Swan IC began their 2008 campaign with a hard fought 3-1 victory against Cockburn City at Francis Street this afternoon.

The visitors opened brightly and had the ball in the net on five minutes, Michael Mirco was the architect his run and cross found Aaron dos Santos who scored low past Cory Hugo, but assistant linesman David Currie had his flag raised for offside and the goal was disallowed.

Cockburn looked bright and from Paul Natale’s cross on eight minutes Michael Mirco’s low shot was well saved by Cory Hugo. Then in their first real attack the Swans hit the front, David Perich sent Damian Scali clear down the right, he cut inside and crossed to the unmarked Alex Cocking at the back post who scored from close-range.

Shell shocked City hit back Johnny Mirco’s in-swinging corner was punched clear by Cory Hugo and on 15 minutes Michael Mirco went down under a tackle from David McNally but referee Hugh Best waved away their penalty protest.

It was a different story sixty seconds later, John Mansaray sent Perich clear and as was brought down by keeper Dejan Aleksic and the referee pointed to the spot. Scali kept his nerve sending Aleksic the wrong way to double their lead.

There were chances at both ends as the game opened up, Michael Mirco was denied by Cory Hugo on 23 minutes and on the half-hour Perich’s shot was well saved by Aleksic.

Swans keeper Cory Hugo again came to his sides rescue with a stunning double save, first denying Michael Mirco and was alert to block Dos Santos’ follow up. Cockburn pressed late but lacked the final ball and at the break it was 2-0 to the Swans.

Cockburn pressed early in the second half with Michael Mirco firing over from 12-yards, but it was the Swans who went the closest to increasing their lead. Perich’s long-range shot flew inches past the post and on the hour Dom Ando’s free kick was tipped over the bar by the alert Aleksic.

The visitors received a lifeline two minutes later; Johnny Mirco was quickest to react to a deflected clearance from Aaron Cole and finished clinically past Cory Hugo. It was game on, and Cockburn began to dominate, Hugo saved low from a Liam Lilly’s long-range shot and reacted superbly when defender David McNally sliced a clearance.

The Swans shot stopper prevented Cockburn from levelling on 78 minutes with a stunning save to deny Dos Santos, and the points were wrapped up on 85 minutes. Second half substitute Justin Hugo’s surging run ended with a cracking shot which cannoned back off the post, Scali’s follow up shot was blocked and when the ball returned to Justin Hugo on the edge of the box the defender fired home, much to the delight of the Swans faithful .

Cockburn weren’t finished yet, Dusan Macura’s low shot bounced off the foot of the post and Ando cleared the rebound. At the final whistle it was Swans Coach Paul Lincoln who celebrated his first league win as a senior coach, and he was delighted with the whole team’s performance. “It was really important we started well today as we’ve got a couple of tough matches coming up.

“The boys battled hard all afternoon and it was a great team performance, and that’s what I’ll be looking for each week,” said Lincoln.

Swan IC – GK Cory Hugo, Ando, Monterosso (Justin Hugo 72), Knox, Perich, Mansaray, David McNally, Andrews (Tronchin 45), Cocking (Paone 88), Cole, Scali

Subs not used: Agudelo

Cockburn City  – GK Aleksic, Palermo, Pereira (Godfrey 54), dos Santos, Shane McNally (Surjan 54), Johnny Mirco, Michael Mirco, Lilly, Natale, Miletic (de Bartelo 74), Macura

Subs not used:  de Felice, Daly

Referee – Hugh Best