Report by Aidan Shaw

Subiaco overcame cold and wet conditions to earn a vital three points with a 2-1 win over Balcatta in Round 16 of the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues WA at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday.

A controversial first half goal by Rory Feely was cancelled out by Zelfy Nazary’s second half equaliser before Michael Lawson sealed the result with 10 minutes to go.

Subiaco coach Michael Brazil was delighted with the result.

“We’ve worked all week and the focus was to stop conceding silly goals,” he said.

“It wasn’t pretty but we battled, so full credit to the lads.”

Balcatta started proceedings positively and looked dangerous in attack but it was the visitors who took the lead after 9 minutes in controversial circumstances.

Feely got on the end of Clint Davies’ parried save and flicked the ball toward goal, with Subiaco’s players appealing that it had crossed the line.

After consulting with his assistant the referee awarded the goal and sent Balcatta’s Marc Anthony to the stands following the ensuing exchange of words.

Balcatta could have equalised in the 25th minute when Hanafi Ghazali’s goal-bound corner was tapped away by Ryan Montgomery.

Conor Kavangh came close in similar circumstances in the 38th minute when his curling corner forced another crucial save from Montgomery.

Subiaco nearly doubled their lead in the dying moments of the first half following a lengthy goalmouth scramble but the home side eventually cleared their lines.

Heavy downpour at half time carried through to the second half creating difficult playing conditions for both sides.

The home side were hungry for an equaliser and in the 59th minute Jonathan Corness put his laces through a long-range effort that forced yet another great save from Montgomery.

Moments later Ghazali curled another long-range effort, this time seemingly beating Montgomery, but it struck the crossbar.

Balcatta continued to press and were rewarded with their equaliser in the 73rd minute.

Cameron Teece cut in from the left and played the ball wide to Nazary who made no mistake burying the shot.

The deadlock was short-lived, as Michael Lawson fired home low via the upright to restore Subiaco’s lead with 10 minutes remaining.

The extreme conditions allowed Subiaco to play deep and defend their lead.

Balcatta’s frustration showed when Teece was shown his second yellow in the 90th minute, all but sealing the result.

Marc Anthony said his side switched off after equalising and conceded the result would make it an uphill battle to play finals football this year.

“I think if we’re setting targets, we’ll need to win at least five of the last six,” he said.

“We’ve got tough games to come because we will play the big teams above us but we needed to take three points today.”

The result sees Subiaco move off the bottom of the table by leapfrogging Armadale, whose match against Perth Glory Youth was postponed due to weather conditions.

With relegation looming, Brazil said it is important for his side to stay positive and fight for Subiaco’s place in the league.

“We have a fantastic group of young players in the 20s and 18s and it’s to everyone’s benefit the club stays in the league,” he said.

“If we show the fight we did today between now and the last game I’m confident we can pick something else up.”

Balcatta 1 (Nazary 73min)
Subiaco 2 (Feely 10min, Lawson 79)
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistant referees: Max Hallas, Sorousha Moayeu

Balcatta: GK Clint DAVIES, 2. Hanafi GHAZALI, 3. Kieron STALLARD (c) (8. Ali NAZARY 87), 4. Alexsander SULESKI, 5. Conor KAVANAGH, 6. Jonathan CORNESS, 9. Gomo DUKULY, 10. Zelfy NAZARY, 13. Cameron TEECE, 17. Kieran COLWELL, 22. James GORDON (7. James SAMMUT 67)
Substitutes not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 12. Eamon MCNELIS
Yellow cards: Teece 41, 90, Stallard 78, Colwell 90+3
Red cards: Teece 90

Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 2. Ross JARMAN, 3. James OLIVER, 4. Jackson DONGRAY, 5. James CASSERLY, 8. Michael LAWWSON, 9. Ian MCMURRAY, 10. Rory FEELY, 11. Owen COATES (12. Asher NELSON 80), 13. Dylan ANDREWS, 14. Stefan HILL
Substitutes not used: 6. Kevin CASTLE, 7. Zachary HARDISTY, 15. Ger FITZGERALD
Yellow cards: Jarman 27, Feely 33
Red cards: nil