Curtin University Football Club suffered their second loss of the season as they fell 2-1 to a tough Melville City side. Robert Keegan got Curtin’s goal before Matt Donlevy and Simon El Chami scored for City.

Eddie Tikoft returned and took the captains arm band for Curtin as Kye Middleton was sidelined with injury. Curtin also saw the return of the tireless Rory Binnie to lead the line flanked by Khaled Salhah and Nathan Smith while Melville custodian Mirko Grgurinovic was outstanding for the home side.

The University based side started the brighter and had a chance to take the lead after just 11 minutes but Jon Krawec’s spot kick was saved by Grgurinovic diving to his right. Curtin continued to dominate as Melville settled and looked dangerous from set pieces.

Keegan gave Curtin the lead after 30 minutes as he ghosted in at the far post to put Salhah’s deflected shot into the back of the net. 10 minutes later it was all square as Donlevy found himself in space and powered the ball home from the edge of the box.

Curtin came out of the blocks firing in the second half but could not convert their possession into chances and they would pay the price as El Chami headed home from a corner with 10 minutes left to play to give the home side the lead.

City battened down the hatches and looked to hit Curtin on the counter in the final minutes as the visitors chased the equaliser. Kristian Beven had a chance to equalise in added time but his far post header went the wrong side of the post as Melville hung on for the three points.

Team: Ferguson, Beven, Binnie, Harvey, Keegan (Thapa), Bucchino, Matkovic, Salhah (Middleton), Smith (Chiellini), Tikoft, Krawec.
Written by: David Cantoni