Canberra FC moved back to the top of the Capital Football National Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 win against Tuggeranong United on Sunday.
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The hosts were barely troubled in wet conditions at Deakin Stadium to extend their perfect start in the league to four straight games.
Canberra FC has a two-point buffer on Belconnen United and Canberra Olympic while also having a game in hand on the chasing pack.
The result was a welcome response after Canberra FC's exit from the FFA Cup at the hands of the Cooma Tigers earlier in the week.
Canberra FC coach Zoran Glavinic was wary of a Tuggeranong side riding high from beating Woden-Weston FC in the knockout competition.
"All we were looking for today was the three points," Glavinic said.
"With the poor weather and windy conditions, it made it a bit difficult.
"Our focus is the premiership and staying top and that's what we're working towards."
The next three games will be a testing run for Canberra FC.
It starts with Gungahlin United away, Canberra Olympic at home and the impressive FFA Centre of Excellence at the AIS.
It took just nine minutes for Canberra FC to open the scoring when off-season acquisition Robbie Deeley showed his class with a neat finish.
The momentum was heading in one direction as Daniel Bennett doubled the advantage with a clinical strike for a 2-0 lead at half-time.
United came out of the break with purpose, but the three points were secured when English striker Thomas James tapped in from a goal-mouth scramble in the 60th minute.
Tuggeranong United coach Steve Forshaw said that despite his side losing its first five games in the NPL, he was pleased with the effort of his young group.
"We didn't come here with any unrealistic expectations, we were hoping we could get something out of the game," Forshaw said.
"I'm really delighted with some of the young guys, their effort today was absolutely superb and it gave us a glimpse of the future where the club's heading.
"So in terms of a performance, certainly with some of the younger guys, delighted, but the result doesn't do us any favours."
Gungahlin United leapt to equal-fourth on the table with a 3-2 win against the Monaro Panthers at Riverside Stadium.
Josh Gaspari's goal in the 75th minute broke the deadlock as the competition newcomers won their second game of the season.
