Soccer: Olympic Sharks and Perth Glory go clear

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Convincing wins have placed Olympic Sharks and Perth Glory comfortably clear at the top of the NSL at the season's halfway point.

South Melbourne, who beat the Football Kingz 3-0, have moved to third - nine points behind the Sharks, who lead Perth by two.

With Damian Mori's hat-trick (which took his season's goal tally to 12 and within three of becoming the league's first "200 man"), Perth beat bottom-placed Marconi 3-0.

Olympic Sharks had a scare when New Zealander Shane Smeltz grabbed a 47th-minute equaliser for Adelaide City, but the home side won 3-1 with goals from Troy Halpin and Japanese import Hiroyuki Ishida.

With Newcastle sitting out the bye, the Kingz have reached the halfway point in fifth place, well poised to mount a second-half challenge.

With this week's game against Northern Spirit postponed, the Kingz' next outing will be away to Sydney United on December 29.

Brisbane continued their run of good form with a 3-0 home win over Sydney United after leading 1-0 at the break. Goals to David Pilic, Fernando Rech and Anthony Roche earned the Strikers their third win of the season.

The second hat-trick of the round, by Stuart Young, helped to steer Wollongong Wolves to an upset 4-1 win over Melbourne Knights. It was the Wolves' fourth win and took them to 16 points, equal with the Kingz but behind on goal difference.

Brisbane have the chance to continue their resurgence with a home game against Perth this week, and in another key game Melbourne Knights are at home to Adelaide.