Photo: Fotoenzo

Report by Dennis Gedling

Local rivals ECU Joondalup and Sorrento shared the points in a 1-1 draw at ECU Joondalup Football Stadium on Saturday.

ECU were the better side in the initial exchanges with captain Daryl Nicol having the first chance of the game after only four minutes, but his shot flew past the post.

Sorrento had an early chance but ECU's Steve McGarry and Lukas Da Lima were soon controlling the midfield.

Sorrento's Alex Morgan made room and had a shot tipped over the bar by the ECU keeper, while Gordon Smith shot straight at the keeper as the half wore on.

Then on 23 minutes ECU hit the lead after a monumental mistake by Sorrento at the back. A pass to Brad McDonald at the edge of his own area was not controlled properly and Josh Whitmore picked his pocket, taking the ball and slotting it between the legs of Sorrento keeper James Morgan and into the back of the net.

From a well-worked free kick, Scott Witschge hit the post for Sorrento and Nicol hit the sidenetting as the first half closed with ECU in the lead.

In the dying moments Sorrento veteran Steven McDonald almost put the ball in to the back of his own net trying to clear a dangerous cross.

In the second half Sorrento looked better with more sustained pressure. Witschge was a changed man on the right and was finding plenty of space creating work for the ECU defenders. On 61 minutes Sorrento had their equaliser when Witschge controlled the ball on the edge of the area on the right before he switched inside and drove home a powerful shot.

From here ECU huffed and puffed trying to retain possession and get a foothold in the game but even after using all three of their substitues they looked exhausted. 

The teams wilted in the later moments of the game and there was controversy when Nicol went down after a challenge from fellow captain Daryl Platten. It was deemed Nicol had dived and was given a yellow card, much to the bewilderment of the home support.

A draw was on the cards but ECU almost snuck in a winner as Smith set up Nicol, who had his powerful shot at the edge of the area saved by the keeper in some late drama.

Witschge was wrapped with the second half performance and the fitness shown by his teammates despite a slow first half.

“Considering our changerooms are being restored at the moment, our pre-season has been interrupted so this was a good sign we’re doing okay,” he said.

Next week ECU Joondalup are away to Floreat Athena while Sorrento travel to Dorrien Gardens to take on Perth.

ECU Joondalup 1 (Whitmore 23)
Sorrento 1 (Witschge 61)
Saturday, February 24, 2018
ECU Joondalup Football Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistant referees: Josh Nixon; Adrien Liechti.

ECU Joondalup: 5. Adam TONG 11. Andy HIGGINS 19. Cian HIRRELL (2. Jack Jones 60) 9. Daryl NICOL 10. Gordon SMITH 20. Johnny PERKINS 6. John WHITMORE 8. Lukas DA LIMA (13. Tommy AMPLHETT 60) 3. Ross MILLARD (7. Cam Murray 66) 15. Shane CASSIDY 4. Steve McGARRY.
Substitutes not used: 1.Jack Nunn 16. Declan Hughes.
Yellow cards: JONES 65. TONG 78 NICOL 83.
Red cards: nil

Sorrento: 1. James MORGAN 7. Alex MORGAN (22.Danny Jones 88) 20. BRAD McDONALD 6. Daryl PLATTAN 19. Jack SLATER 18. Jordan BROWN 17. Reece VITIGLIA 8. Ryan PEARSON 14. Scott Witschge 13. Steve McDONALD 11. Timothy HILL.
Substitutes not used:  60. Anastasis Farsaleas 27. Jaxon Tamata 4. Shaun Kilkelly 26. Joel Prout.
Yellow cards: HILL 48.
Red cards: nil