Report by Daryn McCleave

Cockburn City rebounded from successive PS4 NPLWA defeats with a superb second-half comeback to leave Armadale still searching for their first points of 2015.

Army roared into a two goal lead through Nick Crerand and Jackson Bealey, but City fought back to silence the home crowd with Alan Carroll, Rory Patterson and Julian Teles completing the turnaround.

Visiting coach Marc Anthony thought his side showed fantastic spirit to clinch the points after going 2-0 down on 52 minutes.

"We probably should have gone in at half-time in front, but to come back from 2-0 down here to win 3-2 is really pleasing," he said. "It stops the rot and gives us a springboard for next week.”

"We've been pretty inconsistent in the league since the Night Series (winning seven in a row) and this game probably sums it up so far."

Armadale made the early running in a pulsating rivalry round clash. Bealey's tenacity created a chance that City stopper Curtis Aspden managed to divert onto the post.

It was no surprise when Army took the lead on 16 minutes as Crerand pounced on a loose ball to volley home.

Smart reactions from Aspden denied Caleb Dixon minutes later as Armadale looked to increase the lead.

Cockburn had their moments too. Patterson missed a header before striking the bar with a long-range effort as City tried to get back on level terms.

Teles thought he had equalised as half time approached, but Dylan Wilson produced a brilliant one-handed stop to keep his header out.

Armadale looked on course to pick up their first points of the season seven minutes after the break, when Bealey fired in from distance, following a good run and cut back from the left.

The two-goal cushion lasted four minutes though, as Carroll halved the deficit with a glancing header into the far corner.

A spell of intense Cockburn pressure followed, and despite another spectacular save from Wilson, City levelled when Patterson smashed in from close-range following a goalmouth scramble.

And City grabbed the winner with 19 minutes to play, when Teles found himself all alone and squirmed an effort underneath the otherwise impressive Wilson from 10m.

Patterson received his marching orders on 77 minutes, but Cockburn had no problems seeing out the game out against a tiring home side.

Anthony was disappointed to lose six-goal leading scorer Patterson, who will serve a one-match ban after picking up two yellow cards.

"Rory's scored a good goal and had chances," the coach said. "He was frustrated with the linesman, but rules are rules, you can't kick the ball away."
 
ARMADALE 2 (Crerand 16' Bealey 52')
COCKBURN CITY 3 (Carroll 56' Patterson 69' Teles 71')
Saturday April 18, 2015
Alfred Skeet Reserve, 5pm kick off
Referee: Adam FIELDING

ARMADALE: 20. (GK) Dylan WILSON, 2. Beau Abdul RAHIM (18. Dylan EASTOUGH 81'), 12. Sam COLE (7. Faustin MACHOCHI 46'), 6. Jake SARDELIC, 21. Reece DAVIS, 5. Sam LOVELESS, 14. Mitch CASTRILLI, 9. Darren FRANCIS, 8. Caleb DIXON (3. Vinny ESILVA 74'), 10. Nick CRERAND, 11. Jackson BEALEY.
SUBSTITUTES NOT USED: 1. Jordan HOWELL, 17. Elliot STEPHENSON
YELLOW CARDS: Dixon 62' Wilson 73'
RED CARDS: Nil

COCKBURN CITY: 1. Curtis ASPDEN, 2. Josh KUSER (9. Liam MURRAY 58'), 3. Jonathan CORNESS, 4. Euen GRANT, 5. Alan CARROLL (13. Blake ADAMS 71'), 12. Feisal ZAW, 14. Conor KAVANAGH, 15. Harry O'BRIEN, 17. Eamon McNELIS (8. David ARAYA 22'), 10. Rory PATTERSON, 16. Julian TELES.
SUBSTITUTE NOT USED: 23. Jack ADAMS
YELLOW CARDS: Patterson 65' 77' Kavanagh 88'
RED CARD: Patterson 77'