Cockburn City start with a bang
Report by Ryan Borrett
Cockburn City started their NPLWA 2018 season with an impressive 2-1 victory over Subiaco AFC on Saturday at Dalmatinac Park.
The win for the Cockerels comes after they lost 1-0 to Subiaco in the NPLWA Night Series semi-final two weeks ago.
Cockburn went down to 10 men in the 67th minute after defender Daniel Santich was sent off for a second yellow card after two clumsy challenges.
Despite being a man down Cockburn were the dominant side throughout the match and would have won by more had it not been for Subiaco’s Ryan Montgomery.
Cockburn coach Scott Miller said he was impressed with the start his team has made to the season.
“I thought we were really dominant and especially in the first half," he said.
“Their keeper was outstanding tonight and made some great saves.
“We showed a lot of character when we went to ten men to hold on for the win.”
Cockburn youngster Daniel Robinson opened the scoring on the verge of half time after his side launched a rapid counter attack from deep in their own half.
Striker Julian Teles received the ball on edge of the box and rounded a Subiaco defender and then cut back a pass to Robinson who had an easy finish to take the lead.
Subiaco’s recent good form in the NPLWA Night Series in which they made the final wasn’t continued and they lacked any real attacking threat.
Subiaco player-coach Ian McMurray said his side just wasn’t good enough.
“We didn’t keep the ball well and we were very flat," he said.
“The first game is out of the way now and we’re just focussing on next week.
“We got into some good areas but really just ran out of ideas.”
Cockburn doubled their lead in the 71st minute after new signing Luccas Mello scored an excellent free kick.
Mello’s shot sailed into the top right from 25 yards leaving Montgomery no chance.
Miller said he was delighted with Mello’s instant impact.
“He’s just a great player to watch," he said.
“His technique and range of passing is fantastic and adds a lot to the side.”
Subiaco managed to claw a goal back in the 86th minute after some direct play resulted in David Perich finding the back of the net.
They came close to drawing the game in the dying minutes of the match but Alexander Randell’s low driven shot was well saved by the outstretched glove of the Cockerel’s keeper.
Cockburn City 2 (Robinson 45+1, Mello 71)
Subiaco 1 (Perich 86)
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Dalmatinac Park
Kick-off: 7:00pm
Referee: Julian Serra
Assistant referees: Nico Hoyle, Shane Skinner
Cockburn City: 4. Euen GRANT 5. Keiron STALLARD (2. Chris THACKRAY 45) 6. Reuben TRISTAO 7. Luccas Mello (12. Ryan PRATT 84) 8. Cameron EDWARDS 9. Julian TELES (19. Anthony SKORICH 79) 15. Daniel SANTICH 16. Daniel ROBINSON 17. Jesse LAZZARO 18. Aden Da Luz 23. Ryan BARKER
Substitutes not used: 1. Luke RADONICH
Yellow cards: SANTICH 22, ROBINSON 74
Red cards: SANTICH 67
Subiaco: 1. Ryan MONTGOMERY 4. Alexander RANDELL 6. Jackson DONGRAY 9. Daniel PEARCE (8. Joshua BOOYSEN 67) 10. Asher NELSON 11. Robert HARDING (15. Albert LUWI 65) 12. Nathan SMITH 14. Ross JARMAN (19. Ian MCMURRAY 75) 16. Steve PURTON 17. Alex CASTIELLO 18. David PERICH
Substitutes not used: 13. Fanuel DAWIT 21. Teophile BROWN
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
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