20.02.2012
Football West News
Report by Peter Simcox
Subiaco AFC came from 0-1 down at the break to beat Fremantle Spirit 3-1 in the early game at Macedonia Park on Sunday evening, and record their first win in the 2012 Night Series.
Both sides couldn't make the next stage of the pre-season competition but were keen to finish off with a victory, and it was Sam Halifax who gave the Spirit the lead at the break. But second half goals from Danny Malcolm, Simon Edwards and a stunner from Harry Johnson gave the new State League Division Two side the points.
Chances were few and far between in the opening stages, the best falling to Halifax on 10 minutes. The Spirit striker headed Tim Hill's corner just wide, but on 22 minutes it was The Spirit who took the lead. A long clearance from defence was mis-judged by Subiaco keeper Tom Barratt, and Halifax nipped into punish him and fire home into an empty net.
It was almost 2-0 moments later, Barratt's poor clearance fell to Halifax, but the striker delayed his shot and fired straight at the Subiaco custodian.
Subiaco's first chance came on the half hour, good work on the left by David Calder ended with a pinpoint cross to Scott Wrightson, whose first time shot was well saved by Matthew Zappacosta.
Fremantle should have doubled their lead on 37 minutes, Siddharth Arora's cross from the right found the unmarked Halifax, but he blazed over from six-yards.
What ever Subiaco coach Ian Cowan said at the break must have worked, as his side opened brightly and on 56 minutes they were level. Again it was Calder who started the move, sending Tom Proctor clear down the left, his cross found Malcolm at the back post, the strikers first shot was well blocked by Spirit defender Christopher Beech, but Malcolm's follow up shot beat Zappacosta low to his left.
It was Subiaco who were now dominating and three minutes later Wrightson's snap shot from eight-yards was cleared off the line by Kamara Kross, and moments later Malcolm's shot was well saved by Barratt.
Both sides had chances as the game opened up. First on 71 minutes Spirit substitute Timothy Freeman's cross from the right was dropped by Barratt, and the follow up shot from Abdirizag Ahmed Shaqlane went inches wide. Then on 74 minutes Subiaco midfielder Simon Ralphs sent Edwards clear on the right, it looked like he was held back in the penalty area by Beech, but referee Shuo Chen waved away his protest and his shot was straight at Zappacosta.
That mattered not, as sixty seconds later Subiaco hit the front. A long clearance from Frank Galvin caught the Spirit defence flat footed and Edwards outpaced Beech, and fired low past Zappacosta.
The points were wrapped up five minutes later when Subiaco added a third. A free kick from Galvin picked out Johnson on the left of the penalty area, and the midfielder first time shot flew into the top corner of the net giving Zappacosta no chance.
Subiaco AFC coach Ian Cowan was delighted by his sides second half performance. "We made a number of changes tonight to give some guys a run, and it took us time to settle. We made a couple of changes at the break and we lifted and deservedly went on to win it," said Cowan.
"We missed Jorden Rhodes tonight, but I thought David Calder stepped up for us in the midfielder which was pleasing."
Football West Night Series - Group B
Fremantle Spirit 1 (Halifax 22')
Subiaco AFC 3 (Malcolm 56', Edwards 75', Johnson 80')
Sunday 19th February 2012
Kick off - 5pm
Venue - Macedonia Park
Referee - Shuo CHEN
Assistants - Chris HOWELL, Nico HOYLE
Crowd - 150
Fremantle Spirit - GK Matthew ZAPPACOSTA, 2 Siddharth ARORA, 3 Kamara KROSS, 4 Mitchell CROCKER, 5 Christopher BEECH, 6 Steve MORDUE (15 Timothy FREEMAN 52'), 7 Tamba SAAH, 8 Sean TREACEY, 9 Danilo PODRASCANIN, 10 Tim HILL, 11 Sam HALIFAX (14 Abdirizag Ahmed SHAQLANE 62')
Subs not used - RGK Bradley PARFITT, 12 Kenny FTYNOGIANNIS
Yellow Cards - Nil
Subiaco AFC - GK Tom BARRATT, 3 Ger FITZGERALD, 4 Frank GALVIN, 5 David GROSE, 6 Harry JOHNSON, 7 Simon RALPHS, 8 David CALDER, 10 Scott WRIGHTSON, 11 Tom PROCTOR (23 Simon EDWARDS 62')12 Danny MALCOLM, 24 Barry HURD (15 Ross MILLAN 69')
Subs not used - 9 Joh KRESLING, 19 NIALL TORPEY
Yellow Cards - Nil
