Report by Peter Simcox

Photo by Peter Simcox. Arran Maplestone (Joondalup United) and Steven McGarry (ECU Joondalup) in action.

Joondalup United go with a point after a thrilling 2-2 draw against ECU Joondalup in the local derby at ECU Football Stadium on Saturday.
 
A brace from United’s skipper Arran Maplestone gave the visitors the lead but ECU’s new signing Jack Iredale headed home the equaliser to share the spoils.
 
Maplestone said it was a good point in the end.

“The Joondalup derby is a big one for us, as we’ve always been the second club in Joondalup, but it’s nice to give them a good run for their money this season,” he said.
 
“Good to get on the scoreboard, the second a decent free kick from Rowdy (Yates) and I managed to isolate one on one at the back stick and managed to find the bottom corner.”
 
United Coach Nick Jennings said it was a well-deserved point for his side.

“A lot of teams would have buckled under that second half pressure, but we stood strong and we’ll go again next week,” he said.
 
“I’ve challenged the boys to finish as high up the table as we can, because many thought we would be in the relegation fight, but we have performed well this season and I think we will continue to do so.”
 
Only two points separated the sides at kick-off, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on nine minutes. Maplestone slotted home a close-range effort from a Rowdy Yates free kick.
 
The home side levelled on the half hour mark when Daryl Nicol sent Smith clear on goal with a perfectly weighted pass who finished clinically.
 
Joondalup hit back and regained the lead six minutes before half time. It was Yates’ free kick again that caused the problems, picking out Maplestone at the back post who finished neatly.
 
It was a good start to the second half from the home side and capitalised on 52 minutes. Nicol’s corner found Iredale, who celebrated his debut for the club heading home powerfully from eight meters to level the scores.
 
ECU hit the post twice in the second half in an end to end action packed half couldn’t find the back of the net.
 
Maplestone went close to his third on the hour, a superb long-range free kick was heading for the top corner, but a stunning one handed save from Greenwood denied him his hat-trick.    
 
ECU assistant Coach David Tough said it was a typical derby and a draw was probably a fair result.

“A lot of blood and thunder, particularly in the first half, and when we got the ball down we had some good spells,” he said.
 
“We had enough chances in the second half to win it, but it was a battle out there, Joondalup United are a good side, and will take points of many clubs this season, so a draw was probably a fair result.”
 
ECU Joondalup 2 (Smith 29min, Iredale 52)
Joondalup United 2 (Maplestone 9min, 40)
Saturday, May 27, 2017
ECU Joondalup Football Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistant referees: Brendan Skinner, Martin Hicks
 
ECU Joondalup: GK Fraser GREENWOOD, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Jack IREDALE, 5 Graham DORAN, 6 Shane PICKERING, 7 Kevin MOON, 8 Sam POLLARD (12 James OWEN 49), 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH (C), 14 Steven MCGARRY, 18 Cian HIRRELL
Substitutes not used: RGK Todd HOYLE, 13 Ben JOHNS, 15 Declan HUGHES, 16 Fraser GARNAUT
Yellow Cards: Owen 80
Red Cards: nil

Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 2 Joel LEDSHAM, 3 Rowdy YATES, 4 Arran MAPLESTONE, 5 Joe STOCKER, 7 Matthew SPARROW, 8 Josh WHITMORE, 9 Richard HOWLES, 10 Alex WILD (11 Josh BOOYSEN 67), 16 Ross EDWARDS, 23 Jay MARSDEN (77’)
Substitutes not used: RGK Jack DUNN, 6 Guy MCDONALD, 13 Chris PUGH, 14 Jess COMPTON
Yellow Cards: Wild 25
Red Cards: nil