Report by Peter Simcox
Photos: Peter Simcox

Armadale have earned their first point of the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA season, after a goalless draw against 10-man Subiaco at Rosalie Park.

The Reds were unlucky not to take all three points home, after having the better of the chances, but their profligacy in front of goal let them down.

A change of formation and personnel rejuvenated the visitors and assistant coach Kevin Brophy said the performance was something to build on.

“There were a lot of positives to come out of the game for us, but we need to take advantage when we’re on top and put the chances away.” he said. 

Brophy said they should have won the game, but will take the one point and move on to next week’s game.

“The fact we’ve played five and lost them all, we can’t be too disappointed,” he said. 

“We tinkered with the formation and it worked today, and we now move on to ECU Joondalup next week.

“If put our best foot forward, it’s an opportunity to get three points, and I think we’re good enough to do that.” 

For the home side Assistant coach Michael Brazil said they are happy to walk away with a point, especially after the sending off of skipper Nathan Diaz early in the second half.

“At the end of the day we were very happy with a point, especially with the way the game panned out,” he said. 

“After the sending off, our back four and goalkeeper kept us in the game, but saying that we could have even nicked it late as both sides had half chances, but a points a point and we move on.”

Armadale were on the front foot early as Darren Francis headed wide early, before Faustino Machochi shot crashed off the crossbar on five minutes.  

It was one-way traffic, and on 11 minutes Machochi’s cross picked out Danny Hodgson, whose volley was superbly saved by Ryan Montgomery. 

In their first real attack on the quarter hour mark, Subiaco almost stole the lead. Joshua Booysen made space down the left and beat his marker, but the alert Dylan Wilson touched his shot onto the post.

The home side was reduced to ten men five minutes into the second half, when Diaz was shown a second yellow card from referee Stephen Gregory.

Armadale went in for the kill, as Montgomery saved Hodgson’s shot from the edge of the area, before the Subiaco custodian saved substitute Mitch Castrilli’s deflected shot.

The hosts looked to hit on the counter attack, and almost nicked the points late on, but Isaac Koomson headed Jonas Dorling’s cross wide. 

But it was Armadale who pressed as Jake Sardelic’s cross found an unmarked Machochi at the back post, but his shot from a tight angle flashed wide of the target. 

At the final whistle the points were shared and Armadale skipper Reece Davies said their first clean sheet of the season is a huge positive.

“For 90 minutes we were the better side. The clean sheet is a lot to build on, we just need to go and put the ball in the back of the net,” he said. 

“It’s a point on the board, and we have got to push on. We will train Tuesday and Thursday and work on a plan for ECU, go there with the same attitude and hopefully bring home our first win of the season.”

Subiaco 0
Armadale 0
Saturday May 8 2015
Rosalie Park, Shenton Park
Referee: Steven Gregory

Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 2 Nathan DIAZ (c), 3 Ger FITZGERALD, 5 Mitch STEINBERG, 8 Kevin WHITE, 10 Trevor LAURE, 11 Joshua BOOYSEN (10 Trevor LAURE 82min), 12 Jonas DORLING (6 Owen COATES 87), 14. James OLIVER, 15 Alex TRIGLAUCANIA, 17 Siyang ZHANG (16 Isaac KOOMSON 60)
Subs not used: RGK Anastasis FARSALAS, 13 George TCHAMI
Yellow Cards: Diaz 22min, Booysen 42min
Red Cards: Diaz 50min

Armadale: GK Dylan WILSON, 2 Danny HODGSON, 5 Sam LOVELESS, 6 Jake SARDELIC, 7 Faustino MACHOCHI, 8 Caleb DIXON (13 Peter LORD 87), 9 Darren FRANCIS, 11 Jackson BEALEY (10 Nick CRERAND 75), 16 Caleb AQUINO (14 Mitch CASTRILLI 65), 17 Jacob AQUINO, 21 Reece DAVIES (c).
Subs not used: RGK Thomas CHUDY, 18 Dylan EASTOUGH
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil