Report by Aisling Lawless

ECU Joondalup climbed to eighth position on the NPL WA table after a 2-1 victory against Subiaco at ECU Joondalup Football Stadium yesterday.

Tommy Amphlett gave the home side an early lead with his seventh league goal before Alex Randell pulled one back for Subiaco in the second half.

But Danny Dixon sealed the win for ECU leaving Subiaco frustrated again, despite an impressive performance.

Subiaco coach Gerry McEwan had anticipated their first win but said they set themselves a challenge after conceding an early goal.

“Once we realised what formation they had, we adapted our play and I thought we were the better team,” McEwan said. “But that’s the story of our season, we’re just not finishing a goal ahead of our opposition.”

McEwan said his team’s character and determination has been impressive each week.

“They work hard in training and they don’t like to lose,” he said. “They’d rather be the ones singing and celebrating at the end of the game.”

ECU hit the back of the net three minutes in when top scorer Amphlett received the ball from Stuart Montgomery and darted past defenders to strike the ball into the bottom right corner.

After a slow start, Subiaco amped up their intensity and began to put ECU’s defence under pressure, creating good plays around the goal.

Their hard work almost paid off in the 23rd minute when Josh Booysen flicked the ball to Matt Akehurst, whose shot on goal was saved by a diving Andy Banks. Booysen picked up the rebound but his attempt was deflected by a staunch ECU defence.

While it was a quick paced opening half, the play was scrappy and ended with few clear-cut chances.

Half-time substitute Randell injected more life into Subiaco’s attacks and in the 59th minute shrugged off a defender to chip the ball over an unsuspecting Banks, equalising for the visitors.

ECU were visibly frustrated with Subiaco’s domination and gifted them a free kick just outside the box in the 67th minute, but Jordan Rhodes’ curling kick hit the left post.

The home side switched back on and regained their lead nine minutes later when Dixon found himself in space in front of the goal, with time to strike the ball low into the left corner.

Subiaco hunted for a last-minute equaliser but were unable to find a way through and ECU hung on for three points.

ECU Joondalup coach Dale McCulloch thought his team made hard work of it but said it was important to win the scrappy games.

“I don’t think it was the best game we’ve ever played but we got through to the end so we’re happy,” McCulloch said.

“We let them back into the game which wasn’t good but the boys showed good character in coming back for the three points.”

ECU Joondalup 2 (Amphlett 3’, Dixon 76’)
Subiaco 1 (Randell 59’)
Saturday May 31, 2014
Venue: ECU Joondalup Football Stadium
Kick-off: 3pm

Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistant referees: Brendan Skinner, Rory Jackson.
Crowd: Appx 250

ECU Joondalup: 1. Andy BANKS (gk), 2. Ryan LOWRY, 3. Jon HIGGINS (c), 5. Ryan TOWNSEND, 6. Jon STYNES, 8. Joe SMITH, 10. Andy HIGGINS, (12. Dejan SPASESKI  66’), 11. Danny DIXON, 13. Tommy AMPHLETT, (9 David FOSTER 75’), 14. Jake BENSON-COOPER, (16. Ryan MCDARBY 79’), 19. Stuart MONTGOMORIE
.

Substitutes not used: RGK Ramiro LESCANO, 4. Charlie COMYN-PLATT.
Yellow cards: Ryan TOWNSEND 52’, Andy HIGGINS 57’, Jon HIGGINS 86’
Red cards: Nil

Subiaco: 1. Henry DAVIES (gk), 2. Nathan DIAZ, 3. Rowdy YATES, 6. Brad McDONALD, (4. Alex RANDELL 46’), 7. Ger FITZGERALD, 10. Guy McDONALD, 11. Matt AKEHURST, 13. Jonas DORLING, (12. Mitch STEINBERG 46’) , 14. Josh BOOYSEN, 15. Jack RYCROFT, (8. Jordan RHODES 64’), 16. George TCHAMI.

Substitutes not used: 5. Pat MORRISON, 21. Jack HOWARD.
Yellow cards: Alex RANDELL 57’
Red cards: Nil