Cockburn City and Balcatta share the spoils in goalless draw
Report by Jayden Lihou
Cockburn City and Balcatta had to settle for a point each as the sides played out a 0-0 draw at Dalmatinac Park in round two of the PS4 NPLWA season on Saturday night.
Both sides created genuine goal-scoring opportunities, but neither Cockburn nor Balcatta were able to find the decisive finish.
After coming off a 5-1 defeat in his team’s previous match, Balcatta coach Salv Todaro said he was content with his side’s defensive display.
“The boys followed my instructions to a tee and made a statement today,” he said. “So I am very pleased with the clean sheet.”
“After last week we had to make a statement, so I am happy that the boys responded well both at training and in the game.
“We had a couple of opportunities that we didn’t take, so I’m disappointed that we didn’t take all three points, but we’ll take one to start off the season.”
Cockburn City coach Scott Miller, on the other hand, said he was disappointed that his side failed to score.
“I think we had enough chances to win the game quite comfortably,” he said.
“In the last twenty minutes I don’t think that they could get out of their half and we had five or six shots.
“If the keeper saves them I’m fine but we just couldn’t hit the target unfortunately.
“I’ll definitely walk away after today’s game thinking we threw a couple of points away.”
Balcatta came closest to scoring in the first-half when Kurt Kouakou received the ball from outside the box in the 42nd minute.
Kouakou made some room for himself and fired a shot from a distance but it thundered off the inside of the bar and was eventually cleared.
The away side fashioned another chance to score 10 minutes after the start of the second half in a counter attacking move.
The decisive ball was played to substitute Feisal Zaw who was unmarked inside the box, but his first time effort sailed over the bar.
Cockburn made an opportunity for themselves in the 85th minute when Gian Albano carried the ball from half-way and played David Araya through on goal.
Araya had time and space in the box, but his nea- post effort was saved by keeper Domenico Savoldelli.
The home side had another chance to score just three minutes later when a defensive header from Balcatta found Reuben Tristao at the edge of the box.
Tristao hit the ball low and with power, but his shot was just wide of the post, which meant the game would end in a stalemate.
Cockburn City 0
Balcatta 0
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Dalmatinac Park
Kick-off: 8:00pm
Referee: David Bruce
Assistant Referees: Walter Ciotti, Arvin Shanmuganathan
Cockburn City: 1. Luke RADONICH, 2. Joshua KUSER, 3. Daniel DOLS (7. Ali GHOLAMI 46’), 4. Euen GRANT (C), 6. Reuben TRISTAO, 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 9. Gian ALBANO, 12. Kenel MOULTHYS (10. David ARAYA 70’), 16. Calvin WHITNEY, 17. Jesse LAZARRO, 18. Aden DA LUZ
Substitutes not used: 13. Blake ADAMS, 15. Andrew EMSAVANA, 23. Ryan BARKER
Yellow Cards: Grant 53’, Albano 66’
Red Cards: nil
Balcatta FC: 1. Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 3. Justin ONEK, 4. Calum O’CONNELL, 5. Keiron STALLARD (C), 6. Jonathan CORNESS, 9. Luccas MELLO (10. Dino TOPCAGIC 82’), 12. Kurt KOUAKOU, 13. Daniel HEPWORTH, 14. Emmanuel MANSARAY (2. Hanafi GHAZALI 66’), 16. Nathan SCULLY (11. Feisal ZAW 46’), 23. Ismael BANGURA
Substitutes not used: 15. Carmello GIUFFRE
Yellow cards: Scully 5’, Bangura 65’, Mello 79’, Onek 88’
Red cards: nil
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