Damian Scali took his season's goal tally to 17 with a well-taken brace as Swan IC recorded a comfortable 3-1 victory over cellar-dwellers Fremantle at Francis Street.

The visitors — still without a league victory all season — weren't helped when Cisco Jorquere was shown a straight red card early in the second half after an incident with Michael Tronchin.

After four draws in their previous five games, the Spirit must have gone into the match with genuine hope of breaking their duck against a side whose own hopes of a play-off berth have long been extinguished.

Chris Marshall had a half-chance for the hosts in the opening minute but he could only glance Justin Hugo's free-kick wide, then at the other end Jorquere set up David Rodgers but he too couldn't get his effort on target.

Shortly after, Spirit keeper Steven Grant was called into action for the first time but he easily gathered Aaron Cole's low drive from 25 yards.

However, his opposite number Corey Hugo was made to work even harder at the other end. The Swans keeper got down quickly to scramble away a shot from the edge of the box by Jason Barerra and from the resultant corner the veteran stopper showed wonderful reflexes to keep out Rodgers' powerful close-range volley.

At the other end, Scali combined well with Trent Wood and his strike from a tight angle didn't clear the bar by much.

But after 14 minutes it was the league's bottom side who went in front.
There didn't look to be too much danger when Callum Roberts received the ball on the left but the midfielder cut inside and hit a well-struck drive from 25 yards that beat the outstretched dive of Corey Hugo and nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

That seemed to spark the home side into action and after Dejan Djukanovic shot into the side netting, the same player made no mistake after 18 minutes.
Scali was the creator, clipping the ball forward and, with Grant appearing to hesitate, Djukanovic pounced to head the Swans level.

Four minutes later Wood lashed a vicious volley from an acute angle onto the roof of Grant's net, then the Spirit keeper was forced to save Djukanovic's looping header after more good work from Wood.

The home side continued to look the more dangerous but it was the Spirit who went desperately close to regaining the lead after 36 minutes.

It was route one stuff, Grant's long clearance finding Ben Kelly in the inside right channel but unfortunately for Fremantle there were no takers as his cross flashed across the face of goal and just beyond the far post.

There was more encouragement for Marc Wingell's side as Adrian McBride curled a free-kick just wide from 25 yards.

Tronchin became the first player to be cautioned after a foul on Kelly and it
was Kelly who almost gave his side a half-time lead.

Roberts' low cross fell invitingly for him six yards out but somehow Cole got his body in front of the ball to stop what looked a certain goal.

If that was a dramatic ending to the first period, it was nothing compared to events in the opening minute of the second half.

Jorquere and Tronchin clashed heavily in the middle of the pitch and when referee Mihevc flashed a red card, it took some time to realise it was the diminutive Fremantle man he had dismissed.

It seemed a harsh decision and an already difficult task for Fremantle became even tougher.

Kelly continued to look dangerous for the visitors and after 58 minutes he did well to beat a couple of players and cut inside but his shot from 18 yards lacked power and direction and rolled harmlessly wide.

Swans boss Paul Lincoln made his first change as he looked to take advantage of the extra man, replacing Djukanovic with Alex Cocking.

Peter Vukmirovic then joined the increasing number of names in the referee's notebook when he was cautioned for needlessly tripping Brendan Knox after giving the ball away.

Despite being a man down, the visitors were still pushing forward in search of their first win of the season and Roberts glanced a header just wide, before the same player flashed a volley just over from a tight angle.

Rodgers then wasted a great chance for the Spirit, sending a free header from close range over the bar.

Fremantle's Llewelyn Bake made way for Michael Draper with 18 minutes remaining and within 60 seconds the home side was in front.

Wood picked out Scali with a superb cross from the right and the unmarked striker made no mistake from six yards, rifling a header into the back of the net.

The Fremantle defence didn't learn their lesson and moments later it was almost 3-1, Scali stretching to reach Cocking's centre, only to see his shot just clear the crossbar.

By now Lincoln's side were well on top and they duly made it 3-1 and all but wrapped up the points after 78 minutes — albeit with a slice of good fortune.

A Fremantle clearance crashed into Wood's head and bounced kindly into the path of Cocking who set up Scali for his second of the afternoon and 17th of the season.

Grant had no trouble dealing with a long-range effort from Cocking, while at the other end Corey Hugo wasn't tested by Joseph Moffat's header from a corner.

Moffat was then in the action at the other end with a desperate stoppage-time tackle to deny Scali a hat-trick.

Lincoln was happy with his side's performance but admitted the sending off was the turning point.

"I thought it was quite harsh but then that's football," he said.

"We were able to get on top and we played quite well after that.

"We've done well at home all season — we've only lost one game and we've got two or three new players coming in next year so we'll be looking to improve further next season."

Swan IC: C Hugo, J Hugo, A Cole, B Knox, M Tronchin (M Taglioretti, 85), D Scali, T Wood (G Mason, 79), C Marshall, D Djukanovic A Cocking, 60), D McNally   Subs not used: P Baczynski, Agudelo (rgk)

Yellow cards: J Hugo, M Tronchin, D McNally

Fremantle Spirit: S Grant, T Straker, J Moffat, A McBride (C Mclean, 75), L Bake (M Draper, 72), C Jorquere, B Kelly, D Rodgers, C Roberts, J Barerra, P Vukmirovic   Subs not used: R Kuppusamy, L Doyle, J Sacco (rgk)

Yellow cards: P Vukmirovic
Red cards: C Jorquere

Referee: Josh Mihevc