Report by Bianca Niederberger

Despite a strong start from their opponents, Bayswater City brought home the three points with apparent ease, defeating ECU Joondalup 2-0 at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

David Heagney and Declan Hargreaves were the goal scorers for the hosts and, in spite of a late charge led by captain Jon Higgins, ECU were rendered goalless in defeat.

Bayswater coach Chris Coyne admitted that there was a “funny feel” to the game which he put down to the unusually warm April conditions and gave all the players credit for how their performance as such.

“Overall I was please with what we did collectively,” he said.

“We were quite comfortable and I think we played well. We scored two cracking goals, but we could have had two or three more in all honesty.”

It took just 16 minutes for his team to breakthrough in a period punctuated with solid scoring attempts at both ends.

Steve Burton took the ball close but flanked by ECU’s Andy Higgins and Charlie Comyn-Platt, he was forced to pass the ball off into space for a lone Heagney to capitalize. He converted a sure-footed strike that was too good for keeper Andy Banks.

The following minutes saw Todd Howarth and Brian Farrell attempt to exploit any shattered nerves in the ECU defence as they initiated an onslaught on goal, peppering shots at an alert and steadfast Banks.

ECU sought out an immediate response via the combination of Tommy Amphlett, Andy Higgins and Jon Higgins, but they were unable to break down the resolute defence provided by Trent Kay and John Kearney.

The 20th minute brought a noticeable shift in the ECU game as they switched to a more defensive mode of play and started to relent against the pressure of the consistent Bayswater attack.

Bayswater asserted control over the game and dominated play, as the formidable trio of Heagney, Burton and Hargreaves had plenty of the ball, but were unable to find the net.

It was a pass from Howarth through to Hargreaves in the 42nd minute that finally gave Bayswater the advantage they had been looking for. Hargreaves shot without hesitation from 25 yards, his well-weighted effort landing the ball in the top right corner of the net with conviction. 2-0.

The second half featured plenty more goal scoring opportunities for both sides, and Jon Higgins, outstanding for ECU, came close to giving his team a reprieve and initiating an early fight back as his free kick conversion attempt delivered a gratuitous insult as it hit the cross bar.

Bayswater began to fade and the intensity dissipated proportionately with every additional missed opportunity. ECU, perhaps sensing this, again surged forward with renewed vigor from substitutes Genaveo Human and David Foster, but to no avail.

“We need to be more clinical in our approach at times in see these teams off early,” Coyne said.

“If Higgins was to convert from that free kick, the whole game would’ve changed.

“But overall, we’re fit and raring to go and looking forward to next week against Stirling which will be another big game for us.”

Bayswater City 2 (Heagney 16’, Hargreaves 42’)
ECU Joondalup 0
Saturday 12th April, 2014
Frank Drago Reserve
Attendance: approx. 280
Kick Off: 3:00pm
Referee: S. Gregory
Assistant Referees: A. Giorgi, D. Cole

Bayswater City: 1. Devon SPENCE, 2. Devon SPENCE (14. Danny DIXON 69’), 3. Adam BACHILLER, 4. John KEARNEY, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 12. Steve BURTON, 13. Trent KAY, 15. Brian FARRELL, 16. Jamie COYNE, 18. James ISAIA (5. Andy REALE 72’), 21. David HEAGNEY (17. Sahr MUSA 85’)

Substitutes not used: 22. Joel DRISCOLL, 20. Damien SIMIC
Yellow cards: Steve BURTON 39’
Red cards: nil

ECU Joondalup: 1. Andy BANKS (gk), 2. Gareth CRAWLEY, 3. Jon HIGGINS (c), 4. Charlie COMYN-PLATT, 5. Ryan TOWNSEND (9. Dave FOSTER 72’), 6. Jon STYNES, 8. Joe SMITH (12. Dejan SPASESKI 80’), 10. Andy HIGGINS, 11. Lee JONES (16. Genaveo HUMAN 69’), 13. Tommy AMPHLETT, 14. Jake BENSON-COOPER

Substitutes not used: 15. Jack CAIRNS, 20. Ramiro LESCANO
Yellow cards: Andy HIGGINS 37’
Red cards: nil