Report by Colin Outhwaite

Balcatta came from behind to draw 1-1 with ECU Joondalup in a tightly contested battle at Grindleford Reserve in their PS4 National Premier Leagues WA fixture.

Stuart Montgomery put ECU in front in the 61^st minute, before captain James Sammut drew the home side level.

Goalkeeper Andy Banks came out of retirement for ECU, after Jamie Serra received a two-match suspension last week against Bayswater.

Having spent the season goalkeeper coaching, the veteran was not at all apprehensive and was thankful that he has kept himself sharp in training.

“We had a lot of pressure against us in the first half,” he said.

“We really had to get stuck in and dig deep to hold on.”

Banks made some clinical saves in a final Balcatta onslaught to save his team a point.

“A draw was probably a fair result in the end and after what we’ve been through in recent weeks we’re happy with it,” Banks added.

The goalkeeper was called to action almost immediately when Patrick Quinn volleyed Hanafi Ghezali’s deep ball into the box.

He kept out Quinn again after Gustavo Catarcione threaded him a well-weighted pass in the ninth minute.

Catarcione caused more problems for the ECU defence, when he muscled his way to the by-line to deliver a cross to Sammut, who volleyed just over the bar.

The second half began scrappily but Bayley Montgomery found space and delivered a perfect ball for his dad, Staurt, to make it 1-0.

Balcatta remained calm and nine minutes later Sammut equalised with a powerful shot that Banks could not keep out.

In the tense closing minutes the ECU defence clung on with Coire McGuigan twice making important challenges on the dangerous Catarcione.

Balcatta substitutes’ Steve Sokol and Zelfy Nazary both came close to clinching the winner, the former having his shot deflected onto the crossbar and the latter having his shot parried away by Banks.

Balcatta coach Ramon Falzon thought they were unfortunate not to get more from the game.

“We dominated possession in the first half and created some great chances that we didn't take,” he said.

“The game was more balanced in the second half, but we didn't allow them to get many shots on goal.”

Falzon says his side have been training hard to improve defensively, but recent results have been costly despite the improvement.

“In the first round we were conceding on average two goals a game,” he said.

“We’ve now conceded two goals in the last three games and one of those was a penalty, so the improvement is definitely showing.

“The loss of points in the last two weeks has hurt though. The top three is out of reach and making fourth spot will be hard.

“But we'll still be out there every week trying to earn the three points.”

Balcatta 1 (Sammut 70 min)
ECU Joondalup 1 (S. Montgomery 61mins)
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Stuart Muldoon
Assistant referees: Anastasios Paraskevas & John Taran

Balcatta: 1. Clint DAVIES (GK), 2. Hanafi GHEZALI, 3. Kieron STALLARD, 4. Alexsandar SULESKI, 7. James SAMMUT (c), 9. Hasan EL YASSIRI (14. Steve SOKOL 62), 11. Gustavo CATARCIONE, 12. Ross DIAMOND (6. Zelfy NAZARY 70), 17. Kieran COLWELL, 20. Patrick QUINN, 50. Blamo QUAQUA (16. Cameron TEECE 88)
Substitutes not used: 21. Daniel PASSARELLI, 18. Shazalee RAMLEE
Yellow cards: Diamond 17 
Red cards: nil

ECU Joondalup: 1. Andy BANKS (GK), 2. Ryan LOWRY, 3. Jon HIGGINS (c), 4. Charlie COMYN-PLATT, 5. Cian HIRRELL, 7. Paul MILLER, 8. Joe SMITH, 10. Stuart MONTGOMERY (12. Josh TUCKER 54), 11. Bayley MONTGOMERY (9. Paddy DOYLE 78), 13. Tommy AMPHLETT, 14. Ciore McGUIGAN (15. Kye DOUGLAS 90+2) 
Substitutes not used: 20. Scott WALLIS, 6. Harry BISSETT 
Yellow cards: Amphlett 49, Miller 77, Doyle 84
Red cards: Nil