcoming both the elements and Swan United at Swan Italian Sporting Club.
Amidst a second half downpour, the visitors overcame a strong challenge from sixth-placed Swan to claim a valuable 3-2 win.
The result kept MUM in the top two, five points behind league-leaders Quinns FC, but also five points ahead of the chasing pack in the playoff race.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWMUM started brightly and were rewarded inside the opening quarter when Declan Tanna slotted home, but Swan pulled a goal back soon after from a corner.
With the scores level, the heavens opened and the wind came into play, as both teams fought tooth and nail to carve out opportunities, but to little avail.
Swan finished the first half as the side who looked more likely to take over the game and picked up where they left off in the second half, but for the most part they were unable to test Alec Radonich in goals.
As the game progressed, the weather continued to deteriorate as heavy rain and vicious wins made life tough for both sets of players.
But MUM dug in and slowly but surely, worked their way back into the game before starting to take control in the final 20 minutes.
They were rewarded with 10 minutes to go when a Tanna cross eluded everyone but an unmarked Mark Lucas at the back post and the skipper made no mistake from close range.
Lucas then looked to have put the result beyond doubt, when he pounced on a turnover in Swan’s half and was bought down in the box, to which the referee had little hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Broden Brown converted the penalty to make it 3-1, before a John Monterosso goal ensured a grandstand finish, but the away side were able to ride out the final few minutes to claim an important three points.
Earlier, MUM’s Reserve’s extended their lead at the top of the table with a 4-0 win over Swan thanks to two goals each from Liam Goerke and Adrian Ciampni.
Meanwhile, the Under 18’s made it nine wins from nine with an 11-0 win.