Report by Matthew Corvi

Cockburn started off the season with a dominant 3-0 performance against Subiaco in their Playstation 4 NPLWA clash at Dalmatinac Park on Saturday.

Gian Albano scored two goals as the home side claimed all three points in a one sided affair.

The home side dominated the opening period, with Rueben Tristao putting an early effort wide in the second minute.

Cockburn continued to pressure the visitors, though Subiaco would hold strong until a mistake from Ryan Montgomery in the 13th minute.

A routine goal kick was passed straight into the path of Albano, who made no mistake placing the ball past Montgomery.

The lead was doubled just eight minutes later, after a free kick was conceded on the edge of the box for a push in the back.

Jesse Lazzaro stepped up to take the free kick, curling a beautiful ball around the wall and into the corner of the goal.

Despite being two goals down, Subiaco grew as the game went on and nearly pulled one back after Owen Coates’ header smashed into the crossbar.

Subiaco continued to take control of the game, but a quick break from Cockburn would put the game beyond doubt.

After Subiaco committed too many players forward, a long ball over the top put Albano through one on one. Despite Montgomery getting a hand on the powerful Albano shot, the ball rolled into the back of the net.

The second half started promisingly for Subiaco, with Luke Radonich holding two strong shots in the first few minutes of the half.

Despite the exciting start to the half, the game would slowly fade away, with neither side creating any major chances in the remainder of the half.

Scott Miller was delighted with his team’s performance throughout the game.

“Really happy with the first half, thought we really ran over the top of them with our speed” he said.

“The second half we controlled the game to make sure we didn’t give any opportunities away.”

With members of the Subiaco squad only arriving a week before the season, Ian McMurray was disappointed, but understanding of his team’s performance.

“Disappointed with conceding three poor goals in the first half, we knew it would be a hard game” he said.

“We picked up a few boys in the last week and a half, and still have a lot of work to do with learning how each other plays, we’ve got work to do.”

Cockburn City 3 (Albano 13min, 35, Lazzaro 22)
Subiaco 0
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Dalmatinac Park
Kick-off: 7:00pm
Referee: Michal Jasinski    
Assistant Referees: Shuo Chen, Roland Hunt    

Cockburn City: 1. Luke RADONICH, 2. Joshua KUSER, 3. Daniel DOLS, 4. Euen GRANT (13. Blake ADAMS 64), 6. Reuben TRISTAO (10. David ARAYA 77), 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 12. Kenel MOULTHYS (14. Andrew EMSAVANA 71), 15. Gian ALBANO, 16. Calvin WHITNEY, 17. Jesse LAZARRO, 18. Aden DA LUZ
Substitutes not used: 7. Ali GHOLAMI, 23. Ryan BARKER
Yellow Cards: Grant
Red Cards: nil

Subiaco: 1. Ryan MONTGOMERY, 6. Kevin CASTLE, 7. John LOCKHART (5. Robbie HOLDING 78), 8. Mike LAWSON, 10. Owen COATES, 12. Nathan SMITH, 13. Jordan CANDISH (15. Henock BUTSHIRE 58), 16. Ian MCMURRAY, 17. Alex CASTIELLO, 18. David PERICH (11. Asher NELSON 73), 19. Stefan HILL
Substitutes not used: 21. Hamish ST GEORGE, 14. Hamish BLANCHARD
Yellow Cards: Castle, Hill
Red Cards: nil