GLORY CLOSES ON PREMIER PLATE

PERTH Glory has one hand on the A-League premiership after torching Melbourne Victory to win their top-of-thetable clash 2-1 at AAMI Park.

Neil Kilkenny and Diego Castro struck second-half goals yesterday to swell Perth’s lead to seven points on top of the ladder.

Kosta Barbarouses’ late effort made no difference to the outcome and, with nine matches to play, Perth is with- in sight of their first piece of ALeague silverware.

Showing Tony Popovic’s side to be worthy title aspirants, for the second time this season they travelled to the home of the champion and departed as the winner.

After its last-gasp 3-2 win in October, it took a little longer for both sides to hit top gear yesterday. Victory and the Glory came into the match as the league’s top scorers — but without their best strikers — and both laboured to halftime without clear-cut chances.

Perth’s breakthrough came from an unlikely source: midfielder Kilkenny. The 33-yearold had the smarts to flick a ball towards Corey Brown’s outstretched hand in the box for a clear penalty. He stepped up to take the spot kick successfully despite Lawrence Thomas getting a hand to his effort.