NPL: Patterson looks to stay Cock of the walk
Former Northern Ireland international Rory Patterson will be aiming to continue his incredible scoring spree in local soccer’s PS4 NPLWA when Cockburn City take on Perth SC at Dalmatinac Park on Saturday night.
Patterson, who was a teammate of Manchester United’s Jonny Evans during Northern Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifiers, has scored five goals in his first two games for Cockburn to send shudders through the competition.
VIDEO: SEE ROUND TWO HIGHLIGHTS BELOW
Even before Patterson bagged four on his league debut against Inglewood United, Bayswater City coach and former Socceroos defender Chris Coyne was tipping the striker to win this season’s McInerney Ford Gold Medal.
Coyne’s prediction had been made despite Patterson having struggled with a niggling back complaint during the pre-season Night Series competition.
With the ache gone, the Irishman has immediately hit the kind of goal-scoring form that earned his international call-up in 2010. At the time, Patterson was playing for Coleraine where he scored 42 league and cup goals in a season.
It was the kind of form manager Nigel Worthington could not ignore.
“The media and fans were saying the team wasn’t playing well and there was pressure on him to give me a chance,” Patterson said of his inclusion.
Earlier in his career he had spent three years at FC United of Manchester, a club formed by Manchester United fans opposed to the English Premier League outfit’s owner Malcolm Glazer.
After three recent seasons with Ireland’s Derry City, he decided to move to Perth where his brother Brian plays for All Flags State League Division One side Ashfield.
“I knew a few people over here and I was looking for a change of lifestyle and a change of weather,” he said.
Although Patterson has settled quickly, he was surprised at the intensity of training.
“There are good players in the league here and technically we’ve got some good players at Cockburn,” he said. “The young lads are really fit lads. There’s a hectic pace in training, which kind of caught me by surprise, and you can’t fault the work rate.”
PS4 NPLWA, round three
Saturday, April 11
Floreat Athena v Armadale (E&D Litis Stadium, 3pm)
ECU Joondalup v Balcatta (ECU Sports Stadium, 3pm)
Bayswater City v Inglewood United (Frank Drago Reserve, 3pm)
Perth Glory v Stirling Lions (Inglewood Stadium, 3pm)
Subiaco v Sorrento (WA Athletics Stadium, 3pm)
Cockburn City v Perth SC (Dalmatinac Park, 7pm)
