Five star Sokol helps Balcatta sink Cockburn
Report by Josh Chiat
Steve Sokol scored five goals in a remarkable individual performance as Balcatta thrashed Cockburn City 7-1 in their PS4 National Premier Leagues WA clash.
Sokol has spent most of 2015 coming off the bench or playing wide but was happy to step up and lead the line for his side.
“It was just good to play up front again,” he said.
“That's more goals than I've scored in the last two seasons combined, so it's a good feeling.”
Balcatta came into the match without regular striker Gustavo Catarcione and captain James Sammut, while coach Ramon Falzon watched from the stands following an incident the previous week.
Sokol's haul more than alleviated these concerns, as Balcatta claimed their second six-goal win of the season, having beaten Stirling 6-0 in June.
Balcatta were on top from the start with Sokol scoring the opener in the first minute, placing the ball through the legs of Cockburn goalkeeper Jack Adams after a long Hasan El Yassiri run.
Balcatta's shuffling also benefitted midfielder Patrick Quinn, who switched from his usual wide position to a central role. He provided the through ball for Sokol to score Balcatta's second after 21 minutes.
Cockburn also had issues before the game with top goal scorer Rory Patterson dropping out during the warm-up.
But they placed pressure on Balcatta’s goal throughout the first half, as Cockerels winger Harry O'Brien drew two good saves from keeper Clint Davies.
They pulled one back in the 23rd minute when Patterson's replacement Liam Murray squeezed a shot past Davies into the bottom corner.
From that point it was all downhill for Cockburn.
Kieran Colwell made the most of a swirling breeze to head home at the back post on 33 minutes, before Sokol completed his hat-trick early in the second half, collecting a low free kick at the near post before clipping into the net.
Cockburn’s hopes of any comeback were quashed when Alan Carroll was sent off for a second yellow card midway through the second half.
And they conceded three late goals, as Sokol tapped home two more, before Kieron Stallard struck a fine free kick in stoppage time.
Cockburn coach Marc Anthony lamented his side’s poor defending as Balcatta moved ahead of them into fifth place.
“Our defending was terrible and all over the park we were second best,” he said.
“A 7-1 scoreline is pretty horrific to be honest.”
Balcatta 7 (Sokol 1min, 21’, 52’, 86’, 90+3’, Colwell 33’, Stallard 90+1’)
Cockburn 1 (Murray 23mins)
Saturday, August, 8, 2015
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tim Mihevc
Assistant Referees: Ammar Timour, Hayden Frost
Balcatta: 1. Clint DAVIES, 2. Hanafi GHEZALI, 3. Kieron STALLARD (c), 4. Alexsander SULESKI, 6. Ross DIAMOND (41. Slade RULE 70’), 14. Steve SOKOL, 9. Hassan EL YASSIRI (18. Shazalee RAMLEE 63), 17. Kieran COLWELL, 20. Patrick QUINN (12. Jackson ASOMA 77’), 50. Blamo QUAQUA, 23. Marc ZAGAMI
Substitutes not used: 21. Daniel PASSARELLI, 16. James GORDON
Yellow cards: Diamond 50’
Red cards: nil
Cockburn City: 23. Jack ADAMS, 2. Jonathan CORNESS, 3. Josh KUSER, 5. Alan CARROLL, 8. David ARAYA (16. Julian TELES 80), 11. Devon GIBSON, 13. Blake ADAMS, 14. Conor KAVANAGH (18. Kernell MOUTHYS 81), 7. Harry O'BRIEN (12. Feisal ZAW 71), 19. Liam MURRAY (16. Julian TELES 70), 17. Eamon McNELIS (c)
Substitutes not used: 1. Eric CUTRI
Yellow Cards: Carroll 29’, 69’
Red Cards: Carroll 69’
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