Report by Jayden Lihou

Cockburn City’s Liam Murray scored a hat-trick to help his side to a 4-4 draw with league leaders Inglewood United at Dalmatinac Park on Saturday.

The trio of goals from Murray included a stunner in the 90th minute which ensured his side earned a well-deserved point.

Murray was delighted with his performance and his team’s character to stage a comeback against the away side.

“It’s always good to get a hat-trick; I don’t know if I’m ever going to get a hat-trick like that ever again,” he said.

“It ended up being a draw against the team at the top of the league but it feels like a win.

“We’ve only won three league games all year and today it was another draw but we have to start converting them into three points.”

Ash Rosindale scored the first goal of the match in just the 8th minute when he slid to meet the cross of John Migas to put Inglewood up 1-0.

Cockburn responded a mere two minutes later when Aden Da Luz passed to Murray who curled the ball into the top corner from just outside the box.

Rosindale put his side in front again in the 12th minute when he passed the ball into an empty net after a mishap between Cockburn keeper Luke Radonich and his defence.

Inglewood made it 3-1 in the 33rd minute when a deflected shot from Rosindale fell to Jason Barrera who had the time and space to finish in the bottom corner.

Cockburn clawed a goal back in the 56th minute when a free kick from Cameron Edwards deflected off Inglewood’s Migas and past keeper Alex Dunn.

The home side equalised mid-way into the second half when Da Luz crossed to Murray who looped a header into the back of the net.

Cockburn captain Euen Grant could have put his side in front just two minutes later when Inglewood failed to clear a Cockburn corner.

The ball rolled towards Grant whose first-time shot from outside the box thundered against the crossbar.

Inglewood scored their fourth in the 82nd minute when the ball fell to substitute Scott Witschge whose low shot from inside the box went in off a post.

It was not to be for Inglewood, however, as Cockburn drew level for the third time when the ball was given to Murray at the edge of the box.

With his back to goal, Murray showed sublime skill to turn before lashing a goal into the back of the net.

Inglewood’s woes were compounded when captain David Cyrus received his marching orders after the referee gave him a second yellow for a poor challenge deep into injury time.

Inglewood coach Taki Nicolaidis said he was disappointed with the late goal.

“The boys did really well in the first half and credit to Cockburn in the second half, they clawed their way back to 3-3,” he said.

“When we got our fourth goal I thought we had done enough to get the three points but Liam Murray just had one of those games today scored three great goals.

“We are very disappointed, Bayswater drew today and Stirling got beat so it was an opportunity for us to go a few more points clear but we just have to make sure that we keep winning.

“We’ve got Stirling next week which will be a tough game but I think my boys will be up to the challenge.”

Cockburn City 4 (Murray 10min, 70, 90, O.G. Migas 56)
Inglewood United 4 (Rosindale 8min, 12, Barrera 35, Witschge 82)
Saturday, 9 July 2016
Venue: Dalmatinac Park
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistants: Shane Skinner, Joshua Nixon

Cockburn City: GK. Luke RADONICH, 3. Joshua KUSER, 4. Euen GRANT (C), 6. Ruben TRISTAO, 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 10. David ARYA, 11. Harry O’BRIEN, 15. Liam MURRAY, 16. Daniel DOLS, 17. Jesse LAZZARO, 18. Aiden DE LUZ (9. Angel ADAMS 76’)
Substitutes not used: 2. Nathan DE ABREU, 12. Andrew EMSAVANA, 14. Julian TELES, 23. Ryan BARKER
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil

Inglewood United: GK. Alex DUNN, 3. David CYRUS (C), 4. Scott BLACKMORE, 5. Adam TONG, 6. Calum O’CONNELL, 8. Jason BARRERA, 10. Ash ROSINDALE (17. Tim ROBERTSON 78’), 11. John MIGAS, 13. Josh PEREIRA (15. Matthew SPURLING 72’), 14. Mark PRITCHARD, 18. Jason COLLI (12. Scott WITSCHGE 78’)
Substitutes not used: RGK. Scott WALLIS
Yellow cards: Cyrus 75’,95’, Rosindale 76’
Red cards: Cyrus 95’