Report by Bianca Niederberger

With mixed results so far this season, two teams fronted ECU Joondalup Football Stadium on Easter Saturday keen to turn things around.

Ultimately, Balcatta overcame their hosts ECU Joondalup with Luke Randazzo and Gustavo Catarcione scoring in the 2-0 win.

With key players Tommy Amphlett and Jon Higgins noticeably absent, ECU struggled to find their usual cohesion and their limited opportunities were thwarted by a solid Balcatta back line led by captain Adam Tong.

Tong said there was still plenty of potential to be realised for his young side but they were happy to get the result.

“As a new side, with a new manager, we’re starting to get there,” he said.

“We’ve still got some work to do but we’ll soon be a team that is going to shock a lot of people.”

The first breakthrough involved the two quick wingers Randazzo and Carlo Coelho, when the latter passed off to Tong who executed a direct strike from 15 yards. ECU keeper Andy Banks made a brilliant save, but Randazzo was positioned perfectly to capitalize on the deflection with a brilliant side volley, giving him the ultimate reward for his earlier persistence.

ECU went searching for the equalizer, but despite good efforts from Dejan Spaseski to create play through the midfield, Jon Stynes and co were unable to convert.

The second half saw the intensity lift from both sides, but again, it didn’t take long for Balcatta to assert pressure up front. Tong, Benny Kouakou and Catarcione all kept Banks busy and they were unlucky with the crossbar at times. 

The experience of Catarcione shone through for Balcatta when he set up the second goal in the 68th minute. He played the ball through to Kouakou in the deep left, who attracted the attention of Banks then crossed a brilliant ball back to Catarcione, perfectly positioned to tap it in.

ECU, frustrated and lacking innovation, tried to capitalize on the pace of David Foster but just couldn’t find a way through – despite persistent attempts from Genaveo Human and Jake Benson-Cooper.

Balcatta coach Ramon Falzon said it was good to win but thought his team’s performance was lackluster overall, citing lots of simple mistakes.

“We played better than last week, but overall the performance was not what I was expecting,” he said.

“We’ve put together some really good efforts against Inglewood and Armadale in the previous rounds, and today was not our best performance. The boys know that I expect better consistency than what we saw today.”

ECU Joondalup 0
Balcatta 2 (Gustavo CATARCIONE 68’, Luke RANDAZZO 35’)
Saturday 19th April, 2014
ECU Joondalup Football Stadium
Attendance: Approx. 200
Kick Off: 3pm
Referee: Josh Manella
Assistant Referees: Nico Hoyle, Alex Cook

ECU Joondalup: 1. Andy BANKS, 2.Ryan LOWRY, 3. Gareth CRAWLEY, 4. Charlie COMYN-PLATT, 5. Ryan TOWNSEND, 6. Jon STYNES (12. Ban WANTEC 60’), 7. Dejan SPASESKI, 8. Genaveo HUMAN (Jack McMASTER 83’), 10. Andy HIGGINS, 11. Lee JONES (9. Dave FOSTER 37’), 14. Jake BENSON-COOPER

Substitutes not used: 15. Jack CAIRNS, 20. Ramiro LESCANO
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Balcatta: 1.Clint DAVIES, 3.Kieron STALLARD, 5. Adam TONG, 6. Luke RANDAZZO (20. Patrick QUINN 60’), 7. James SAMMUT, 8. David CYRUS, 9. Carlo COELHO (10. Matt IZZO 45’), 11. Gustavo CATARCIONE (16.Ben MEREDITH 81’), 14. Benny KOUAKOU, 15. Marc DE FRANCESCH, 17. Kieran COLWELL

Substitutes not used: 21. Daniel PASSARELLI, 18. Mark ZAGAMI
Yellow cards: Kieran COLWELL 26’
Red cards: Nil