Brisbane Roar broke two points clear atop the Westfield W-League ladder with a valuable 2-0 win over title rivals Perth Glory at Dorrien Gardens on Friday.
Hayley Raso and Allira Toby both scored in the space of seven second half minutes to cement Roar’s place as premiership favourites.
Glory, without absent superstar Sam Kerr for family reasons, lacked their usual firepower and were held scoreless for the first time this season.
The hosts’ inability to break down Brisbane means they sit five points off the pacesetters and three shy of second-placed Newcastle Jets.
The league-leaders, meanwhile, are in pole position for what would be a third regular season title in their history, although plenty of work remains over the final five rounds.
Marianna Tabain almost put Glory ahead in the seventh minute with a dangerous chip shot from 20 yards which forced Roar goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold to make an overhead save on the goal-line.
Roar midfielder Katrina Gorry proved a constant threat throughout the match, setting up teammates Tameka Butt and Emily Gielnik for a string of chances in the first half.
Glory defender Natasha Rigby made a telling save off the goal-line on the cusp of the half-time to ensure both teams went into the break on even terms.
Toby looked set to break the deadlock three minutes after the resumption, but a quick-thinking Tabain made a desperate lunge to prevent the Roar winger from scoring at close range.
Shawn Billam and Raquel Rodriguez both almost converted with their heads from Sarah Carroll crosses in the minutes which followed, however, it was the Roar which drew first blood through Raso just before the hour mark.
Toby then guided a dangerous cross from the right by Gorry into the back of the net in the 66th minute to seal the upset win for the visitors.
