Report and photo by Peter Simcox

 

A double strike from Gustavo Giron-Marulanda has given Bayswater City a hard fought 2-0 win against ECU Joondalup on Saturday to keep their PS4 NPLWA title hopes alive.

The Colombian striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot just after the break, but the home side should have levelled moments later when Gordon Smith saw his penalty saved by Devon Spence.

The points were wrapped up in stoppage time with Marulanda rolling the ball into an empty net after an error from debutant goalkeeper Jordan Young.

Bayswater coach Chris Coyne said it was a hard fought win, but a deserved one.

“(It’s) a good win for us, they are dangerous going forward so to keep a clean sheet is pleasing,” he said.

“The old guard of Howarth and Kay were magnificent and for Devon to finally save a penalty was good.

“It was a great to see Gustavo pick up another two goals, and this week at training was the first time I saw him train like he was before he went away, so it’s a good sign for the rest of the season for us.”

The win made it five straight for Bayswater and Coyne said they are in a good place at the moment.

“Today was important, many have doubted us after a slow start and drawing a few games, but we’ve flown under the radar,” he said.

“So with four games to go, the title is still achievable, but it’s up to Inglewood to slip up.

“We won’t stop, we’ll keep going the whole way.”    

For Spence, it was a rare penalty save but he was happy to help the side to victory.

“I don’t save many, but at least I make them count when I do, but I’ll just have to wait for the next six years to save another one,” he joked.

“They (Joondalup) were really well organised, but after half time we managed to get on top and it paid off for us.

“We are in a good position at the moment, but we need to stay focused and take it one game at a time.”  

The first half was one to forget, with clear-cut chances few and far between, as both sides cancelled each other out.  

The best chance went to the home side when Spence pushed Jon Higgins’ in-swinging corner over the top, while Andrija Jukic’s long-range shot whistled past the post for the visitors.

But Bayswater made the perfect start to the second half, taking the lead five minutes in from the penalty spot.

Jason Mirco was brought down by Jack Jones and Marulanda sent Young the wrong way from 12 metres.

ECU had the perfect opportunity to level two minutes later, when referee Michal Jasinski pointed to the spot after Declan Hargreaves was adjudged to have handled in the box, but Gordon Smith saw his spot kick saved low to the left by Spence.

The Bayswater custodian was inspired and produced another great save to deny Daryl Nicol moments later.

Both sides had chances as the game opened up. Mirco’s shot on the run was pushed around the post by Young, before Spence tipped over Nicol’s free kick at full stretch.  

The home side were pushing men forward looking for the equaliser and it almost came late when Nicol’s shot beat Spence, but Sam Mitchinson cleared the ball off the line.

And in stoppage time Bayswater wrapped up the points. An attempted clearance from Young fell to Marulanda, who raced past the stranded keeper to fire home into an empty net.

 

Bayswater City 2 (Giron-Marulanda 50min, 91)

ECU Joondalup 0

Saturday, July 29, 2017

ECU Joondalup Football Stadium

Kick-Off: 3.00pm

Referee: Michal Jasinski

Assistants: Brendan Skinner, Adrien Liechti

ECU Joondalup: GK Jordan YOUNG, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Rikki SMITH, 6 Shane PICKERING 7 Kevin MOON, 8 Declan HUGHES, 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH, 13 Jon HIGGINS (C) (11 Keylun POLLARD 46’), 14 Steven MCGARRY, 17 Jack JONES

Substitutes not used: RGK Ryan MCDARBY, 5 Graham DORAN, 12 Stefan VRANESEVIC, 16 Tom HOUGH

Yellow Cards: Higgins 23’, Jones 74’, Smith 82’, Moon 86’

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 2 Declan HARGREAVES, 6 Todd HOWARTH, 8 Paul MCCARTHY, 9 Gustavo GIRON-MARULANDA (16 Shayden PASLAQUA 93’), 10 Jason MIRCO, 11 Devon GIBSON (14 Jamie MURPHY 68’), 13 Trent KAY (C), 17 Bor Bor SAM, 20 Sam MITCHINSON, 23 Andrija JUKIC

Substitutes not used: RGK Michael COHEN, 4 Tristan COLLI, 15 Jordan POKLER

Yellow Cards: Hargreaves 33’