Report by Peter Simcox

 

A brace from skipper Gordon Smith has helped ECU Joondalup to a hard fought 2-1 win over Subiaco in their round 19 catch-up game at Dorrien Gardens on Wednesday night.

The Scottish striker opened the scoring on the half hour, but Nathan Smith leveled for Subiaco on the hour.

Both sides had good chances to win it, but it was Gordon who made the chance count, firing home again with ten minutes remaining.

Gordon said Subiaco made it hard for them on the night, but the win keeps their unbeaten run going.

“It was a tough game tonight, and credit to them they played some good football and made it hard for us, but I thought we created the better chances and deserved the win,” he said.

“That’s three wins on the bounce and we want to end the season with two more, and finish as high as we can on the table.”

ECU coach Dale McCulloch said his side is determined to end the season on a high.

“It was a hard fought battle out there tonight, they (Subiaco) were a honest side,” he said.

“We played some good football in the first half and took the lead, and full credit to Subiaco they got back into it and levelled, but we manged to get the winner and I thought we deserved it.

“We’ve spoken about ending the season well, and the lads put in a good shift tonight, so we will recover and move on to the Glory on Saturday.”

The original game was washed out but this one was a tight affair, with clear cut chances few and far between. Subiaco's best chance fell on 17 minutes, as a Carlin Feely cross shot was pushed away by Fraser Greenwood.

It was ECU who opened the scoring on 32 minutes. Steven McGarry started the move sending Daryl Nicol down the left, as his cross picked out Gordon Smith, who finished clinically past Ryan Montgomery.

Alex Randell’s free kick was tipped over the top by Greenwood a short time later, before Gordon Smith saw his shot cleared off the line by Steve Purton.

ECU should have doubled their lead early in the second half, as Pollard’s goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Nathan Smith, before McGarry’s follow up shot was blocked by some desperate defending from Subiaco.

Subiaco levelled five minutes later as Nathan Smith raced into the box and finished low past Greenwood.

Nicol was causing Subiaco problems down the right, and his shot on the run was saved low by Montgomery, but on 80 minutes it was the visitors who won it.

A deflected through ball picked out Gordon Smith at the back post, and his shot into the ground beat Montgomery at his near post.

Nicol was in again four minutes later, but his shot was tipped over the top by Montgomery, and the speedy winger fired inches wide moments later.

Subiaco pressed late, and Ian McMurray turned his marker in the box, but Jack Jones got back with a great last ditch tackle as the striker was prepared to pull the trigger.

Looking for the equaliser, Subiaco forced two late corners but ECU hung on to take the points.

 

Subiaco 1 (Nathan Smith 59mins)

ECU Joondalup 2 (Gordon Smith 31’, 80’)

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Dorrien Gardens

Kick-off: 7:00pm

Referee: David Bruce

Assistant referees: Ammar Timour, Mitchell Barrington

Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 4 Alex RANDELL, 6 Steve PURTON, 9 Ian MCMURRAY, 10 Owen COATES, 11 Carlin FEELY, 12 Nathan SMITH, 14 Ross JARMAN (5 Matt CLARK 87’), 16 Asher NELSON (7 Robert HARDING 83’), 17 Alex CASTIELLO, 18 David PERICH

Substitutes not used: RGK Hamish ST GEORGE, 3 Ger FITZGERALD, 8 Mike LAWSON

Yellow cards: McMurray 48’, Purton 71’

Red cards: nil

ECU Joondalup: GK Fraser GREENWOOD, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Steven MCGARRY 5 Graham DORAN (15 Rikki SMITH 76’), 6 Shane PICKERING, 7 Kevin MOON, 8 Declan HUGHES, 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH (13 Ben HINSHELWOOD 91’), 11 Samuel POLLARD (12 Fraser GARNAUT 90’), 17 Jack JONES

Substitutes not used: RGK Jordan YOUNG, 16 Tom HOUGH

Yellow cards: Hughes 36’, G. Smith 43’

Red Cards: nil.