Report by Joshua Chiat

Cockburn celebrate O'Brien's winner. Photo: Vince Caratozzolo

Cockburn City scored a second successive win of the season with a 1-0 success against Subiaco at Rosalie Park.

Harry O'Brien's superb second-half goal was the defining statistic. O’Brien controlled a long punt from Cockburn keeper Curtis Aspden, ran directly at the Subiaco defence before finishing with a low shot to Subiaco goalkeeper Ryan Montgomery's left.

The narrative of the game was possession against determination. Both starting with a 4-5-1 formation, Cockburn used their wide midfielders, O'Brien and Feisal Zaw, to open space and run at a young Subiaco defence, while Subiaco's tucked in, shutting down space before looking to counter attack.

Subiaco's Montgomery reflected after the game: “We tried to sit back a little bit and let them dictate play. (The aim was to) win the ball, hit them on the counter (and) squeeze them in their own half when we could. We've done it in stages but we didn't do it for the full 90 minutes. I think that's what cost us.”

The tactic almost worked a number of times for Subiaco. While Cockburn had the bulk of the possession, they created little. Subiaco on the other hand, especially right midfielder Isaac Koomson, were incisive on the break.

On three occasions in the first half they breached the Cockburn defence, however Aspden, whose recent return to the side has coincided with Cockburn's jump in form, made smart stops to deny Koomson, Danny Milne and Jonas Dorling.

Subiaco started stronger after half time, Joshua Booysen putting a half-chance over from the edge of the area early, though their momentum stalled when Cockburn's O'Brien finally made the breakthrough after 59 minutes.

From then on it was largely Cockburn's game, though many chances to put the game beyond doubt went begging. Three of the best fell to Zaw, while substitute Julian Teles had a late strike well saved by Montgomery. Though Subiaco pushed to the end they were unable to break down Aspden and his defence.

Montgomery, who was Subiaco's stand-in captain for the second week in a row, lamented how close his side has been in recent weeks.

“It's happened five times this season - we've lost by a single goal,” he said.

Subiaco will have to pick themselves up for a tough away trip next week against ECU Joondalup, while Cockburn will attempt to continue their renewal with three points at Dalmatinac Park against Sorrento.

Subiaco 0
Cockburn City 1 (O'Brien 59)
Saturday 23 May 2015
Rosalie Park, Subiaco
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistants: Sean Quinlivan and Marko Rajakovic

Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY (c), 2. Siyang ZHANG , 3. Ger FITZGERALD, 5. Mitch STEINBERG, 6. Daniel MILNE, 8. Kevin WHITE, 11. Joshua BOOYSEN (10. Matthew AKEHURST 72), 12. Jonas DORLING , 8. Kevin White, 15. Alex TRIGLAVCANIN (4. Jackson DONGRAY 69), 17. Ivwananji SIMBILE (14. James OLIVER 4) Subs not used: RGK Anastasis FARSALAS, 13. Justin CARATOZZOLO
Yellow Cards: Dorling 90+2

Cockburn City: GK Curtis ASPDEN, 3. Jonathan CORNESS, 5. Alan CARROLL, 8. David ARAYA (16. Julian TELES 80), 10. Rory PATTERSON, 11. Devon GIBSON, 12. Feisal ZAW, 13. Blake ADAMS, 14. Conor KAVANAGH, 15. Harry O'BRIEN (9. Liam MURRAY 87), 17. Eamon McNELIS (c)
Subs not used: RGK Jack ADAMS, 7. Jonty TURNER
Yellow Cards: Murray 90+4, Kavanagh 90+4