The Swans should have added to their lead, Shepheard heading wide from close-range when he was found from a Brendan Knox corner. Knox went close again in the last minute of the half his great run sent him clear of four Gulls defenders but Steven McDonald saved the day with a crucial last ditch tackle.

The Gulls opened the second half well with Glen Thomas outstanding, he sent Love clear but his low shot was saved at full stretch by Hugo. The Swans looked for the goal to finish the Gulls off and Djuknaovic thought he had in second 67 minutes, Shepheard found him ten-yards out, his shot was superbly saved one handed by Young.

Sorrento pressed late and had a number of chances, Thomas sent Boyle clear in the 76th minute but his shot was brilliantly saved by Hugo.  The Gulls had the ball in the net a minute later but Neville’s goal was ruled offside by referee Troy Miller. There was tension on the Gulls bench and Coach Steve Neville was sent to the stands by referee Miller for arguing. The biggest cheers of the day came in 86th minute when Swans veteran Trevor Hatton came on to replace David Paone in his final game for the black and whites, and the Swans held on to record a 1-0 win and send him out with a victory.
Football West Match Reporter - Peter Simcox.

ECU Joondalup (1) vs. Stirling Lions (2).

Stirling Lions became the first team this season to take away all three points from the University Ground after disposing of ECU Joondalup 2-1 with goals from Leo Harman and Andy Brown sealing the win.

It took only seven minutes for the first chance of the match; big central defender Kevin Henderson heading over from close range after a long throw bounced in the area and over the head of ECU captain Ian McMurray.

Stirling were the brighter side and fashioned another opportunity four minutes later after a Ludo Boi shot was blocked and fell kindly for Matt Italiano in the area, however his low side footed shot bobbled wide of the upright.

McMurray had to be alert to head away an Andy Brown flick on from under the cross bar with the ECU striker spending more time defending in his own box than attacking the Stirling goal as the Lions dominated proceedings. Brown took matters into his own hands on 18 minutes after a neat set up allowed the big man to smash a volley towards goal that whistled past the post.

The goal finally came for Stirling on 24 minutes after Andy Brown blasted a low centre into the six yard area, the ball first falling to Boi whose shot was blocked but fell nicely for Leo Harman to control and slot home from eight yards.Harman could have scored one of the seasons top goals 10 minutes later after having his back to goal 30 yards out, the striker audaciously flicked the ball up over his head and past the defender however could only find the keepers arms in what was a disappointing finish.

ECU had a penalty shout for handball waved away by the referee while at the other end a Keith Brown free kick was parried away by Andy Petterson. ECU snatched a goal against the run of play with the last kick of the first half, a raking cross field ball from Tommy Amphlett found Howard Fondyke who lobbed the advancing keeper and saw the ball nestle in the net.

The second half started off in a similar vane to the first with Stirling pressing forward and looking the more dangerous side. Phil Arnold blazed an effort over the bar before a Keith Brown volley flew inches on the wrong side of the post. Brown was having a fine game and it was his dangerous corner that almost saw Stirling regain the lead but somehow the ball was stopped on the line and eventually cleared from the goal mouth scramble.

But just as ECU began to pressure the Lions regrouped; Andy Brown after he glanced on a long Steve Heskith throw and found the back of the net to seal all three points for the Lions who can now look forward to their Soccer Pools Cup match against Cockburn City on Saturday, 13 October at E&D Litis Stadium.

Football West Match Reporter - Ben Fitzpatrick.

Armadale (3) vs. Floreat Athena (5).

A stunning hat-trick from former Perth Glory’s Josip Magdic gave Floreat Athena a 5-3 victory against Armadale in Friday nights round 22 Football West Premier League clash at Alfred Skeet Oval. The victory earning Athena the distinction of going through the whole season undefeated, and players, coaches and supporters celebrated after the final whistle.

But it was a hesitant start from the Champions, and Scott Devine’s free kick from the edge of the box curled inches wide for the hosts. Armadale soon had the lead, Jason Goodwin’s run and cross from the right found Graham Herd 25-yards out and his shot flew past Alex Dunn and into the net on eight minutes.

It got better for the home side and two minutes later it was 2-0, Goodwin again sent a long ball down the left to Herd, and his speculative cross shot beat Dunn and found the top of the net.

The home fans were in full voice as a shock looked on the cards, but Athena Coach Michael Roki adjusted his formation and four minutes later they were back in the game. Miki Vujacic’s cross from the right fell to Magdic on the edge of the box and his volley flew past Cyril Sharrock to reduce the margin.

Athena pressed forward looking for the equaliser, Branimir Mikulic headed wide and Garin Collins shot sailed over the bar. But the home side should have increased their lead on the half hour, Shannon Dally sent Goodwin clear one on one with keeper Dunn, the youngster narrowed the angle well and blocked the strikers shot. Then Rafael Insurralde found Magdic on the edge of the box, his shot on the turn went inches past the post. It was end to end football and Armadale’s Daryl Platten saw his free kick crash off the post on 34 minutes as the home side pressed, but two minutes later it was 2-2. Mikulic was the provider his inch perfect cross into the box caused panic in the Armadale defence and Collins nipped in to head past Sharrock.

The visitors began the second half well, Adam Bachiller cross was acrobatically met by Magdic, his overhead kick going wide. Then moments later Insurralde found Magdic again but Sharrock saved low. But their pressure finally told on 55 minutes, the Armadale defence failed to clear a cross and it popped up for Magdic who bravely headed past Sharrock.

It looked like Athena would run away with the game, and it was 4-2 on 77 minutes with the goal of the match. Magdic picked the ball up on the half way line and ran at the Armadale defence; his pace took him clear of the final defender Marlon Ramirez before unleashing a stunning strike from the edge of the box which gave Sharrock no chance.

But Armadale had other ideas and they reduced the margin three minutes later Stephen Skilandis played Platten in down the right and he cut inside James Isaia before firing past Dunn. Both sides pressed late Dally low shot was saved by Dunn for Armadale, but the points were sewn up on 85 minutes with another great individual goal. Insurralde was found by Mikulic down the right; he cut inside the box and fired high into the net to score.

Athena Coach Roki was delighted his side had gone undefeated all season. He said: “It started off a bit scary in the first ten minutes tonight and we were 2-0 down. But the boys showed great character tonight, as they have all season, and they played their way out of trouble which I was delighted with. Josip was great tonight, he should be playing A-League, he showed some class touches in midfield tonight, may be it’s a matter of time but we hope he gets there one day.”

Armadale Coach Billy Russell was delighted with his team’s performance despite the loss. “I thought the boys gave it all they could tonight, but we were playing against a class side. We had a couple of chances in the first half to finish the game off but we didn’t take them and they are a good side and are always going to create chances and they finished them off,” said Russell.

Football West Match Reporter - Peter Simcox.