Perth have jumped above ECU Joondalup after a 2-0 win in Sunday's All Flags State Premier League game at Dorrien Gardens.
Perth have jumped above ECU Joondalup after a 2-0 win in Sunday's All Flags State Premier League game at Dorrien Gardens.
English midfielder Ashley Corker crossed for striker Ayodeji Omoboye to score on 54 minutes, and the former Middlesbrough player fired home himself with two minutes remaining to wrap up the points.
Joondalup's best chance fell to Perth Glory Youth defender Ryan Lowry, who blazed over from close range with 10 minutes remaining.
Perth coach Mauro Marchione was delighted with the performance, and that of James Marocchi, son of former Socceroos player Gary.
"We played well today and deserve the win,"Marchione said.
"We've a number of players out at the moment and the young lads stepped up today and performed well. James (Marocchi) was outstanding and he was the best player on the pitch and it bodes well for the club in the future."
In Saturday-s games, league leaders Bayswater City continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 5-2 win against Armadale at Alfred Skeet Oval.
Steve Burton and former Armadale midfielder James Isaia gave the visitors a perfect start, with goals in the first half, but the home side hit back one minute into the second half through Trevor Laure. Further goals to defender Trent Kay, Gustavo Giron-Marulanda and Damien Catalano put the icing on the cake for Bayswater, with Laure adding a consolation, and his second goal, late.
There was a downside to the win, with English striker Burton sent off in the final minute, and he will miss the clash against Sorrento next week.
“The referee is always right in my opinion, I just thought it was a bit harsh,” Bayswater coach Chris Coyne said.
“We lose a player now for next week. It should have been a yellow card at best, but obviously these things happen and there-s nothing we can change about it now.”
Meanwhile Sorrento lost ground on the leaders after they were beaten 2-0 by Floreat Athena at Percy Doyle Reserve.
David Heagney gave the visitors the lead after only 18 minutes, and Sorrento-s cause wasn-t helped when Brodie Martin was sent off four minutes into the second half.
Floreat skipper Mark Pritchard then blazed a penalty wide of the target on the hour, but the points were made save in the 71st minute when Ian McMurray fired home at the back post from Heagney-s free kick.
Stirling Lions kept in touch with Bayswater with a hard fought 2-1 win against Inglewood United at Intiga Stadium.
The home side made a perfect start and were ahead on 13 minutes, Stirling striker Rory Grant heading into his own net from a Andrija Jukic-s corner.
Parity was restored two minutes later, with Miki Vujacic-s in-swinging corner beating everyone in the penalty area and going into the net off the back post.
Former Perth Glory keeper Aleks Vrteski produced two stunning saves to deny the home side, before second half substitute Anthony Lyons won it for the visitors, scoring from the penalty spot in the 67th minute, only four minutes after coming onto the pitch.
In other games, Bunbury Forum Force were again left heartbroken, when a Connor Kavanagh header in the last minute gave Cockburn a 2-1 win at Payne Park. Michael Farmer had given Bunbury the lead early, before Paul Lloyd levelled on the quarter hour. But Kavanagh continued former Celtic midfielder, and now Cockburn coach, Marc Anthony-s unbeaten start to his coaching career.
Balcatta moved into sixth place with a 5-2 win against the Football West National Training Centre at Grindleford Reserve. Estonian striker Olari Perlin was on target with doubles to Ashley Rosindale and Micky Aspin, while Perth Glory striker Ndumba Makeche scored twice for the NTC.