Report by Max Hayden-Evans

A stirring second-half performance from Cockburn City saw them run out 4-0 winners over Floreat Athena as they kept pace with leaders Bayswater.

In an entertaining contest at E&D Litis Stadium on Wednesday night - the first midweek round of National Premier Leagues WA football - Cockburn proved too strong for the home side and ensured only goal difference separates them from top spot.

“That’s as good as our boys will play,” Cockburn coach Scott Miller said. “We’re trying to embrace being the favourites this year. Our whole shape is good, the boys are confident in the front third and it’s good to watch.”

When asked his thoughts on the biggest issue faced by his side, Miller cited “consistency”, adding: “Getting that concentration when you’re doing well not to give up opportunities to the opposition.”

Howard Tweats cut a frustrated figure after watching his side slump to a second consecutive 4-0 defeat at home. “We’re in a rut – we’ve got injuries, suspensions but we’ll patch ourselves up, there’s not much you can do about it,” the Floreat coach said.

In an even first half where both teams struggled to gain a foothold, both Daniel Santich and Anthony Skorich passed up decent opportunities for Cockburn.

But City’s hard work was eventually rewarded in bizarre fashion when Floreat defender Marco Santa Lucia’s mistimed back-pass beat his keeper Jason Saldaris to open the scoring on 56 minutes.

A minute later with Floreat still reeling from the own goal, in-form Luccas Mello finished tidily from the edge of the area to compound the home side’s woes and double Cockburn’s advantage.

The double whammy took the wind out of Floreat’s sails and Cockburn needed no second invitation to take control of the match.

Daniel Robinson scored City’s third when he connected with a well-weighted through ball that split open the Floreat defence, and Santich completed  the rout when he smashed home his side’s fourth goal from close range on the stroke of full-time.

Floreat face fellow strugglers Subiaco away on the weekend in a game Tweats described as “even more than a six-pointer”, while Cockburn take on Perth Glory.

Floreat Athena 0
Cockburn City 4 (Santa Lucia og 56min, Mello 57, Robinson 75, Santich 90)
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
E&D Litis Stadium
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Tom Glavovic
Assistant referees: Joseph Belfiore, Sime Lozic

Floreat Athena: 1. Jason SALDARIS (GK), 2. Marco SANTA LUCIA, 4. Andrew SCALDAFERRO (3. James OWEN 65.), 5. Tyler HOLDEN, 6. Jesse FULLER, 8. Jonathan STYNES, 10. Calvin WHITNEY, 13. Hamza HINA, 16. Ryan MALTON (12. Ethan KERRIDGE 78.), 17. Dean EVANS (C), 21. Keylun POLLARD
Substitutes not used: 23. Jordan BARBAS (RGK)
Yellow cards: Santa Lucia 57
Red cards: Nil

Cockburn City: 1. Luke RADONICH (GK), 4. Euen GRANT (C), 5. Keiron STALLARD, 6. Reuben TRISTAO, 7. Luccas MELLO, 10. David ARAYA, 11. Harry O’BRIEN (8. Cameron EDWARDS 25.), 16. Daniel SANTICH, 17. Jesse LAZARRO (3. Chris THACKRAY 82.), 18. Daniel ROBINSON, 19. Anthony SKORICH (9. Julian TELES 75.)
Substitutes not used: 23. Ryan BARKER (RGK)
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil