Goals: 1:0 Jason Dos Santos (63.); 1:1 Kevin Henderson (Penalty, 69.)

Cockburn City and Stirling Lions fought a tight 1-1 draw in front of a boisterous crowd at Dalmatinac Park. A controversial second half penalty from Kevin Henderson cancelled out Jason Dos Santos 63rd minute opener on an overcast afternoon in the southern suburbs. The opening stages were dominated by Stirling who had the ball in the net after 8 minutes through David Dugdale who was adjudged offside by the linesman. Led by dynamo Ludovic Boi, Stirling was threatening on the counterattack and Cockburn could have been a few goals down if not for versatile goalkeeper Dino Pacella. It took 30 minutes for Cockburn to threaten through Josh Kamasz who was thwarted by Phil Straker after receiving a great pass from Michael Mirco. Fundamental errors crept into the game in the second half with neither side able to construct any meaningful opportunities. Livewire Johnny Mirco tried to breathe life into the game with his storming runs forward. However, it would be Dos Santos that delivered the opening goal 63 minutes by dancing his his way through the Lions defence before unleashing a rasping low shot which ricocheted off a defender’s foot and rolled past a helpless Straker. This lifted spirits in home camp and a minute later Kamasz could have doubled the lead but his shot from a tight angle was again blocked by Straker. The referee was surrounded by players after awarding a penalty against Shane Nunes for his tackle on Andy Brown, but it mattered little to Kevin Henderson who stepped up to power the equaliser past Pacella on 69 minutes. In a tense final twenty minutes neither side created a chance to break the deadlock and both teams had to be content with a shared point.

Goals: 0:1 Craig Young (21.); 0:2 Ian McMurray; 0:3 Ian McMurray (42.); 0:4 Scott Blackmore (85.); 0:5 David Able (87.)

E.C.U. Joondalup remains in touch with the leading pack after whipping Inglewood United 5-0 at Clipsal Stadium. Both teams entered the game with similar starts to the season and eager for a victory that would kick start their campaign. From the first whistle it was Joondalup who stamped their authority on the game through a blend of attractive, attacking football and boundless energy. It therefore came as no surprise when the visitors took the lead on 21 minutes when Craig Young netted at close-range from Steve Beasley's cross from the left. The closest Inglewood came to scoring was an Aaron Colli shot from 18-metres which Andy Petterson touched wide. Joondalup added another to their tally courtesy of a superb interchange between Marc Anthony and Mark Lee which unlocked the defence and Ian McMurray calmly finished from close-range. The day got worse for Inglewood who had Shane Pryce red carded for a foul on Anthony after 35 minutes, and from the resulting free-kick Oliver Taseski prevented the margin from increasing with a superb fingertip save to deny Lee. However, Joondalup were far from content with their position and shortly before half-time McMurray put away is second of the afternoon to put the visiting team three goals up. The story was much the same after the turnaround as Inglewood focused chiefly on defensive duties whereas Joondalup went in search of further goals. On 85 minutes Martin Ashworth swung in a corner which Scott Blackmore sent into the net which to the delight of the travelling supporters. The scoring was completed two minutes later when poor defending allowed Dave Abel to slot in the games fifth goal. Inglewood’s fourth loss in six games leaves them rooted firmly in the bottom half of the table.

Goals: 0:1 Sebastian Booysen (47.)

The pressure on reigning champion Sorrento intensified after they suffered a 0-1 loss to Fremantle Spirit at Percy Doyle Reserve. The loss leaves Sorrento still searching for their first point after six games and relegation battle must now be a major concern for the club who only eight months ago lifted the Premier League trophy. Fremantle came out firing and after 6 minutes neat work by Raveshlan Kuppusamy set up Sebastian Booysen whose effort was high of the crossbar. Todd Harnwell headed wide under pressure from an excellent cross by Danny Taylor as the hosts began to get a foothold on the game. A wicked cross by Harnwell was narrowly high for Glen Thomas, and a failed corner clearance fell to James Morgan whose attempt flew over the bar. The supporters had barely enough time to resume their vantage point for the second half when Fremantle struck through a long cross field ball which caught the opposition defence by surprise but not Booyen who looped his header over the advancing goalkeeper and into the net. Going a goal behind deflated the Sorrento players as Fremantle lifted their work rate in a determined effort to secure the points. The pace of Kuppusamy could have sealed victory on 72minutes after he beat his marker and cut inside the penalty area only to for his low effort to be tipped into the side netting by Cochrane. From the resulting corner Booyen directed his header goal ward but a fantastic clearing header off the line by Jason Trpevski saved their hosts blushes. Harnwell almost benefited from the addition of Steve McDonald to the Sorrento attack after a great touch allowed him sight of goal but under pressure the attacker lobbed high from an angle.

Goals: 0:1 Ahmed Hafez (12.); 0:2 Derek Cooke (16.); 0:3 Ahmed Hafez; 1:3 John Monterosso (42.); 2:3 Thomas Shepheard (55.); 3:3 (Own goal, 76.); 4:3 Dom Ando (78.); 4:4 Chris Hansen (81.); 5:4 Thomas Shepheard (85.); 6:4 Thomas Shepheard (90+2.)

Swan I.C. over came the odds to beat Wanneroo City 6-4 in a tense encounter at the Swan Italian Club. The day started disastrously for Swan who, nine minutes in, had goalkeeper Corey Hugo sent off for a foul on Derek Cooke after he’d been sent clear of the defence by Rowdy Yates. It didn’t take long for Wanneroo to strike as Ahmed Hafez netted from close-range after teenager ‘keeper Tony Davies parried a cross from Yates. Four minutes later the impressive Yates slipped a through ball to Cooke who clinically finished past the ‘keeper. Wanneroo were on fire and Hafez put away goal number three after latching on to a long ball that had Swan napping. Just before half-time John Monterosso who stroked a low shot past Kevin Miller to give Swan a glimmer of hope. It was a more focused Swan side that came out for the second half which was ten minutes old when Tom Shepheard beat his marker to roll the ball past Miller. The game was turned on its’ head when Hafez was dismissed for a second yellow card, and two minutes later Wanneroo had only nine men on the park after Danny Brown was red carded for a foul on Shepheard. Swan capitalised on 76 minutes when a partially cleared corner came to Dom Ando whose shot from 16-metres deflected off a defender to finding the net. Two minutes later Brendan Knox’ run into the penalty area was impended by a defender, referee Ton Klaver somewhat harshly pointed to the spot and Ando kept his nerve to put Swan ahead. Chris Hansen nodded in a Craig Cheesman free kick to bring the teams level with nine minutes left. However, Swan weren’t finished and Shepheard netted from close-range after Miller parried shot by Perich, then in stoppage time Sebastian Ruiz set up Shepheard to complete his hat-trick.

Goals: 1:0 Anthony Skorich (17.); 2:0 Cormac Dawson (36.); 3:0 David Pryce (63.)

Western Knights were simply a class above Armadale in sweeping their way to a 3-0 victory at Nash Field. It was clear from the outset that the hosts meant business as Armadale goalkeeper Cyril Sharrock was called upon to keep out shots from Andrija Jukic, David Price and Anthony Skorich. The inevitable breakthrough came on the quarter hour when Jon Higgins swung a corner to the near post where Skorich rose high to nod into the net. Cormac Dawson was providing a lot of the Knights forward momentum through some fine distribution and penetrating runs out of midfield. Andrija Jukic was also making his presence felt by peppering the goal from long-range. Armadale’s only chance of the period came about through Jon Mathers’ sloppy back pass which was pounced upon by Jason Goodwin who was closed down before he could rattle off a shot. Going the other way Nine minutes from the break the margin was doubled as Andrija Jukic drilled a free-kick into a crowded 6-yard box which an unchecked Dawson tapped in at the back post. The second half opened in much the same fashion but this time Stuart Montgomery was denied by an alert Sharrock. Armadale were opened up again in the 63rd minute by an exquisite one-two between Price and Skorich which allowed the former to go past his marker and slide a super shot across the ‘keeper and inside the far post. Scott Bushby should have added a fourth shortly but pushed the ball over the crossbar at close-range from Higgins’ cross from the left. Montgomery then had the ball in the net only for an upraised flag to correctly rule it out for offside. With the points safe Aramdale were let back into the game but were unable to conjure up a late consolation as Rob Crerar placed high and Marlon Ramirez’ effort was cleared off the line by Dawson.

Goals: 1:0 Boima Karpeh (72.)

Floreat Athena’s title hopes received a major boost courtesy of a thrilling 1-0 victory over inner-city rival Perth S.C. at Litis Stadium. Liberian-born striker Boima Karpeh secured the points for Floreat late in the tightly contested game that was witnessed by a crowd of approximately 1,800. Both defences were watertight in an opening period that produced few chances on goal. Perth’s best opportunity of the period came through Nikita Rukavytsya who beat the offside trap but shot narrowly wide with the outside of his boot after 14 minutes. Floreat had slightly the better of possession and carved out more openings that their visitors. A long-range Miki Vujacic free-kick cannoned off the upright with goalkeeper Gareth Deeg motionless, and Adam Bachiller headed high of the crossbar from Vujacic’s delivery. Perth stepped up the tempo after the break and controlled the game with Antonio Naglieri and Todd Howarth figuring prominently. Rukavytsya used his pace to go down the right and cut the ball back to Naglieri whose initial shot was parried by the ‘keeper, and the follow-up blocked by Julian Madaschi. Floreat weren’t without their chances as Mikulic crashed a shot into the crossbar from a James Isaia cross. The decider arrived ten minutes from full-time when Trent Kay was caught in possession by Karpeh who made no mistake beating Deeg from 12-metres. Bachiller should have made the points safe on 88 minutes after he surged into attack, beating two defenders in the process, only to have his shot from inside the 18-yard box sail narrowly wide. The visitors had an opportunity to level in stoppage time when awarded a free-kick out wide which was curled invitingly into the danger zone by Naglieri but, despite several team mates being in the vicinity, the chance failed to yield a reward.