Gwelup, Cockburn off the mark
Report by Tommy Doleman
Two-goal Dor Jok gave Cockburn their first win of the season. Photo by FotoEnzo
Round Three of the NPL WA - Men's competition was completed on Saturday with Gwelup Croatia and Cockburn City recording their first wins of 2021.
Gwelup moved into the top half of the league with a 4-0 win over Rockingham City at Wishart Street, while Cockburn moved off the foot of the table as they won 2-1 at Balcatta.
Gwelup were dominant from early in their match and tested Cyril Sharrock twice in the opening 10 minutes, Josh Samson and Hasani Sinclair shooting at the goalkeeper.
Ian Ng surged forward and struck over the bar for City, but Gwelup were creating the better chances and they found the opener on 22 minutes when Sinclair twisted on the edge of the area and scored in the bottom corner.
Barely a minute later the hosts doubled their lead. Ethan Brooks skipped down the right and crossed for Shubham Mokala to open his account for the season.
Sharrock saved superbly from Oxborrow on the stroke of half-time and it was more of the same from the home side after the restart as Rockingham's No.1 turned away an effort from Mokala.
Rockingham's Shane Boyle curled over from distance, but it was Gwelup who found a settling third goal as Brooks squared for Mitch Oxborrow.
There was still time for Jon Stynes to add a fourth with a couple of minutes remaining as he tapped in from close range to continue his run of scoring in every NPL game this season.
Elsewhere, Dor Jok's double helped Cockburn City claim their first points this season as they held off Balcatta at Grindleford Reserve.
Balcatta skipper Calum O'Connell curled an early free-kick over the bar and Amir Ajan shot at Luke Radonich as the hosts started brightly in pursuit of back-to-back wins.
Jawad Rezai forced Radonich into a smart block at the near post, but it was Cockburn who hit the front on 24 minutes when Jok bundled in at the second time of asking, despite the best efforts of Joseph Marino to clear off the line. Jesse Lazzaro then forced Balcatta keeper Riley Stephenson into an excellent tip over.
After the break Sebastian Da Silva dragged wide of the post and Ali Gholami tried his luck from distance as the visitors' confidence continued to soar.
The second goal for Cockburn did arrive just past the hourmark as Jok rose to head in Riley Woodcock's cross from the left.
Balcatta fought to get back in the game and Jon Corness arrived to test Radonich, then from the subsequent corner Hamza Hina forced the ball over the goalline to pull one back.
But no equaliser would follow for the home side as Cockburn claimed their first points of 2021.
On Thursday, Floreat Athena maintained their 100% start with a 2-1 win over Perth SC, while second-place Sorrento defeated Armadale 4-1.
Bayswater beat Perth Glory 1-0, while ECU were 2-0 winners at Inglewood United.
Read Thursday's round-up HERE
Saturday 3 April
Gwelup Croatia 4-0 Rockingham City
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