Report by Peter Simcox

An injury time penalty from Joondalup United’s new signing Matthew Sparrow salvaged a 2-2 draw for the newly promoted PS4 NPLWA side in the first ever Joondalup Derby against ECU Joondalup at Percy Doyle Reserve on Sunday evening.
 
The game was a typical derby with goals, crunching tackles and a number of yellow cards, and share of the points.

ECU defender Ross Millard gave the visitors the lead early, but Richard Howles levelled before the break. It looked like Tommy Amphlett had won it for ECU, but Sparrow had the final word.
 
United coach, Nick Jennings said his side were fantastic and never threw the towel in.

“Delighted for the lads, their work ethic was there for all to see tonight, we never gave in and got a deserved point,” he said.
 
“We were all disappointed at the break, we should have been in front, but we spoke about it and changed a few things, and I thought we dictated terms.
 
“We had to work hard at the back and in my opinion their front three are the best in the competition so I was really pleased defensively.”
 
The pundits have Joondalup United fighting relegation this season, but Jennings said they are an honest bunch of players and many could have left the club during the off-season.
 
“We do play some good football, but it’s not rocket science, we give it our all, we kiss the badge, and go out there and put in 100%,” he said.
 
“Some of our players could have left to join other clubs in the off-season, but they didn’t. They are passionate about this club, were in it together, and that shows on the pitch.”    
 
ECU Coach Dale McCulloch was left to rue their profligacy in front of goal, and said they must learn from it.

“I’m not happy at the moment, we have to put games to bed, but missed chances have come back to hurt us tonight,” he said.
 
“We didn’t play our style today, and probably we got caught up in the hype of the Derby. We created some outstanding chances and our pace caused them a lot of problems, but if you don’t take your opportunities you’re always susceptible to conceding one at the other end, and we did.”   
 
Since the fixture were released, both clubs had been looking forward to this game, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 15 minutes. Daryl Nicol’s free kick was saved low by James Bosdet, but the rebound fell to Millard, and the former Perth Glory defender made mistake at the back post.
 
Roared on by their home supporters, United hit back with skipper Arran Maplestone and Sparrow influential.

Their pressure was rewarded with an equaliser on 35 minutes.
 
A long throw by Joel Ledsham was flicked onto to Howles, and the big striker finished into the corner of the net past Fraser Greenwood.   
 
United finished the half well and Josh Booysen’s cross shot flashed wide, before Maplestone picked out Joe Stocker, who headed over the top.
 
It was ECU who regained the lead early in the second half.

Nicol’s pace was causing the United defence all sorts of problems, and after a quick counter attack, skipper Gordon Smith sent Nicol in on goal, he rounded Bosdet, but shot offline. Amphlett picked up the crumbs and fired home from a tight angle.
 
The football was action packed which had the big crowd on the edge of their seats. United’s Howles crossed to substitute Mike Kenny, but Jack Jones got back with a superb last-ditch tackle to deny him.  
 
Smith then fired inches wide for ECU, before Bosdet produced a stunning save to deny Smith again moments later.
 
That save became more important as United levelled late.

With time running out, United went to the long ball and in the 92nd minute they won themselves a penalty.
 
A ball into the box was flicked on, and Howles was brought down by Greenwood with referee Josh Mannella pointing to the spot, despite the ECU protests.
 
Sparrow kept his nerve and sent Greenwood the wrong way from the resulting penalty to give both sides a share of the spoils.  
 
Joondalup United 2 (Howles 35min, Sparrow 90+2’ pen)
ECU Joondalup 2 (Millard 15min, Amphlett 54’)
Sunday February 19
Percy Doyle Reserve
Kick Off: 7:00pm
Referee: Josh Mannella

Joondalup United – GK James BOSDET, 2 Joel LEDSHAM (54 Robert BAIN 90’), 3 Rowdy YATES, 4 Arran MAPLESTONE, 5 Joe STOCKER, 7 Matthew SPARROW, 8 Josh WHITMORE, 9 Richard HOWLES, 11 Josh BOOYSEN (10 Alex WILD 61’), 16 Ross EDWARDS, 23 Jay MARSDEN (19 Mike KENNY 75’)
Substitutes  not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 17 Luke SERRA
Yellow Cards: Booysen 3’, Yates 10’, Sparrow 28’, Howles 72’
Red Cards: nil

ECU Joondalup: GK Fraser GREENWOOD, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Shane PICKERING, 5 Nathan DIAZ, 8 Kevin MOON (19 Sam POLLARD 35’), 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH, 13 Tommy AMPHLET (T7 Jayden DRUMMOND 82’), 14 Steven MCGARRY, 17 Jack JONES, 18 Cian HIRRELL
Substitues not used: RGK Todd HOYLE, 6 James OWEN, 11 Ben JOHNS
Yellow Cards: Smith 89’
Red Cards: nil