Report by Josh Chiat

Rory Patterson's injury time winner handed Cockburn a thrilling 3-2 victory over Subiaco at Dalmatinac Park in the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA. 

Locked at 2-2 with neither side looking likely, Cockburn winger Devon Gibson collected the ball deep in the Subiaco box and cut it back for Patterson, who squeezed it in at the far post to send the home fans into raptures.

Cockburn's top scorer Patterson sat out last week's demoralising 7-1 loss to Balcatta with injury, but scored a brace on his return to the team to help them taste victory again.

“Being a winner it was really important,” Patterson said of his late strike.

“We played nowhere near where we can play, but the main thing is the points in the bag, especially after last week's embarrassing result.”

Patterson's goal had added meaning for the Northern Irish International, getting to celebrate for his daughter who was attending from the UK.

“My little girl's over from England. She was there dancing. She told me I had to do a little dance [when I scored],” he said.

It was the climax of a game with many twists.

Subiaco started the better of the two sides and went ahead after only eight minutes, when Cockburn's goalkeeper Jack Adams dropped a high ball at the feet of Ian McMurray, who tapped into the unguarded net.

Subiaco continued to press but conceded an equaliser against the run of play.

A marauding Jonathan Corness caught the visitors on the break and while Patterson's resulting effort was well saved by stopper Ryan Montgomery, Harry O'Brien was on hand to smash home the rebound.

Subiaco continued to be the dominant team and could have gone ahead again through McMurray, but his header not been ruled out for a alleged push on his marker.

This left the door open for Cockburn, who took a 2-1 lead on the stroke of half-time, when Patterson capitalised on Devon Gibson's cross to send a deflected strike into the net.

Subiaco started strong again after half time and deservedly equalised with half an hour to play.

Cockburn failed to clear a corner and winger Matthew Akehurst drove to the byline, crossing to the back post for Owen Coates to score past Adams.

Both teams had chances to score in the final 30 minutes as the game looked set to end as a draw, before Patterson's winner took the game away from a spirited Subiaco side.

Cockburn City 3 (O'Brien 21', Patterson 43', 90+2')
Subiaco 2 (McMurray 8', Coates 60')
Saturday 15 August 2015
Dalmatinac Park
Referee: David Bruce
Assistants: Scott Cairns, Max Hallas

Cockburn City: 23. Jack ADAMS, 2. Josh KUSER, 3. Jonathan CORNESS, 4. Euen GRANT, 8. David ARAYA (12. Feisal ZAW 56'), 10. Rory PATTERSON, 11. Devon GIBSON, 13. Blake ADAMS, 14. Conor KAVANAGH, 15. Harry O'BRIEN (16. Julian TELES 85'), 17. Eamon McNELIS (c)
Subs not used: 1. Eric CUTRI, 6. Stefan Cvijanovic
Yellow Cards: B. Adams 6', Kuser 47', Patterson 75'
Red Cards: Nil

Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 2. Nathan DIAZ (c) 15. Siyang ZHANG (6. Ignacio DOMINGUEZ 46'), 13. George TCHAMI, 5. Mitch STEINBERG (3. Ger FITZGERALD 19'), 9. Ian MCMURRAY (8. Gojam NYUON 83'), 10. Owen COATES, 11. Joshua BOOYSEN, 7. Matthew AKEHURST, 1, 4. Jackson DONGRAY, 14. Zac HARDISTY
Subs not used: 21. Hamish ST-GEORGE, 12. Ross JARMAN
Yellow Cards: Booysen 54'
Red Cards: Nil