By Peter Simcox

Cockburn City moved into fifth spot on the National Premier Leagues WA table after a 5-1 win against Armadale in a round four catch-up game at Dalmatinac Park last night.

Devon Gibson was the star of the show with a hat-trick in the wet and windy conditions.

Former Armadale midfielder Blake Adams gave the home side the lead early before Alec Solomons levelled for the visitors.

But Solomons was sent off after 25 minutes and then Gibson put Cockburn back in front. A goal from Liam Murray and two more from Gibson gave the home side a comfortable win.

“It was horrible conditions out there,” Gibson said. “But it’s a good win for us and it was good to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat against Bayswater.

“To be fair (Armadale) did well with 10 men in the second half but when we got our chances we took them, which is pleasing for the coaching staff.”

With Cockburn coach Marc Anthony in the stands serving the first of his two-game touchline ban, assistant coach Cathal Lennon took control of the team.

Lennon thought Cockburn had worked hard and played some good football despite the terrible weather.

“Once we got the first goal, we settled down a wee bit,” he said. “We then conceded a bad goal to let them back in the game. But once we went back in front and they had the lad sent off they sat back and we had to be patient. In the end we got the rewards.” 

Armadale coach Lee Bamber felt Solomons’ dismissal had been a poor decision, which changed the game.

“It was an unbelievable decision and we keep getting them - it beggars believe,” he said.

“We were in the game and playing some good football but when those sorts of decisions come along your game plan goes out of the window. I can’t say too much as I will get in trouble but to say I’m fuming is an understatement.”

The reserves game had been abandoned earlier due to the weather and the first team match was in doubt before referee Josh Mannella gave the pitch the thumbs up.

Cockburn made a perfect start and were ahead on eight minutes when Feisal Zaw’s cross from the right found Gibson whose shot was saved by Gould but Adams reacted quickly to score.

Armadale refused to let the early setback deter them and Dejan Aleksic had to be alert to save Solomons’ header on 16 minutes just two minutes before they were level. Luke Bogoni’s free-kick was headed back across goal by John Thornley and Solomons scored from close-range.

The rain got heavier but that was the least of Armadale’s worries when Solomons slid in for a tackle and was shown a straight red card.

Cockburn made their numerical advantage count and were ahead on 33 minutes. Gibson raced down the right and swung in a deep cross that was caught by the wind, hit the far post and bounced into the net off the unfortunate Gould.

It was 3-1 three minutes later. Gibson played a one-two with Murray and raced into the area to finish clinically.

Still Armadale pressed forward and Jason Barrera almost scored just before the break. Llewellyn Bake’s low cross picked out the midfielder but Aleksic produced a stunning save to push the ball around the post.

The 10 men of Armadale opened the second half brightly and Bogoni’s long-range shot was well saved by Aleksic. The home side then lost Adams with a serious arm injury on 55 minutes. He was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

The visitors continued to press and Alex Clarke headed wide and Barrera’s curling shot drifted inches past the post. Those missed chances came back to haunt them as Cockburn added a fourth on 73 minutes when Ryan Haslett’s corner was headed home powerfully by Murray from 8m.

The home side finished strongly with Haslett’s shot crashing off the crossbar and Conor Kavanagh firing straight at Gould from close range.

Cockburn added a fifth goal in stoppage time when Gibson scored from the penalty spot after Jonty Turner had fallen under a challenge from Sam Loveless.

Cockburn City 5 (Adams 8’, Gibson,33', 36’, 90+5’, Murray 73’
Armadale 1 (Solomons 18’)
Wednesday 7th May 2014
Venue: Dalmatinac Park, Spearwood
Attendance: 150
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistants: Arvin Shan and Shuo Chen

Cockburn City: GK Dejan ALEKSIC, 2 Oscar THOMPSON, 4 Euan GRANT, 8 David ARAYA (14 Conor KAVANAGH 74’), 9 Eamon MCNELIS, 11 Devon GIBSON, 12 Feisal ZAW, 17 Paul NATALE, 13 Blake ADAMS (7 Ryan HASLETT 55’), 18 Liam MURRAY (19 Jonty TURNER 83’), 20 Ross DIAMOND
Subs not used: RGK Struan HERD, 16 Julian TELES,
Yellow cards: Gibson 70’, McNelis 80’
Red cards: Nil

Armadale: GK Matthew GOULD, 2 Jackson BEALEY, 3 Luke BOGONI, 5 Nathan COSTELLO, 6 Jason BARRERA, 7 Faustinho MACHOCHI (11 Dannie RICHMAN 71’), 8 Llewellyn BAKE, 9 John THORNLEY (18 Dennis GAYE 74’), 12 Alec SOLOMONS, 13 Sam LOVELESS, 17 Alex CLARKE (16 Mwansa MUSONDA 66’)
Subs not used: RGK Darren HAYWOOD, 4 Jake SARDELIC
Yellow cards: Loveless 89’
Red cards: Solomons 25’