The Jets hero nodded home a terrific ball from Matty Thompson on 22 minutes to eclipse the record for goals in a regular season – he had been tied on 11 with Melbourne Victory’s Danny Allsopp going into this game.

Jamie Harnwell grabbed an equaliser for the Glory but Mark Bridge popped up to thump in a second-half winner for the home side.

It means the pressure is now on the three other clubs in the finals race to claim maximum points over the weekend.

As for his record-breaking feat, Griffiths said: “It’s a good achievement. I worked pretty hard in the off season and I’m just reaping the rewards at the moment.”

Griffiths also acknowledged that Perth had made it difficult for the Jets to take the points. He said: “The other team tends to lift (when down to 10 men). Full credit to Perth, they kept on coming at us and it wasn’t an easy game. “

More than 16,000 turned out in the rain to cheer on their heroes and Griffiths said: “This is for them.”

The Jets went into their most important game of the season facing their bogey side. They had never managed even a point against the Glory at EnergyAustralia Stadium in previous A-League clashes.

Gary Van Egmond made two changes. Troy Hearfield and Jason Hoffman started for the home side, injury ruled Denni out with Adam D’Apuzzo dropping to the bench

Dave Mitchell again chose to leave out skipper Simon Colosimo – further increasing the speculation surrounding his likely departure - while a hamstring injury saw Stan Lazaridis miss out. Nicky Rizzo was asked to fill the wide left slot.

Hearfield threatened to pull the trigger less than two minutes in as the Jets broke forward but the youngster slipped on the greasy surface right at the crucial moment. Griffiths was then a whisker away from connecting with a through ball in the third minute while Hoffman’s deflected cross from the right dropped just beyond the far post. From the resulting corner the ball fell kindly for Griffiths and he demonstrated he is human by thumping a volley well wide of the target.

A lively start then saw the action switch to the other end with Nikita Rukavytsya warming Ante Covic’s palms with a strike from just outside the box.

Back came the Jets with Griffiths seeing a shot deflect into the side-netting before Hearfield looped a header into Petkovic’s arms.

James Holland was swiftly crowded out as he weaved his way into the area on 11 minutes, a player oozing with confidence. The youngster was then agonisingly close to connecting with a ball over the top as the Jets looked for the opener.

Hoffman was booked for a tangle with Nikolai Topor-Stanley before Perth were left screaming for a penalty as Jamie Harnwell went down under a challenge from Jets skipper Jade North.

Griffiths cut in from the right on 16 after being teed up by Holland but his low drive never looked likely to trouble Petkovic who got down quickly to his left.

The Jets went desperately close to the first goal on 21 as Holland’s free-kick was only headed half clear and Noel Spencer sent a shot thudding just wide of the left post.

The Jets went even closer just seconds later as Matt Thompson turned Tyler Simpson inside and out on the left side of the area and lofted over a perfect cross which allowed Griffiths to head into an empty net – his 12th of the season and a new record for the regular campaign.

Rukavytsya thundered just wide of the right angle of post and crossbar before Hearfield became the second Jets player to enter the referee’s notebook. Spencer crashed an effort well wide on 28 as the Jets began to stroke the ball around in impressive fashion. Hoffman found space to fire goalwards on 31 but again Petkovic was equal to the shot.

Dino Djulbic climbed to meet Rizzo’s corner from the left on 33 but Covic didn’t have to break sweat to hold on to the Glory defender’s header.

A slip from Andrew Durante then allowed Rukavytsya to race clear on 35 but the youngster shot too early and Covic spread himself well to comfortably hang on to the strike. Tempers frayed on 36 as Rizzo clattered into Tarek Elrich and the referee produced the red card after the two teams had finished pushing and shoving each other.

Perth hauled themselves level in first half stoppage time as Harnwell flicked Topor-Stanley’s header into the net – a massive boost and a goal that will have been greeted with plenty of smiles in Brisbane, Sydney and Gosford!

Mitchell made a change at the break with Jimmy Downey introduced into the action for the visitors.

Bridge stretched to meet a ball whipped in from the right on 50 although Griffiths looked equally well placed to pounce. Petkovic got down smartly to gather.

Elrich crashed in a terrific effort from 30 metres on 52 and forced Petkovic into a great stop to his right with the Jets then issuing a big appeal for handball moments later, Bridge’s shot clearly connecting with a Perth arm. The referee was not interested.

Hoffman made way for D’Apuzzo on 55, moments after he had wasted a good opening for the home team, neither choosing to shoot or cross in a promising attack – the ball drifting out harmlessly for a goal kick.

Hearfield cut in from the right on 59 and crashed an effort just wide of the right post as the home team pressed to restore its lead.

That lead was restored on 64 minutes as Bridge raced on to a threaded pass from D’Apuzzo and the striker flicked past Petkovic with the outside of his right boot – his first goal in open play since October.

Van Egmond made another switch on 67 as Hearfield made way for Scott Tunbridge while Leo Bertos was introduced for the Glory, Rukavytsya the man to be replaced.

Bertos rifled high and wide while Tunbridge sent a powerful effort wide of the right post on 72 – the Jets anxious for the security of a two-goal cushion.

Elrich was desperately unlucky on 77 as his curling strike rattled back off the right post with Petkovic well beaten.

As the nerves began to jangle in the EnergyAustralia faithful Djulbic headed over from a free-kick on 81.

Downey’s blistering pace down the right saw the youngster whip a cross into the box on 85 and it needed a crucial intervention from Elrich to prevent Jamie Coyne getting in a shot on goal.

The Jets survived two minutes of stoppage-time and the whistle signalled a mixture of joy and relief. Will it be enough for the Premiership, a top two spot, both or neither?