Report by Jayden Lihou

 

Cockburn City have secured back-to-back away wins after defeating Balcatta 1-0 through a late goal at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday.

The win leaves Cockburn, who beat Subiaco 1-0 last week, just five points shy of fourth-placed Inglewood on the PS4 NPLWA ladder.

Cockburn captain Euen Grant said it was a difficult game for his side.

“There were chances for both sides and to be honest I think either side could have won it,” he said.

“In the second-half I think our quality and our work-rate shone through so I think we deserved the win in the end.”

Grant said his team will now prepare for round 16 where they take on Bayswater City.

“It’s a big game next week and we are only one of the few teams that have beaten them this year so they’ll be looking for revenge against us,” he said.

“But we’re playing good football and starting to get hard to beat again so hopefully we can put in the effort and get another result.”

Balcatta had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the first-half when Josip Vujica made his way into the box from the wing.

Vujica squared it past Cockburn keeper Luke Radonich to Brennan Borzecki, who blazed his shot over the bar.

Cockburn had a genuine goal scoring opportunity of their own in the 59^th minute when the ball was crossed to Aden Da Luz in the box. It was a double save from Domenico Savoldelli that prevented the goal as Reuben Tristao was unable to score after Da Luz’s effort was denied.

The away-side had another chance in the 70^th minute when a cross was deflected to substitute Daniel Robinson whose low first-time shot deflected off the post.

Robinson was at it again just three minutes later when his powerful header off a Cameron Edwards free-kick was denied thanks to a quick reflex save from Savoldelli.

Balcatta had a chance to make their opponents rue their missed opportunities in the resulting counter-attack as Henock Butshire received the ball on the wing.

The substitute made his way into the box, but his low effort across goal was just wide of sneaking in off the post.

Cockburn found the lead in the 85^th minute after Da Luz crossed it far-post to Gian Albano who volleyed the ball home to give his side a valuable lead.

The away-side could have finished the game in style deep into stoppage time when Calvin Whitney played a direct cross to Julian Teles, but his first-time effort thundered off the crossbar.

Balcatta coach Salv Todaro said the game could have had a different result if his side took their chances in the first-half.

“I’m very disappointed because we let them off,” he said.

“In the first half we deserved to score three goals and then it would have been a different ball game.

“In the second-half, Cockburn came out and played really well and put a lot of pressure on us and they took their chances in the end.

“If we had got a point in the end I would have thought that would be the least that we deserved, but we didn’t score when we had the chance and that changed the whole momentum of the game.”

 

Balcatta 0
Cockburn City 1 (Albano 85min)
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistant Referees: Shane Skinner, Andre Ferreira

Balcatta: GK. Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 3. Justin ONEK, 4. Calum O’CONNELL (C), 6. Nicolas TATASCIORE, 7. Brennan BORZECKI (17. Henock BUTSHIRE 62’), 9. Luccas MELLO, 10. Jonathan CORNESS, 13. Daniel HEPWORTH, 15. Camelo GIUFFRE, 19. Endalk ACHAMYELEH (23. Ismael BANGURA 72’), 20. Josip VUJICA
Substitute not used: RGK. Luke HUTCHINSON, 2. Rudnei NOGUEIRA, 7. Tom PELLIZZARI
Yellow Cards: Hepworth 42’,  Achamyeleh 70’
Red Cards: Nil

Cockburn City: GK. Luke RADONICH, 3. Daniel DOLS, 4. Euen GRANT (C), 6. Reuben TRISTAO, 7. Calvin WHITNEY, 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 9. Gian ALBANO, 12. Kenel MOUITHYS (16. Daniel ROBINSON 66’), 13. Blake ADAMS , 17. Jesse LAZZARO (14. Julian TELES 88’), 18. Aden DA LUZ
Substitutes not used: RGK. Ryan BARKER, 10. David ARAYA
Yellow Cards: nil
Red Cards: nil