KEY POINTS:
Visiting Queensland Roar copped a 3-1 hiding from the New Zealand Knights at North Harbour Stadium last night - a backlash from the troubled times and cleanout at the club.
Ahead 1-0 at the break (after enjoying 59 per cent of the possession), the Knights rammed home that advantage, scoring twice in the opening 11 minutes of the second spell to turn any remaining roar into a whimper.
From the outset it was an invigorated effort from the new-look home team.
Against a side with so much at stake, the Knights, under stand-in coach Ricki Herbert, were in no mood for charity as they turned in what many reckoned was the best effort yet from the franchise.
Showing pace and determination - something sadly missing in too many matches this season - the Knights gave nothing.
They turned many 50-50 balls their way, giving the Roar defence little respite as they turned on a brand of football the fans had long given up on.
In Alen Marcina, Leilei Gao and Noah Hickey, the Knights had pace on attack.
In midfield Jonas Salley again showed as a player of some class, combining well with a rejuvenated Richard Johnson. The back four, sparked by a solid John Tambouras effort, were assured and rarely under any pressure.
It was Tambouras who got things started in the 14th minute when he glanced home a Gao free kick.
The Knights continued to press after the interval. They had what appeared a legitimate call for a hand-ball penalty waved away but seconds later doubled their lead when the Roar defence missed a Darren Bazeley long ball in. Neil Emblen swooped and buried it.
Less then five minutes later it was 3-0 as Marcina was deservedly rewarded with a 57th-minute strike when goalkeeper Liam Reddy, in his 100th national league outing, spilled a hopeful Johnson long-range effort and Marcina blasted home.
The visitors claimed a late consolation when substitute Ante Milicic, left free, angled home a low attempt to Mark Paston's left. It was one of the few times Paston's castle was threatened by a dispirited Queensland side.
For the Knights, who led the shots on target count 13-5, it was the hoped-for new chapter in a sometimes sorry saga. And a personal triumph for Herbert.
Knights 3: (J.Tambouras 14, N. Emblen 52, A. Marcina 57) Queensland Roar 1: (A. Milicic 80). Halftime: 1-0.
