PS4 NPL WA Round 18 Review

Two goals in two minutes was enough for Cockburn City to salvage a 2-2 draw with Armadale in Round 18 of PlayStation 4 NPL WA at Dalmatinac Park.

Armadale stunned their opponents with two quick goals in the second half, but their lead was short-lived as Cockburn responded with two goals of their own just minutes later.

Cockburn coach Scott Miller said a draw was a fair result in the end but was disappointed his side couldn’t find a winner.

“In the first half I thought the game was even and there weren’t many chances for either side,” he said.

“But in the second half they sucker-punched us with two goals and then I thought we took control of the game and dominated from thereon.”

Following a tight first half, the opening goal came nine minutes after the break when Ali Gholami curled a free-kick around the wall and past Cockburn keeper Luke Radonich.

James Atkins doubled his side’s lead just two minutes later when he headed home a cross from Charlie Kenna.

The two-goal buffer was short-lived as Cockburn’s Gian Albano drilled a low shot past the keeper to peg the score back to 2-1.

Just one minute later, Julian Teles finished comfortably to draw his side level.

Armadale coach John O’Reilly thought his side should have won the game but was pleased with their attacking performance.

“We just switched off for two minutes and that’s what cost us two points in the end,” he said.

“I think for the last couple of weeks we have been really progressing with how we play as a unit, and that could be seen today with some really nice passages of play.”

In other round 18 matches, 10-man Floreat Athena beat ECU Joondalup 1-0 at ECU Joondalup Football Stadium, Subiaco upset Stirling Lions 1-0 at Rosalie Park, and league leaders Inglewood United disposed of Mandurah City 10-2 at Securitas Protect Stadium.

Bayswater City’s narrow 1-0 win over Sorrento has them knocking on the door of the top four, Joondalup United beat Balcatta 2-0 at Percy Doyle Reserve and Perth SC took all three points with a 2-1 win against Perth Glory at Ashfield Arena.

RESULTS

Cockburn City 2 (Albano 59min, Teles 60)
Armadale 2 (Gholami 54min, Atkins 56)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Perth Glory 1 (Mustafa 51min)
Perth SC 2 (Sabatini 23min, De Leo 33)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

ECU Joondalup 0
Floreat Athena 1 (Stynes 37min)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Bayswater City 1 (Mitchinson 25min)
Sorrento 0
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Joondalup United 2 (Howles 29min, 88)
Balcatta 0
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Subiaco 1 (Diaz 63min)
Stirling Lions 0
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE

Mandurah City 2 (Francis 23min, 66)
Inglewood United 10 (Salmon 7min, Brauner 16, 47, Hina 26, 56, 78, Dau 74, 83, 84, Barrera 90)
FULL MATCH REPORT HERE