Report by Peter Simcox

Pictured: Floreat's Lewis McMahon and ECU's Steven McGarry compete for possession. Photo: Peter Simcox

ECU Joondalup moved into the preliminary final of the West Australian Top Four Cup after a thrilling 5-4 extra-time win over Floreat Athena at a packed ECU Football Stadium.

In one of the best games of the season, Floreat raced to a two-goal lead at the break with former ECU midfielder Jonathan Stynes and Cameron Yorke on target. But the home side hit back with two goals from Paddy Doyle and Rikki Smith in the first three minutes of the second half.

But it looked like Stynes’ second had won it for Floreat before a late equaliser from Shane Pickering took the game into extra time.

Lewis McMahon put Floreat back in the driver’s seat before Michael McDougall and Daryl Nicol won it three minutes from time.

ECU coach Dale McCulloch said his players, who had shown great character, were magnificent.

“We were gutted at half time being 0-2 down after dominating the game,” he said.

“We tweaked a few things at the break and to respond like they did after half time shows what this group of players are all about.

“Then to go behind again and score a late equaliser showed the character we have in the dressing room. Then to go and win it, what can I say, it was a great game of football with two good teams going at it and luckily we came out on top today.”

Delighted with the application of every player, McCulloch praised youngster Paddy Doyle and Michael McDougall for their roles in a famous victory.

Floreat Coach Glen Grostate said his players had given him everything.

“We had a few players struggling with injury today but our season has been outstanding,” Grostate said. “But credit ECU today - they fought to the end.

“We were never behind until three minutes from time, but we shouldn’t have let them back into the game at 2-0… we handed them a couple of goals early in the second half which was disappointing.

“But I couldn’t have asked for anymore effort and commitment from the side. We lost Kris Gate in the warm up, Ludo (Boi) and Jason (Saldaris) were both struggling with injuries, but no excuses it just wasn’t our day today.”

It was the home side that dominated proceedings early, and Nicol stung the palms of Floreat keeper Jason Saldaris, before Tommy Amphlett’s shot on the run flashed over the top.

It was one-way traffic and Kevin Moon’s long-range shot took a deflection off Ryan Lowry and dropped just wide of the far post, before Paddy Doyle sent Nicol clear on goal on 39 minutes, but Jason Saldaris stood tall to block.

Then against the run of play Floreat hit the front. A corner from the left wasn’t dealt with by the ECU defence and Stynes finished from 6m

It went from bad to worse for the home side when Floreat added a second two minutes later. A cross into the box was pushed clear by Lewis Italiano and the keeper raced out of his box to try and clear.

But Stynes got there first and crossed to Yorke, who made no mistake from close-range, sending Floreat to the break with a two-goal lead.

Sixty seconds after the break the home side pulled one back. Nicol’s deep corner was headed back across goal by Steven McGarry and Doyle finished from close-range.

Two minutes later ECU levelled when Andy Higgins’ in-swinging corner was bundled over the line by Smith.

The home side were buoyant and it looked like they would run away with it but Floreat had other ideas and were back in front just after the hour.

McMahon lost his marker and played a perfect through ball to Stynes, who finished clinically.

It looked like that would be the winner but deep into stoppage time ECU won a corner that brought everyone forward, including keeper Italiano.

Nicol’s corner picked out an unmarked McGarry at the back post, who crossed into the box and Pickering was on hand to score from close-range.

So it was off to extra time and Floreat hit the front again eight minutes in. Dean Evans’ pin-point free kick picked our McMahon, who headed past Italiano to regain the lead.

Three minutes later the home side levelled again when second-half substitute McDougall was picked out by Amphlett. McDougall controlled the ball, eased past his marker and finished low past Saldaris from the edge of the penalty area.

It looked like we were heading to a penalty shoot-out, but three minutes from time the home side won it. Amphlett made space down the right and whipped in a teasing cross that Nicol finished clinically via the crossbar to seal a memorable win, in a pulsating game.

West Australian Top Four Cup, Minor semi-final
ECU Joondalup 5 (Doyle 46 Mins, Smith 48, Pickering 95, McDougall 101, Nicol 117)
Floreat Athena 4 (Stynes 42 Mins, 65, Yorke 44, McMahon 98)
After Extra Time
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Venue: ECU Football Stadium, Joondalup
Attendance: 900
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistants: Matt Southern and Ammar Timour
Fourth Official: Tom Glavovic

ECU Joondalup: GK Lewis ITALIANO, 2 Ryan LOWRY, 3 Rikki SMITH, 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Andy HIGGINS, 6 Shane PICKERING (8 Ollie ANNIS 102’), 9 Daryl NICOL, 11 Cian HIRRELL, 13 Tommy AMPHLETT, 17 Kevin MOON (15 Michael MCDOUGALL 68’), 19 Paddy DOYLE (7 Jayden DRUMMOND 76’)
Substitutes not used: RGK Todd HOYLE, 12 Ryan MCDARBY
Yellow cards: Smith 40’, Amphlett 93’

Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS. 2 Shaun TIMMINS, 3 Blair GOVAN, 6 Clayton ARNEZ (18 Phillip ARNOLD 55’), 8 Jonathan STYNES, 9 Robert GASPER, 14 Ludovic BOI (11 Dennis GALAN 76’), 15 Christopher SALDARIS, 17 Dean EVANS, 19 Lewis MCMAHON (4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO 106’), 33 Cameron YORKE
Substitutes not used: GK Jordan BARBAS, 12 Nathan SCULLY
Yellow cards: Evans 45+1’, Govan 58’, Timmins 85’