Report by Tristan Lavalette

ECU Joondalup’s class eventually overwhelmed a gallant Armadale during NPL WA action on Saturday afternoon.

The 3-0 final score was not indicative of the hard-fought contest at Alfred Skeet Reserve, where no goals were scored for 85 minutes.

ECU appeared set for an easy victory when former Perth Glory striker Tommy Amphlett scored a scintillating goal with a blistering long-range strike in the fifth minute.

But ECU suffered a setback when imposing defender Charlie Comyn-Platt suffered an injury and was substituted out of the game soon after.

The play was scrappy for lengthy periods of the match, as ECU was unable to find space against a gritty Armadale team.

ECU’s bevy of talented players, including Amphlett, captain Jon Higgins and Danny Dixon, were unable to demonstrate their fancy footwork due to constant pressure and aggression from Armadale.

Despite stifling ECU, Armadale was unable to muster many genuine goal scoring opportunities as strikers Mwansa Musonda and Dennis Gaye were not presented with many crisp passes.

ECU seemed set to double their advantage in the 60th minute but somehow could not put the ball into the back of the net despite goalkeeper Matthew Gould being off his line.

Armadale players on the goal line managed to prevent the ball going into the net and the passage of play symbolised their defensive intensity.

The Reds appeared to level the score in the 89th minute when Faustinho Machochi headed the ball past goalkeeper Andy Banks to send the home faithful into raptures. However the revelry was fleeting as Machochi was deemed offside.

Moments later Dixon sealed ECU’s victory when he slipped past the defence with pace and sharp dribbling and scored past a deflated Gould.

Amphlett finished the match reminiscent to how he started when he scored another long-range rocket to end the match in spectacular fashion.

Higgins said ECU struggled during parts of the match but was content to have not leaked any goals.

“We were flat after half time and they came at us with a really good 20-minute period where they could have scored a couple,” he said.

“It was good to have a clean sheet because we normally have to score four goals to win.

“We are working on the defence but we have some really good attacking players that can produce magic, which really gives us an edge.”

Armadale 0
ECU Joondalup 3 (Tommy AMPHLETT 5’, 90+1’, Danny DIXON 90’)
Saturday 17 May, 2014
Alfred Skeet Oval, Forrestdale
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Crowd: 270

Armadale: 1. Matthew GOULD, 2. Jackson BEALEY, 3. Luke BOGONI, 4. Billy QUINNCROFT, 5. Nathan COSTELLO, 6. Jason BARRERA, 7. Faustinho MACHOCHI, 11. Dannie RICHMAN (10. James ATKINS 65’), 16. Mwansa MUSONDA, 17. Alex CLARKE (14. Mitch CASTRILLI 70’), 18. Dennis GAYE (9. Raveshlan KUPPUSAMY 65’)

Substitutes not used: 12. Lyon VARNEY, 20. Darren HAYWOOD
Yellow cards: Mwansa MUSONDA 3’, Dennis GAYE 18’, Alex CLARKE 70’, Mitch CASTRILLI 85’,
Red cards: Nil

ECU Joondalup: 1. Andy BANKS (gk), 2. Ryan LOWRY, 3. Jon HIGGINS (c), 4. Charlie COMYN-PLATT ( 16. Ryan McDARBY 10’), 6. Jon STYNES, 8. Joe SMITH, 9. Dave FOSTER (12. Dejan SPASESKI 80’), 10. Andy HIGGINS, 11. Danny Dixon, 13. Tommy AMPHLETT, 14. Jake BENSON-COOPER (7. Henry DURR 90’)

Substitutes not used: 15. Ben WANTEE, 21. Ashley MAYNARD-BREWER
Yellow cards: Joe SMITH 55’
Red cards: Nil