White instrumental in Subiaco’s triumph
Report by Aisling Lawless
Kevin White scored a brace to lead Subiaco to their second win of the season, as they beat ECU Joondalup 2-1 at ECU Joondalup Football Stadium on Saturday.
It was White’s first time playing up front for Subiaco and he scored either side of half time to cancel out Paul Miller ‘s 29th minute opening goal.
Subiaco are now just one point behind ECU and White said it is a victory that has been a few weeks in the making.
“We’ve only lost by narrow margins in the last three or four games and today I think we fully deserved the win,” he said.
“I’ve not played up front for a couple of years, so it took a bit of getting used to at the start, but once I scored the first goal I got my confidence back.
“It’s great to get back up to the main pack of the league and now we are looking above us, rather than below us.”
Subiaco coach Gerry McEwan said it’s the fantastic development of the younger players that allowed him the freedom to push White up from midfield.
“We could, with a bit of luck, be sitting a lot higher on the table, but I’m just grateful for the win today,” he said.
Miller, who similarly opened his scoring account for ECU with a brace last week, capitalised on the only real first half chance for either side.
Bayley Montgomery won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area in the 29th minute and Miller’s perfectly placed strike sailed into the left side of the net.
While Subiaco had more possession they couldn’t find their way through the final third and had to settle for off-target shots.
But they started the second half brightly when White headed in a cross in the 48th minute, snatching the lead from the home side.
The visitors, now full of confidence, continued to hunt for the winning goal and Joshua Booysen and captain Nathan Diaz both came close.
But with five minutes to play, it was White who was successful with a fantastic volley into the top left corner of the goal that was beyond the reach of Jamie Serra.
ECU coach Dale McCulloch said having eight injured players, which include Jon and Andy Higgins and Charlie Comyn-Platt, was no excuse for their performance, but it demonstrated their current lack of depth.
“I thought they were the better side today, but again we are just conceding sloppy goals and another set piece,” he said.
“We had a really young back four today and it’s hard, but I think the senior players really need to stand up when you’ve got so many kids out there.”
ECU Joondalup 1 (Miller 29’)
Subiaco 2 (White 48’, 85’)
Saturday 30 May 2015
ECU Joondalup Football Stadium
Local kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Stuart Muldoon
Assistant Referees: Rory Jackson, Nico Hoyle
ECU Joondalup: GK Jamie SERRA, 5. Kye DOUGLAS, 6. Jon STYNES, 7. Paul MILLER, 8. Joe SMITH (C), 9. Guy MCDONALD, 10. Stuart MONTGOMERY (14. Ollie ANNIS 75’), 11 Rowdy YATES, 13. Tommy AMPHLETT, 16. Ronald RIXER 17. Bayley MONTGOMERY (15. Cian HIRRELL 58’)
Substitutes not used: 4 Charlie COMYN-PLATT, 20 Ash MAYNARD-BREWER
14. Harry BISSETT,
Yellow cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 2. Nathsan DIAZ (C), 3. Ger FITZGERALD, 5. Mitch STEINBERG, 6. Daniel MILNE, 7. Siyang ZHANG 8. Kevin WHITE (4. Jackson DONGRAY 91’), 12. Jonas DORLING, 13. George TCHAMI, 16. Issac KOOMSON (11. Joshua BOOYSEN 73’), 17. Ivwananji SIMBILE (14. James OLIVER 80’)
Substitutes not used: RGK Anastasis FARSALAS, 10. Matthew AKEHURST
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
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