Report by Peter Simcox

 

ECU Joondalup put on a five star performance and kept in touch with the top five of the PS4 NPLWA after a 5-2 win against Balcatta at on a sunny Saturday afternoon Grindleford Reserve.

A stunning strike from midfielder Sam Pollard opened the scoring for the visitors before skipper Gordon Smith bagged a brace before the break. Second half goals to Daryl Nicol and Tommy Amphlett put ECU in total control, but late strikes from Luccas Mello and Ben Meredith gave the scoreline some respectability for Balcatta.

ECU coach Dale McCulloch was delighted with the win, but was disappointed to concede two late goals.

“I thought we were very comfortable for the whole game and yes, we conceded two goals late, but we made three quick substitutions which upset us a little, and we have to learn from that going forward,” he said.  

“We took our chances well and killed the game off early in the second half. We could have scored a few more to be fair, but a good win on the road and we move on to Tuesday in the FFA Cup against Dianella.”

ECU assistant player/coach Steven McGarry said it was a great result and picked out youngster Sam Pollard for praise.

“We started well today but we could have scored more so that is something we have to work on, and defensively we need to be better,” he said.

“Sam was excellent today, and he has been outstanding for us in recent weeks. It took him a couple of games to get used to playing at this level, but when he’s on the ball  he’s dangerous and can score goals, and today’s was a cracker.”

It was the visitors who opened the brighter and Nicol’s shot was tipped around the post by Domenico Savoldelli early. Smith then picked out Nicol again moments later, but his header flicked off the crossbar.  

ECU’s early pressure was rewarded on 23 minutes with the lead. Smith and Nicol combined to set up Pollard, and the former Perth Glory youngster hit an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box, his first senior goal for the club.  

It got better for the visitors two minutes later when they doubled their lead. Nicol burst down the left, his shot was well saved by Savoldelli, but Smith was the quickest to react to the rebound and the Scottish striker fired home from close-range.

Balcatta were shell-shocked but went close themselves on the half hour. Jon Corness’ cross wasn’t dealt with and Patrick Sara’s shot flashed over the top.

There was action at both ends with ECU keeper Fraser Greenwood tipping over Mello’s snap shot six minutes later, before Nicol’s’ curling shot flashed wide of the far post.

Two minutes before half time the visitors added a third. Nicol found space down the right and squared the ball across the box to Smith, who lost his marker and fired home.

Nicol was causing the Balcatta defence all sorts of problems after the break, and his lob early drifted just wide, but just before the hour he added their fourth.

A superb ball over the top from Ross Millard found Nicol on the left, he cut inside at pace and raced past four Balcatta before finishing clinically past Savoldelli.

Smith had a chance of hat trick moments later, but the striker was denied by a good save from Savoldelli.

On 65 minutes ECU made it 5-0. Nicol was the supplier this time sending Amphlett in on goal and he finished with aplomb.

To Balcatta’s credit they continued to press forward and they were rewarded four minutes later. A ball over the top sent Mello clear, he beat Greenwood to the ball and scored from a tight angle.

Greenwood then produced a fingertip save to deny Meredith, but there was little he could do when Balcatta added their second late.

Hanafi Ghazali made space down the left and crossed to Meredith who headed home from close-range but it was too little too late for the home side.

 

Balcatta 2 (Mello 69mins, Meredith 89)

ECU Joondalup 5 (Pollard 23mins, Smith 25, 43, Nicol 58, Amphlett 65) 
Saturday, April 23, 2017
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Michal Jasinski

Balcatta: GK Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 3 Justin ONEK, 4 Calum O’CONNELL, 6 Jonathan CORNESS, 8 Patrick SARA, 9 Luccas MELLO, 11 Feisal ZAW (14 Brennan BORZECKI 65), 15 Cameron GIUFFRE, 18 Ben MEREDITH, 12 Kurt KOUAKOU, 20 Paddy QUINN (C) (2 Hanafi GHAZALI 75)
Substitutes not used: RGK Luke HUTCHINSON, 16 Nathan SCULLY, 22 Antoni D’ALESIO

Yellow Cards: Nil

 

ECU Joondalup: GK Fraser GREENWOOD, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Shane PICKERING, 5 Logan MCISAAC (2 Ben JOHNS 38), 7 Kevin MOON (8 Declan HUGHES 61), 9 Daryl NICOL (15 James OWEN 65), 10 Gordon SMITH (C), 11 Sam POLLARD, 13 Tommy AMPHLETT, 14 Steven MCGARRY, 18 Cian HIRRELL
Substitutes not used: RGK Ryan MCDARBY, 12 Fraser GARNETT

Yellow Card: McIsaac 36