Goals: 0:1 Misko Naumoski (4.); 0:2 Misko Naumoski (9.); 0:3 Misko Naumoski (48.); 0:4 (Own goal, 65.)

A hat-trick from striker Misko Naumoski ensured that Canberra City got off to a winning start as they defeated Cooma Tigers 4-0 in the first round of the Rock Premier League at Nijong Oval. City, under the direction of new coach Matt Moore, got off to the best possible start in what is always a testing away tie by taking a two-goal lead inside the opening eleven minutes. Naumoski, who scored his first goal of the season in the loop Federation Cup after missing the early rounds through injury, took only four minutes to make his mark on the fixture finishing off a slick City move to give them the lead. Incredibly City doubled their advantage only five minutes later when Naumoski added the second goal to leave Cooma up against it. The Tigers attempted to re-group at half-time but had the worst possible start to the second half when Naumoski completed his hat-trick in double-quick time to strengthen City’s lead at 3-0. The Tigers, who had been in good form in pre-season prior to a 10-2 loss to Canberra FC, were shell-shocked by this stage and were caught napping for the fourth time twenty-five minutes from end when Canberra City racked up a fourth goal in bizarre circumstances, the Tigers converting onto their own net after a City penalty appeal was turned away.

Canberra City: 36. James Ward (gk), 2. Mitch Stevens, 3. James Perry, 4. David Dexter, 5. Simon Allan, 8. Tim Mathas, 9. Nikola Taneski, 10. Misko Naumoski, 12. Rob Perry, 13. Ross Edwards, 14. Pat Ross-Magee

Substitutes used: 6. Adam Dobell, 7. Ryan Kyprianou, 15. Euan Peterkin

Cooma Tigers: 1. Franics Bangweni (gk), 2. Phil Yarnold, 3. Felipe Flores, 4. Dam Labutte, 5. Adrian Labutte, 6. Alex Castro, 7. Dom Colucciello, 8. Ian Elliott, 9. Todd Donaldson, 10. Goran Josifovski, 11. Elyja Shah

Substitutes used: 12. Serdan Bircan, 13. Jordano San Martin, 16. James Schofield

Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 5. Simon Allan, 8. Tim Mathas, 9. Nikola Taneski (all Canberra City), 5. Adrian Labutte (Cooma Tigers)

Match Officials: Luke Withell (referee), Owen Watson, Matt Schofield