Report by Chris Andrawes

Cockburn City fought back to earn a 3-3 draw in torrential rain against Subiaco in their National Premier Leagues game at the WA Athletics Stadium on Saturday

Subiaco had a 2-0 lead just before half time when Cockburn midfielder Ross Diamond received a second yellow card for dissent to the frustration of his coach, Marc Anthony.

“He’s told the referee that he’s cost us the game,” Anthony said. “I spoke to the referee at half-time and he told me that’s what was said - the referee’s implied that he’s called him a cheat.

“The player was probably frustrated going 2-0 down. I don’t think that warrants a red card.”

Subiaco had taken the lead after only nine minutes, as striker Alex Randall intercepted a wayward pass from a Cockburn defender before taking a touch and firing the ball into the bottom corner.

They doubled their lead as Jordan Rhodes found himself with an empty net following a cross that Cockburn keeper Struen Herd failed to deal with.

Diamond’s dismissal looked as though it would end the game as a contest but Cockburn managed to sneak one back before half-time via Liam Murray, who deftly chipped the keeper.

The second half became a much less free flowing game with seven yellow cards being shown to players of both teams in slippery conditions.

Anthony was unimpressed with Subiaco’s approach to the contest.

“I thought they kicked at us all day,” he said. “The referee is in charge of 22 players out there and I think he’s got to protect them because really I can only thank our centre forwards for not getting too frustrated and retaliating.”

Cockburn continued their fight back and leveled as Eamon McNelis placed a beautiful finish into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Josh Booysen then appeared to have won it for Subiaco. Herd was forced to save on the edge of the box following a calamity of errors but the rebound ballooned into the air and Booysen headed home.

Subiaco lost their concentration, though, and Cockburn equalised almost immediately through Murray, who netted his second for the match, finishing the game all square.

Anthony said the players were bitterly disappointed with the result.

“The players are gutted,” he said. “I’m disappointed for my players. I didn’t think it was a fair reflection… obviously going down to 10 men was a big blow for us but we showed great character and scored three goals with 10 men.

“We’ve been on a horrific run and this stops the slide, but a point is no good to us, we need to start winning games.”

Subiaco 3 (Randall 9’, Rhodes 45’, Booysen 81’)
Cockburn 3 (Murray 45’, 83’, McNelis 67’)
Saturday 22nd June 2014
WA Athletics Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: S. Muldoon
Assistant referees: A. Shan, J. Wood
Attendance: 50 approx.

Subiaco: 1. Henry DAVIES, 2. Nathan DIAZ, 3. Rowdy YATES, 4. Alex RANDALL (13. Jonas DORLING 47’), 5. Josh BOOYSEN, 6. Brad McDONALD, 7. Ger FITZGERALD (11. Matt AKENHURST 84’), 8. Jordan RHODES, 9. Ian McMURRAY, 15. Jack RYCROFT (10. Pat MORRISON 77’), 16. George TCHAMI
Substitutes not used: 21. Jack HOWARD, 14. Shatoosh BHAT
Yellow cards: Fitzgerald 54’, McMurray 58’, Rycroft 65’
Red cards: nil

Cockburn: 1. Struen HERD, 2. Oscar THOMPSON (12. Feizal ZAW 76’), 4. Euen GRANT, 5. Alan CARROLL, 8. David ARRAYA (16. Julian TELES 88’), 9. Eamon McNELIS, 10. Matt BARLOW, 11. Devon GIBSON, 13. Blake ADAMS (19. Kim MENGBONG 60’), 18. Liam MURRAY, 20. Ross DIAMOND
Substitutes not used: 23. Eric CUTRI, 7. Jesse FULLER
Yellow cards: Diamond 41’, Grant 62’, Thompson 66’,
Red cards: Diamond 45’