Yorke, Birchall find the nets

But there was also a worry as defender Brent Sancho left the pitch in tears on 60 minutes with a hamstring pull in Gillingham’s 2-1 loss to Southend in England.

The dreadlocked player went down while attempting to clear a ball and left the pitch immediately. He is carded to undergo a scan today to determine the extent of the blow.

It seems unlikely though that Sancho will make the trip to Panama City for the World Cup qualifying match on Saturday.

Head coach Leo Beenhakker has already been forced to include Trinidad-based defender Anton Pierre in place of Gillingham defender Ian Cox who is out with a knee injury.

In other action, Stern John fought on and went close on at least three occasions as Derby County drew 1-1 with Leicester City yesterday.

The match was much more of a local derby after the break and both Smith and John saw low shots fizz the wrong side of the uprights as Derby pressed forward.

Yorke meantine, again lived up to his star billing as the Hyundai A-League’s shining light, scoring the winning goal as his side came from behind to beat Perth Glory 2-1 at a packed Member’s Equity Stadium. Yorke’s pounced to put Sydney in front midway through the second half, after Sasho Petrovski had equalised moments after the break following a contentious free-kick decision.

And Birchall played 90 minutes and helped Port Vale got back to winning ways against old rivals Walsall, but they had to come back from behind to do so, with two second half goals.

He gave Vale the lead as early as the eighth minute, only for the visitors to take the lead after an own goal from skipper Sam Collins and a strike from Ishmel Demontagnac.

Striker Kenwyne Jones came on in the 77th minute as Southampton drew 1-1 with Preston North End.

And Carlos Edwards tasted three points yesterday. He played the full match and cleared a shot off his team’s goal line late as Luton Town held on for a 2-1 win over Cardiff City.

Marvin Andrews was on the bench in Glasgow Rangers’ 5-1 beating of Dunfermline.

Jason Scotland, Dennis Lawrence and Kelvin Jack all played for their clubs yesterday and are also injury free.

Silvio Spann was not in the starting team this weekend for Yokohama but is fit for action while Russell Latapy goes into action today as Falkirk take on Scottish Premier League leaders Hearts.