Report by Ryan Borrett

A hat-trick from Luccas Mello against his former club sent Cockburn City to second in the National Premier Leagues WA as they defeated Balcatta 4-2 at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday.

Neither side managed to seize control for much of a scrappy Round 10 clash but the class of Mello shone through.

The result ended Balcatta’s four-match winning run as they were given a lesson in taking chances.

Cockburn coach Scott Miller had mixed feelings following the match but was proud his side held on to claim the three points.

“We didn’t really deal with them in the second half, we knew they were going to bomb forward and we gave it to them,” he said.

“It shows where we’re at as a club; last year we might have faltered under the pressure but today we grabbed another goal or two.”

Miller, whose side travel to Floreat Athena on Wednesday night, was especially impressed with Mello, adding: “He’s been a great pick-up for us.

“You always want to do well against your old team and today he put on an excellent performance.”

Mello bagged his first of the day just three minutes into the match with a brilliant effort from outside the box that curled into the bottom right corner.

His second and third goals came in a chaotic start to the second half with four goals being scored in the first eight minutes following the restart.

In the 46th minute Balcatta levelled through vice-captain Jonathan Corness as he latched onto Calum O’Connell’s pinpoint delivery.

Two minutes later Mello scored his second as Domenico Savoldelli came out to grab a high ball but Mello got there first and headed into the empty net.

Mello’s completed his hat-trick in the next minute as the Balcatta defence seemed overwhelmed with Cockburn’s intensity and allowed him space on the edge of the box to drive home.

Balcatta then caught the visitors’ defence napping as winger Nick Challot broke with pace down the right wing to cut back a pass to Adriano Jenelovic, who had an easy finish to make it 4-2.

Balcatta continued to pile men forward towards the end of the match but the Cockburn back-line held firm to see out the game.

Rueben Tristao in particular was outstanding in starting Cockburn’s build-up from the back and breaking down Balcatta’s forward thrusts.

Balcatta assistant coach Dimitri Phylactou felt his side were unlucky to lose.

“It was one of those weird ones, definitely,” he said.

“I thought we created a lot but when they had their chances they took them and that hurt us today.”

Balcatta's next match is away at ECU Joondalup this Wednesday night.

Balcatta 2 (Corness 46min, Jelenovic 53)
Cockburn City 4 (Mello 3, 48, 49, Skorich 37)
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee:  Julian Serra
Assistant referees: John Taran, Callum Haddow

Balcatta: 1. Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 2. Joseph MARINO, 3. Hayden STEVENS, 4. Calum O’CONNELL, 5. TOM PELLIZZARI (17. Brody KENNEDY 46), 6. Kris GATE (7. Mathew McROBERTS 57), 8. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 10. Jonathan CORNESS, 15. Adriano JELENOVIC, 19. Nick CHALLOT, 20. Shubbham MOKALA (24. Ben PALUZARI 66)
Substitutes not  used: Lawrence SHURAMA, 25. Kyle MCDONALD
Yellow  cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Cockburn City: 1. Luke RADONICH, 2. Chris THACKRAY, 5. Kieron STALLARD, 6. Rueben TRISTAO, 7. Luccas MELLO, 10. David ARAYA, 11. Harry O’BRIEN, 12. Ryan PRATT (16. Daniel ROBINSON 46), 15. Daniel SANTICH, 17. Jesse LAZZARO (18. Adam ANFUSO 81), 19. Anthony SKORICH (9. Julian TELES 90)
Substitutes not used: 20. Harry COLLINS, 23. Ryan BARKER
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil