Roy Hissey dispossessed a Joondalup defender and sent a centimetre-perfect through ball to Shane Boyle, who skipped around the goalkeeper and finished to give City a perfect start.
Despite this early piece of magic, both teams struggled to string five passes together for most of the first half, with just a handful of chances being created by either side.
The movement of City’s strikers did prove a handful for the Joondalup defence, however, and following a corner and some neat footwork by Papa Kaptar, Maxwell Snelson blasted a half volley into the top corner to make it 2-0 to Rockingham, and two goals from two games for him.
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READ NOWCity headed into the break with a two-goal lead, and no doubt the previous week’s result was still fresh in their mind – they led Balga 2-0 at half-time only to lose 3-2. But they were not going to let Joondalup back into this one.
Boyle sealed victory with a superb turn in the corner, beating two defenders to smash the ball into the top of the net, making it 3-0 with 15 minutes to go.
A little of the sheen was taken off the result in the final 10 minutes as a few hefty challenges took its toll, which resulted in Alex Grayson being given his marching orders following two bookings in quick succession.
Joondalup took advantage of their numerical superiority to score a consolation goal as City held on for the win, which took them back to joint top of the ladder.
They are away to Melville tomorrow, before tough games against fellow promotion chasers Wanneroo City and Forrestfield United.
Results: first team – Rockingham City 3 (Boyle 2, Snelson) Joondalup City 1; reserves – Rockingham City 1 Joondalup 2; under-18s – Rockingham City 0 Joondalup 6.