Report by Jayden Lihou

Photo courtesy Jonny Warrington

Subiaco have recorded a win in their final match of the season with a 2-1 win against Armadale at Alfred Skeet Reserve on Saturday.

Subiaco scored early but their hopes were dampened when Rory Feely was shown a red card just after the break.

Armadale equalised through a lively Ellis Healing but it was Ian McMurray who snatched the three points for the away side, who finished at the foot of the table.

Subiaco coach Michael Brazil said he was pleased to finish the season with a victory.

“I gave the players a challenge during the week to end the season with on a high because we are playing for pride,” he said. “Tactically the boys held their shape throughout the game and luck was on our side today.

“Our season went down the toilet probably in the first half of the season where we went seven or eight games without picking a point up so we were always playing catch-up.”

The visitors got off to the best possible start when Michael Lawson opened the scoring on five minutes.

The ball was passed to Lawson who was open at the edge of the box and his first-time effort found the back of the net.

Armadale had a chance to respond in the 19th minute when Healing was fouled outside of the box by Ross Jarman.

Healing took the resulting free kick but his effort was saved well by Ryan Montgomery.

Subiaco were denied the opportunity to go 2-0 up in the 43rd minute when a shot from Stefan Hill was blocked off the line.

A corner from Lawson was played low to Hill whose first-time effort was denied by Healing who was guarding the far post.

It was Armadale’s turn to find a goal before the break just two minutes later when Darren Francis split the defence to find an open Michael Domfeh but his shot went over the bar.

The away side were reduced to 10-men a mere four minutes into the second period when Rory Feely was given his marching orders for violent conduct.

Armadale capitalised on their one-man advantage in the 73rd minute when a cross from Jake Sardelic found a diving Healing whose header rifled into the back of the net.

Subiaco responded ten minutes later when they were awarded a penalty for a handball inside the box.

McMurray stepped up to take the penalty and scored it with composure to secure the victory.

Armadale coach Paul Price said he was delighted with what his team produced in this game and also throughout the season.

“Even though we didn’t win the game, I’m happy because we had so many opportunities to score goals and we deserved to win,” he said.

“We have been putting in some great performances in recent weeks and even today I thought we were dominant but they were very lucky, as far as I’m concerned.

“We have only conceded 41 one goals this season and that’s the best Armadale has ever done in their history at this level.

“The disappointing thing is that we could have easily finished on 30 points this year and yet we didn’t, but we certainly weren’t going to finish bottom of the league.”

Armadale 1 (Healing 73min)
Subiaco 2 (Lawson 5min, McMurray 86)
Saturday, August 28, 2016
Alfred Skeet Reserve
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistants: Anthony Walsh, Darren Quinlan

Armadale: GK. Alec RADONICH, 2. Alex CASTIELLO, 3. Jake SARDELIC, 4. Jesse FULLER (C), 5. David ANNALL, 6. Michael DOMFEH, 9. Darren FRANCIS, 11. Ellis HEALING, 12. Dannie RICHMAN (10. Papa KPATAR 58’), 13. Jackson BEALEY, 15. Nathan SMITH
Substitutes not used: 7. Danny HODGSON, 8. Anthony SKORICH, 14. Dylan WHITE, Jordan CANDLISH
Yellow cards: Healing 72’, Francis 90+5’, Kpatar 90+6’
Red cards: Nil

Subiaco: GK. Ryan MONTGOMERY (C), 2. Ross JARMAN, 4. Jackson DONGRAY, 5. James CASSERLY, 6. Michael LAWSON (16. Zachary HARDISTY 58’), 8. Kevin CASTLE, 9. Ian MCMURRAY, 10. Rory FEELY, 11. Owen COATES (13. Dylan ANDREWS 31’), 12. Jonas DORLING (7. Asher NELSON 89’), 14. Stefan HILL
Substitutes not used: 3. Ger FITZGERALD, 20. Hamish ST GEORGE
Yellow cards: Jarman 19’, Hill 70’, Andrews 90+5’
Red cards: Feely 49’