MELVILLE City’s seven-game unbeaten run in Football West’s State League Division 2 competition ended with a 2-0 loss to Wanneroo City at Kingsway Sporting Complex at the weekend.
In a scrappy game, Melville was constantly frustrated by its opponents and the loss saw City relinquish its three-point lead in the race for fourth place.
The visitors almost found themselves 1-0 up inside the opening minutes when Mark Lucas got on the end of a corner, but his volley was cleared off the line.
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READ NOWWanneroo soon settled into the game and took the lead after a flurry of Melville mistakes allowed Conner Lynch to tuck home.
Liam Wales nearly doubled the lead when he beat the offside trap but was denied by the post.
Melville pressed for an equalizer as the half came to a close and Christian Long was denied by the bar after some nice footwork from Lucas.
Long had another chance in the opening minutes of the second half after connecting with Cameron McLaren’s cross, but his header flew over.
With Melville chasing the game, cracks started to show in its depleted backline and Wanneroo looked to take advantage.
The hosts should have made it 2-0 when Adam Mangion’s header was intercepted by Lynch and the winger was fouled by Daniel Agudelo in the box, but the post again denied Wales.
However, with 15 minutes to go, Wanneroo finally made the points safe when it capitalised on a turnover in midfield and Jake Makin got in behind the defence to fire home.