Report by Chris Andrawes

Cockburn City scored their fifth successive victory as league leaders Bayswater City were beaten 4-2 in a heated game at Frank Drago Reserve yesterday.

The home side had Steve Burton and Gustavo Giron Marulanda sent off as the match boiled over in the latter stages following a controversial call from the match officials.

Pictured: Cockburn players celebrate. Photo: Vince Caratozzolo.

None of that was of concern for Cockburn coach Marc Anthony, who had just watched his side wrap up another important three points in their push for a top-four finish.

“I keep asking the lads to give me results and again today they were fantastic,” said Anthony, whose sixth-placed team is three points adrift of fourth.

“It’s always good (to win) when you’re playing the best team in the league. The way we played was really pleasing, we matched them in every department.”

“Winning breads confidence and the guys are confident that we can beat any team in the league and we’ve just played the best team in the league and won.”

The turning point of the game came as Bayswater striker Burton thought he had equalised after Cockburn led 3-2.

Burton had looked to be offside but referee Matt Southern gave the goal after his assistant failed to raise his flag. Then, following consultation between the officials, the goal was ruled out and Cockburn were given a free-kick for offside.

Burton reacted angrily to the decision and received his second yellow in the process, reducing Bayswater to 10 men for the remaining 20 minutes.

“Bayswater aren’t used to getting beaten and they don’t like it, which is how it should be,” Anthony said. “Chris has got them playing very well and they’ve got that winning mentality.”

Bayswater assistant coach Stewart Moses was uninterested in making excuses for his side, which also lost Marulanda to a red card for a poorly timed tackle.

“We were 3-2 down, starting to get momentum and we scored that goal,” Moses said of the controversy. “They’ve given the goal and the linesman has changed his decision. I think if the goal had stood, we would’ve got momentum and started kicking forward. But then a couple of undisciplined decisions by the players, we’re down to nine men and the game’s dead and buried.”

Bayswater had taken the lead with a good finish from Marulanda, whose low driven shot snuck past the Cockburn keeper.

Cockburn then turned the game on its head before half-time with goals from Ross Diamond, who volleyed home from a tight angle, and a brilliant free kick from Conor Kavanagh.

Bayswater fought back at the start of the second half as Chris Saldaris poked home from close range following a Cockburn corner.

Cockburn edged ahead through an error from Bayswater keeper Devon Spence, who was lobbed by a volley from Matt Barlow, following an attempted headed clearance from the edge of his box.

The final goal came as Bayswater pushed forward for an equaliser and were exposed at the back, allowing Monty Grigo to tap home uncontested in the goal area.

The result sees Bayswater’s lead at the top of the table reduced to only two points with three games to play, which Moses considers a challenge for his Bayswater side.

“At the end of the day its interesting for the fans now with three games to play,” he said. “They’ve got to go to Stirling next week who got a good win today. If we win the next three games, we win the league.

“We’ve got some good players coming back into the team this week with Jamie Coyne, Todd Howarth and David Heagney.”

Bayswater 2 (Marulanda 22’, Saldaris 50’)
Cockburn 4 (Diamond 27’, Kavanagh 43’, Barlow 61’, Grigo 84’)
Saturday 2nd August 2014

Frank Drago Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Matt Southern
Assistant referees: Brendan Skinner, Rory Jackson
Attendance: 150 Approx.

Bayswater: 1. Devon SPENCE, 2. Declan HARGREAVES, 3. Adam BACHILLER, 5. Andy REALE (10. Damien CATALANO 70’), 7. Hassan El YASSIRI, 8. Paul McCARTHY, 9. Gustavo Giron MARULANDA, 12. Steve BURTON, 15. Brian FARRELL (14. Henry BISSETT 88’), 20. Sam MITCHINSON, 23. Chris SALDARIS
Substitutes not used: 22. Joel DRISCOLL, 13. Trent KAY, 19. Aaron DELANEY
Yellow cards: McCarthy 44’, Marulanda 45’, 80’, Burton 54’, 67’
Red cards: Burton 67’, Marulanda 80’

Cockburn: 23. Dejan ALEKSIC, 4. Euen GRANT, 5. Alan CARROLL, 7. Jesse FULLER, 8. David ARRAYA (15. Julian TELES 82’), 10. Matt BARLOW, 11. Devon GIBSON, 14. Connor KAVANAGH, 17. Paul NATALE, 18. Monty GRIGO (12. Fyzal Zaw 84’), 20 Ross DIAMOND (3. Charlee RAMLEE 84’)
Substitutes not used: 1. Struan HERD, 13. Blake ADAMS
Yellow cards: Arraya 43’, Barlow 89’
Red cards: nil