Report by Tommy Doleman

From missing out on the title on goal difference last season, Cockburn City have not got going this year with just one win heading into today's match against Armadale

Round Eight of the NPLWA - Men’s competition features a meeting between two sides looking to get their respective seasons trending upwards.

Cockburn City, who missed out on the league title on goal difference in 2020, find themselves in last place with just one win in seven so far. They host Armadale, who turned over reigning champions ECU Joondalup 4-0 on their own ground earlier in the season but that remains their only victory.

Despite his side’s poor position, City head coach Scott Miller insists the spirit remains high at Dalmatinac Park.

“We’ve spent a lot of time trying to find answers, but I think if we were playing badly it would be a lot easier to find them!” Miller said.

“Football wise, I’m happy with the way we’ve gone about it mainly. I think with the exception of the Perth Glory game where we got beat up on the scoreboard, I feel like we’ve been in all the games but have made errors at the wrong times and have been punished full pelt for them.

“The boys are through the frustrated phase of not getting results and have accepted what’s done is done. They’ve been great at training, the belief and confidence is there, it’s about chipping away now and getting that win, even if it’s lucky or scrappy.”

Several departures in the off-season and early injuries have hindered Cockburn’s start to the campaign, but also presented opportunities for the club’s crop of youngsters to continue earning first team minutes.

It is something which fills the club with pride and Miller is confident they can call on that Cockburn DNA to help bring about a change in fortunes.

“We’ve just lost Riley Woodcock (to ECU Joondalup), Daniel Santich to an injury from the weekend, and we still have Anthony Skorich and Ash Rosindale missing too,” he said.

“Kristian Santich (returning to Perth SC) and a couple of others were massive losses too, but that’s not an excuse because it happens to every club. The sunshine is that some of the other lads will now get their opportunity.

“Young Sam Cook made his debut at the weekend, played really well and was buzzing. It’s great to have these players come through the set-up because it’s something Cockburn has always done well and it provides a real bounce for the club.

“Sebastian (Da Silva) came in last season when we were flying and was banging in the goals, and Breckan Baker came out the blocks too, but with the injuries we’ve had they’ve become players we rely on.

“That’s part of the development to becoming better footballers, they have taken on plenty of responsibility which can be a great thing for them, but we can’t forget they're still second year players.”

Despite the difficult start to 2021, Cockburn are still within touching distance of mid-table and will hope to reboot their year when they face an Armadale side who suffered a stoppage-time defeat to Perth SC last time out.

A win at the weekend will see Miller’s side leapfrog their opponents, but the former Perth Glory player expects John O’Reilly’s team to provide a strong challenge.

“Like us, there’ll be a lot of clubs feeling the same in terms of getting one win, getting on a run and starting to climb up the league,” he said.

“It’s not fun looking at the ladder and seeing ourselves there, but we’re realistic, we’ll get to the halfway mark, reassess and see what we need to do. But I’m really happy with the attitude of our lads.

“The motivation is always to get three points. I watched the game against Perth and Armadale were pretty unlucky, so we know they’ll be throwing everything at us. We beat them twice last season and I’m sure that won’t sit well with them, so John will want to get one over us to get themselves up the ladder, never mind us.”

It is shaping up as an interesting weekend in the lower half of the division with third-bottom Perth Glory and Balcatta clashing in the late kick-off at Crazy Domains Stadium as both teams look for three points to create separation from the relegation zone.

Sorrento will look to maintain their strong start to the 2021 when they meet unbeaten league leaders Floreat Athena, who dropped points for the first time this season when the drew at Gwelup Croatia last Saturday.

Old friends reunite at Frank Drago Reserve as Daryl Nicol returns to Bayswater for the first time since rejoining ECU. Nicol’s former strike partner and fellow Scot Gordon Smith is set to lead the Bayswater line.

Trevor Morgan’s first official game in the dugout will see Gwelup welcome an Inglewood United team full on confidence following a 4-1 win over Rockingham.

Finally, Rockingham will hope to end their four-game winless run when they host Perth SC, who will be without top scorer Cameron Teece following his red card at Armadale.

Fixtures

Saturday (3pm unless stated)
Bayswater City v ECU Joondalup
Cockburn City v Armadale
Floreat Athena v Sorrento
Gwelup Croatia v Inglewood United
Perth SC v Rockingham City
Perth Glory v Balcatta (7pm)