Report by Navrin Secker

Cockburn City kept the heat on NPL WA leaders Bayswater City with a battling 2-0 win at lowly Subiaco on Saturday.

Goals from Harry O’Brien and Anthony Skorich secured the Round 14 victory for the visitors, but it was far from smooth sailing for the side currently second in the league.

A spirited performance from Subiaco and some tough conditions caused problems for Cockburn, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Cockerels three points.

City’s assistant coach Dale Wignell praised his side’s attitude following the result.

“I think the main thing about today’s game was mentality, we are halfway through the season and in second and it was just about picking up the points,” he said.

“The performance, while it may not have been our best, it certainly wasn’t the worst but we had to scrap and we had to grind out a result today.”

Cockburn started the match strongly and opened the scoring just seven minutes in. O’Brien ran onto a great ball in behind the Subiaco defence and smashed his shot in via the crossbar. There was initial debate as to whether the ball had crossed the line but the linesman ruled that it was a goal.

Cockburn continued to put pressure on the home side, with Subiaco giving up several free-kicks in dangerous positions early.

Subiaco looked to rectify their slow start and nearly equalised when David Perich regained possession in midfield before playing a good ball to Adam Carlino, but his shot was off target.

The home side had another great chance when a ball into the box found Perich unmarked at the back post, but his volley was off target from six yards out.

Some sloppy defending from Cockburn saw a back-pass to goalkeeper intercepted by Carlino, but he could only toe-poke the ball into the post.

Subiaco got a final chance of the half when Carlino went through one on one with Cockburn goalkeeper Luke Radonich, who made a great reflex save to preserve his side’s lead heading into the break.

The poor conditions had a clear impact on the match in the second half, with the game becoming more of a cagey midfield battle as both sides struggled to create chances.

A rare chance for Subiaco fell to Carlino who was denied again by Radonich, who made yet another great save.

And the game was settled eight minutes from time when a corner was bundled home by Skorich to ensure that the visitors would leave with all three points.

Subiaco 0
Cockburn City 2 (O’Brien 7min, Skorich 82)
Saturday, May 26
Rosalie Park
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Matthew Southern
Assistant referees: Alexander Best, Jessica Byrd

Subiaco: 1. Ryan MONTGOMERY, 5. Manase ABANDELWA (15. Anthony TOPINI 65mins), 6. Jackson DONGRAY, 9. Adam CARLINO, 11. Joshua BOOYSEN (2. Jack PAINTER-ANDREWS 88mins), 12. Nathan SMITH, 13. Jonas DORLING, 14. Ross JARMAN (4. Robert HARDING 65mins), 16. Dean APELGREN, 17. Alex CASTIELLO, 18. David PERICH
Unused substitutes: 3. Vasco DA SILVA, 21. Josiah GODFREY
Yellow cards: Apelgren 70mins
Red cards: Nil

Cockburn City: 1. Luke RADONICH, 4. Euen GRANT, 6. Reuben TRISTAO, 7. Luccas MELLO (9. Julian TELES 86mins), 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 10. David ARAYA (18. Adam ANFUSO 12mins), 11. Harry O’BRIEN, 15. Daniel SANTICH, 16. Daniel ROBINSON, 17. Jesse LAZZARO (12. Ryan PRATT 23mins), 19. Anthony SKORICH
Unused substitutes: 23. Ryan BARKER
Yellow cards: Grant 45+1mins, Skorich 63mins
Red cards: Nil