Goals: 0:1 Todd Howarth (90.)

A Todd Howarth goal with only minutes remaining earned Perth S.C. a 1-0 win against Armadale at Alfred Skeet Oval. Some commanding defensive displays kept chances on goal to a minimum in a free-flowing first half. Howarth and Matt Danskin were in full swing down the flanks for the visitors, continually sending the ball into the 18-yard box only to have Lee Hallams and Adam Galvin comfortably deal with the danger. At the opposite end of the park Michael Icanovski and Trent Kay were in an uncompromising mood as Jason Goodwin and Michael Bushby speared Armadale forward time and time again. The best opening of the period came through Danskin who charged past several defenders to go one-on-one with goalkeeper Cyril Sharrock when he scuffed the shot wide. The words of Graham Normaton had the desired effect as Perth took the intensity up a notch for the second half. Andreas Oliveira had the ball in the back of the net just before the hour mark only for his effort to be disallowed by an offside flag. This served to only fire Perth up even further and Antonio Naglieri crashed a stunning shot into the upright soon after. Danskin was presented with a great chance but shot wide, then Naglieri should have at least tested the ‘keeper when permitted to advance on goal. For their part Armadale were playing chiefly on the counter attack and Goodwin fired wide after being played through by Scott Devine. The game looked destined to end scoreless when Icanovski surged down the right and swung a cross in behind the defence to Howarth who tamed the ball before sticking it past the ‘keeper. Armadale were denied a share of the points within seconds of the re-start when Galvin launched a long ball to the top of the 18-yard box where Hallums’ glancing header forced a brilliant diving save from Gareth Deeg.

Goals: 1:0 Jared Love (12.); 2:0 Glenn Thomas (18.); 2:1 Dean Wallace (19.); 2:2 Johnny Mirco (30.); 3:2 Gary Lynn (52.); 3:3 Giovanni Di Bartolo (66.)

Cockburn City etched out a 3-3 draw with Sorrento despite playing the second half with only ten men at Percy Doyle Reserve. The home side were quick to get into gear and in the 12th minute went ahead as Glen Thomas headed the ball down for Jared Love to fired past Dino Pacella. The home supporters were given further reason to celebrate seven minutes later when Thomas clipped a neat shot over the goalkeeper from a slight angle after receiving Gurovski’s centring pass. Cockburn hit back immediate with Johnny Mirco curled a free-kick in from the left which Dean Wallace headed unchallenged into the top corner. The sides were brought level after 31 minutes by an in-swinging Johnny Mirco corner from the right that came to rest in the back of the net. Michael Mirco squandered a golden opportunity to put the visitors ahead but scuffed his shot wide when faced only by ‘keeper Anthony Cochrane. Cockburn were reduced to ten men moments before the interval when Aaron Dos Santos’ foul on Brodie Martin earned the young attacker his booking of the day. Sorrento started the second period just like the first and reclaimed the lead in the 52nd minute via Gary Lynn who drilled a partially cleared corner through a crowded 18-yard box. That lead would last just fourteen minutes before Wallace raced down the right before crossing to substitute Giovanni De Bartolo to steer the ball past an exposed ‘keeper. Love should have put the home side back in front but slammed the ball narrowly high after expertly taming Cameron Yorke’s pinpoint pass. The final quarter hour was all-action as the sides fought desperately to snatch a late winner but had to be content with a point apiece.

Goals: 0:1 Marc Anthony (30.); 0:2 Howard Fondyke (62.)

E.C.U. Joondalup extended their unbeaten run to ten games by inflicting a 2-0 defeat on Fremantle Spirit at the WA Spanish Club. Goals either side of the break by Marc Anthony and Howard Fondyke secured the points on a day when the northerners dominated from the opening whistle. Joondalup announced their intentions through Fondyke who stung the gloves of Steve Grant with only a few minutes gone. Some terrific distribution by the likes of Anthony, Mark Lee and Jon Higgins ensured the home side were under all the pressure. Ian McMurray had a great opportunity to put away the opening goal but Grant was again up to the task and palmed away the strikers' long-range strike. Fremantle were slow to get into gear and going forward relied chiefly on the pace of Callum Roberts and Vas Kalogeracos to open up the visiting defence. The breakthrough arrived in the 29th minute when Lee's shot ricocheted off an opponent to Marc Anthony who controlled the ball magnificently before poking into the net from close-range. The second half had Fremantle more involved, however, veteran goalkeeper Any Petterson was still to be troubled as his defence repelled everything that came their way. Joondalup increased their lead in the 62nd minute through Fondyke who headed in a delightful cross by substitute Jason Mirco. The home side piled on the pressure as the clock ticked down and twice Roberts was sent through one-on-one with Petterson who came out on top on both occasions. Steven Baines and Darren Quinncroft stood firm against the late onslaught to keep Joondalup on course for a top five finish to the season.

Goals: 1:0 Damien Catalano (23.); 2:0 Damien Scali (Penalty, 29.); 2:1 Boima Karpeh (Penalty, 62.); 2:2 Boima Karpeh (86.); 2:3 Garin Collins (90.)

Floreat Athena preserved their unbeaten season by scoring twice in the final minutes to beat Swan I.C. 3-2 at the Swan Italian Club. The home side settled the better and had appeals for an early penalty dismissed by Ton Klaver after Brendan Knox' superb first time strike deflected wide off James Isaia. Hesitant defending proved costly for Floreat in the 23rd minute when Michael Tronchin and Tom Shepheard linked to set-up Damien Catalano whose explosive drive from 15-metres came to rest in the back of the net. The visitors search for a quick response was fruitless as Rafael Insurralde rifled high from distance, and Boima Karpeh volleyed wide from Garin Collins' cross. The margin became two goals in the 29th minute when Damien Scali converted from the penalty spot after Shepheard had been bundled over by Isaia. Leading into the break Floreat twice went close to reducing the deficit but neither Collins nor Isaia found a way past Cory Hugo. The second half opening in dramatic fashion as Catalano's shot was blocked by Vas Vujacic who thrust out a leg to deflect Shepherd's follow-up on to the crossbar. In the 61st minute Insurralde charged into the area where he was illegally halted by Scali, and Karpeh made no mistake from the spot. Swan could have added to their tally through Knox whose powerful shot cannoned off the bar to be cleared by John Migas. As the game came to a close it was Floreat that had more left in the tank and on 85 minutes Paul Vatistas sent Karpeh clear to rifle into the top corner. The visitors' comeback was made complete three minutes later when a long clearance fell kindly for Collins to clinically send past Hugo and decide the game.

Goals: 0:1 Phil Arnold (17.); 1:1 Morgan Dendle (26.); 2:1 Craig Cheeseman (Penalty, 40.); 3:1 Ben Yates (47.); 3:2 Kevin Henderson (Penalty, 56.); 3:3 Andy Brown (71.); 4:3 Carl Harrison (72.); 4:4 Matt Italiano (77.); 4:5 Andy Brown (90.)

Stirling Lions came from behind to defeat Wanneroo City 5-4 in a scrappy encounter at Kingsway Sporting Complex. The scoring began in the 19th minute when Matt Italiano’s cross from the left was poorly defended by Wanneroo and Phil Arnold eventually fired low past Jordan Conti who kept out the strikers’ initial effort. The home teams’ search for an equaliser was rewarded eight minutes later when Morgan Dendle slipped away from his marker to powerfully head in cross beyond the reach of Phil Straker. With nothing to lose Wanneroo continued to press forward and shortly before the interval they snatched the lead through Craig Cheeseman who converted a penalty awarded for handball against Michael Pugliese. The second half began much like the first had ended and just a couple of minutes had gone by when Ben Yates was found unmarked inside the area to increase the difference. A rare Stirling foray into the 18-yard box saw Danny Richman go down under the challenge of Mark Donnelly for a penalty which captain Kevin Henderson tucked away with 57 minutes played. The turning point came when Mike Lyons went to his bench and brought on Andy Brown and Tom Jones. Parity was restored on 71 minutes when Arnold outpaced his marked to fire in a low cross that Brown slipped past Conti. However, there was still plenty of life in Wanneroo’s legs and minutes later Carl Harrison latched on to a long clearance and restored the hosts lead with a neatly placed strike. Superb movement lead to Stirling’s fourth goal in which Brown flicked the ball out wide to Arnold who delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post where Italiano gave Conti no chance with a powerful header. The decider came with six minutes to go as Brown received possession from a throw-in and expertly turned inside onto his left foot to drill a sensational shot into the top corner.

Goals: 0:1 Daniel Neiderberger (11.); 0:2 James Duncan (56.); 1:2 Cormac Dawson (60.); 1:3 Dean Apelgren (90.)

A ten man Inglewood United emerged triumphant by 3-1 against Western Knights at Nash Field. It was a gutsy performance by the visiting team who controlled the game despite playing much of the second half a man down after the dismissal of goalkeeper Oliver Taseski. The game kicked into life after 11 minutes when Daniel Neiderberger tapped into an empty net from close-range after Knights custodian Kevin Miller spilled a lopping ball played into the 18-yard box by Michael Baczynski. A last ditch tackle by Jon Mathers on Dean Apelgren prevented the midfielder from increasing Inglewood's lead after he skipped through the defence and inside the box. The second half was barely four minutes old when Taseski was shown a straight red card after bringing down Scott Bushby while attempting to intercept possession just outside his area. A corner routine put the ball at the feet of Andrija Jukic who turned his marker but dragged his shot from 14-metres just wide of Jason Razmovski's post. Inglewood increased their stranglehold over the game through young defender James Duncan who helped home a delightful low curling free-kick from Apelgren in the 56th minute. It should have been three-nil when Niederberger released Baczynski who was disappointed to stroke the ball the wrong side of the upright. Within three minutes the Knights were back in the hunt as Bushby smashed the ball into a crowded area where it rebounded kindly for Cormac Dawson to stab in at close-range. The Knights search for an equaliser left them exposed at the back and allowed Jason Colli to drive forward and deliver a cross to the far post where Baczynski headed just wide. The points were made safe on the stroke of full-time when Apelgren muscled his way to the top of the box where he turned his marker and slotted under the advancing goalkeeper.