Report by Aisling Lawless

Bayswater City got back to winning ways with an inspired performance against ECU Joondalup at ECU Joondalup Football Stadium on Saturday.

Despite an onslaught of chances from the visitors, the controversial penalty converted by Steve Burton was the only goal, ending the game at 1-0.

Pictured: Steve Burton celebrates with teammates. Photo: Vince Caratozzolo

Bayswater coach Chris Coyne thought his team should have been six goals up at half-time but was not concerned with the final score.

“We’ve got good players that understand what I’m asking them to do and they do it really well,” Coyne said.

“We’ll be training three nights a week from now on and hopefully we’ll hit our straps and start scoring more goals.”

ECU Coach Dale McCulloch had a different take on the game and felt they deserved a draw.

“It wasn’t a penalty,” McCulloch said. “I’ll say it straight, it wasn’t a penalty.

“Everyone on the sidelines could see it, coaches could see it. The boy has dived and if we keep encouraging that, diving’s never going to get out of the game.

“Don’t get me wrong, we were under a lot of pressure for long periods of the game but we really stuck tight and most of their chances were from outside the box.

“I’m really upset for that decision to change a game.”

It was a spirited first-half performance from Bayswater but ECU held firm, largely thanks to the stellar performance of keeper Andy Banks.

He made a string of impressive saves, including a one-handed stop to prevent Gustavo Marulanda from scoring.

Marulanda was also denied a goal in the 11th minute after it appeared an ECU defender stopped the ball on the goal line with his arm but the handball claim was dismissed by the referee.

ECU had a few great chances, the most impressive being an overhead kick from Tommy Amphlett in the 15th minute, which bounced off the crossbar.

Former Bayswater player Danny Dixon’s curling long range shot also beat keeper Devon Spence in the 37th minute but bounced off the inside of the left post.

The main second-half action came when Hassan El Yassiri was deemed to have been brought down in the box in the 73rd minute.

Burton comfortably converted the penalty and three minutes later Bayswater almost doubled their lead when Todd Howarth’s long-range effort snuck into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. It was ruled offside due to interference from another player.

ECU hunted for an equaliser but could not penetrate Bayswater’s sturdy back line.

Coyne said a strong defence has been integral to their campaign this season.

“I was a defender myself for so long so I hate it when the boys concede goals,” he said.

“But you can see how much it meant to them today to have won. It’s pleasing as a coach as you miss that camaraderie and celebration in the dressing room.”

ECU Joondalup 0
Bayswater City 1 (PEN Steve BURTON 74’)
Saturday 5 July, 2014
ECU Joondalup Football Stadium, Joondalup
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: David Bruce
Assistant referees: Gary Frost, Cameron Wright.
Crowd: 300 (approx)

ECU Joondalup: 1. (GK) Andy BANKS, 2. Ryan LOWRY, 3. Jon HIGGINS (c), 4. Charlie COMYN-PLATT, 5. Carl RODGERS, 7. Henry DURR, (12. Dejan SPASESKI 78’), 8. Joe SMITH, (16. Ryan McDARBY 53’), 9. David FOSTER, (19. Stuart MONTGOMERY 58’),  10. Andy HIGGINS, 11. Danny DIXON, 13. Tommy AMPHLETT.
Substitutes not used: 15. William BISSETT, 21. Jamie SERRA.
Yellow Cards: Joe SMITH 20’.
Red Cards: Nil

Bayswater City: 1. Devon SPENCE, 2. Declan HARGREAVES, 3. Adam BACHILLER, 5. Andy REALE, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 9. Gustavo GIRON MARULANDA, (17. Sahr MUSA 87’),  12. Steve BURTON, 13. Trent KAY, (8. Paul McCARTHY 21’), 15. Brian FARRELL, 16. Jamie COYNE, 21. David HEAGNEY, (7. Hassan EL YASSIRI 57’).
Substitutes not used: 14. Aaron DELANEY, 22. Joel DRISCOLL.
Yellow cards: Todd HOWARTH 91’.
Red cards: Nil