Perth SC moved three points clear at the top of the Football West Premier League table after 3-1 victory against Western Knights at Nash Field.
The Knights had won all their home games prior to Saturday but after a bright start from Paul Price's side, it was Perth who took control and they were ahead on 35 minutes. Striker Genaveo Human was sent clear after a mistake from Knights defender Okwy Diamondstar and he fired low past keeper David Khuen.
The game was settled in the opening five minutes of the second half when Perth scored twice. First David Onoforo volleyed home superbly from the edge of the box on 48 minutes, then Phil Arnold's scored a third two minutes later.
Knights striker Mario Marcinko scored the Knights consolation goal eight minutes from time but it was Perth who gained the three points.
Floreat Athena returned to the winner's circle after two defeats with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Swan United at the E&D Litis Stadium on Saturday evening.
The only goal of the game came on 63 minutes when New Zealand striker Brad Scott headed home a Miki Vujacic corner. The Swans almost had an immediate reply but Damian Scali's header crashed off the crossbar.
"It was tough conditions out there tonight and it wasn't one of the prettiest of games," Floreat coach Michael Roki.
"Our defence was good tonight and Alex Dunn made a couple of important saves for us. We had to fight hard to get the points."
Also on Saturday, Stirling Lions won the battle of the bottom two sides with a 3-2 win against Armadale at Macedonia Park.
The visitors were down to 10 men after only six minutes when former Lions midfielder Alan Muir was sent off but they still went ahead on 32 minutes, Marlon Ramirez scoring after good work from Kieran Tracey. However, the home side hit back five minutes later when Jason Mirco was on hand to tap home Danny Stoitis' header.
An own goal from James Hesketh on 52 minutes gave the home side the edge but the Reds had other ideas and were level on 64 minutes when Tracey nabbed his second.
It looked like the Reds had held on for a point until the 91st minute when second-half substitute Jamie de Abreu latched on to a mistake from defender Andy Bowyer, rounded keeper Alex Pearson and scored.
"I'm more relieved than pleased, to be honest," Lions coach Mike Lyons said. "When you're where we are on the table, it doesn't really matter how you win."
Inglewood United hung on, despite being reduced to nine men, to earn a 2-2 draw with Mandurah City at the Clipsal Stadium.
The visitors were ahead on 38 minutes through Rafael Insurralde, but the stroke of half-time the home side equalised against the run of play when Alex Stamatiadis beat Phil Straker to the ball and fired home.
Then a controversial penalty on 75 minutes saw the visitors regain their lead. Referee Michael Tolme adjudged Stamatiadis had used a hand to stop the ball and awarded a penalty and sent the young Inglewood midfielder off. Mandurah striker O'Callaghan kept his nerve and fired Mandurah back in front from the spot.
But the nine men continued to fight and were rewarded four minutes later when Albert Osei-Tutu volleyed home a Jason Colli cross.
Inglewood coach Alan Vest was pleased with his sides battling performance. "We rode our luck a little in the last 10 minutes but Oliver Taseski was excellent today, like he has been all season for us," Vest said.
ECU Joondalup's poor season continued when they were beaten 5-2 by near neighbours Sorrento at the Edith Cowen University Arena.
It was a perfect start for the home side when Tommy Amphlett scored in the first minute, but Sorrento equalised on 14 minutes when Todd Harnwell fired low past Davvyd Jones. The home side were back in front when Garin Collins tapped home after Amphlett's shot had cannoned of the crossbar but Stuart Montgomery levelled from the penalty spot four minutes before half-time.
The Gulls ran riot in the second half with further goals to Glen Thomas, Paul Cunningham and Steven McDonald, and coach Steve Neville praised his side.
"We haven't had the best of times recently. We played Western Knights and Perth, and in both games we were good for a half and poor in the other," he said.
"But today in the second half I couldn't have asked any more and it was probably one of the best performances since I've been here."
PERTH PETER SIMCOX
