The South West Phoenix Firebirds returned to the winners list on Saturday night with a thumping 6-0 result against Bassendean.
Three goals in either half gave the Firebirds a comfortable win ahead of this week's second versus third clash with Queens Park.
Pre match, this looked to be a potential banana skin for the Firebirds.
Coming off three losses and missing WA Schoolgirls players Asha McClurg, Dayle Schroeder, and Katie McDermott, it was incredible to think that of the 11 players who started the opening game of the season, six were absent for the match.
It was again a very youthful Firebirds team, with 14-year-olds Grace Miller, Angeline Wright, and Alesia Riches in the starting line-up.
The start was a big focus for the Firebirds, who were low on confidence.
However, the result of the match was virtually put to bed in the opening ten minutes with three Firebirds' goals.
Alesia Riches crossed for captain Lucy Scott to fire home from close range within two minutes.
Scott doubled the lead moments later, when she won and then converted a penalty after a typically pacy run.
When Angeline Wright cut inside her defender and scored soon after, it was 3-0 to the Firebirds with barely seven minutes on the clock.
The Firebirds then suffered another injury blow when Ruby Stevenson was forced off and taken to hospital with a shoulder injury, reducing the side to 10 players for the rest of the match.
They were good enough in possession on their big pitch to maintain their advantage and run their older opponents around. The side was still on top, leading 3-0 at half time.
The message at half time was to push on and not allow Bassendean any glimmer of hope.
Scott ensured there would be no comeback when she rounded out her hat-trick at the hour mark to make it 4-0.
Shauna Wetherell then scored a fine header, before Wright grabbed her second to make it 6-0 near the end.
It was a pleasing win for the Firebirds given the ongoing injury crisis and the absence of three state players, and almost seals a top four spot regardless of the results in the last two weeks.
The Firebirds now face a Queens Park side featuring former Matilda Collette McCallum and former Perth Glory striker Stacey Learmont in Bunbury on Sunday.
Queens Park beat the Firebirds 4-3 in a classic, earlier in the season.
With the Firebirds welcoming back their three state players, this promises to be a good match.
After beating Curtin University, the side lost to Subiaco and Fremantle City.
Earlier this season, the Firebirds notched up wins over Bassendean, Fremantle, Curtin, UWA, Port Kennedy, Northern Redbacks, and Wanneroo City.