Report by Peter Simcox

Man of the match Cian Hirrell. Photo by Peter Simcox

Perth Soccer Club began their NPL WA title defence with a hard fought 2-2 draw against ECU Joondalup at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday afternoon.

It had all started brightly for Ramon Falzon’s side when they took the lead on four minutes. Andy Higgins' pass was intercepted by Niccolo Sabatini and he sent Harley Orr clear to finish low past Johnny Perkins.

The visitors hit back on 26 minutes when former Perth SC striker Richard Howles sent Joe Knowles down the left. The former Perth Glory striker's shot was well saved by Francis Soale but the rebound was fired home by new Czech striker Jakub Sklenar.

But Perth regained the lead nine minutes later. Kristan Santich’s ball over the top put Paul Zimarino in on goal and with the ECU defenders looking for the offside flag that never came, the striker finished clinically.

ECU went close to levelling when Howles shot was cleared of the line but Perth should have added more before the break. Sabatini’s shot was well saved by Perkins, before Gustavo Catarcione and Zimarino fired wide when well placed.

Both sides had their chances early in the second half. Perkins denied Frank Furfaro before Shane Cassidy was thwarted by the alert Soale.

It was ECU who were now on top and Knowles' shot was kept out by Soale, before Higgins’ long-range shot was saved low down by the Perth keeper.

But ECU's pressure was rewarded with a 76th-minute equaliser. Ronald Rixer surged forward and picked out Sklenar on the edge of the penalty area, the striker lost his marker and finished with aplomb past Soale to cap a terrific NPL debut.

Perth almost nicked the three points late when Furfaro sent Michael Domfeh in on goal, but Perkins was out bravely to save at the striker's feet.

Star man: Cian Hirrell (ECU Joondalup)

Perth SC 2 (Orr 4, Zimarino 35)
ECU Joondalup 2 (Sklenar 26 76)

Saturday, March 16, 2019
Dorrien Gardens
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: David Bruce
Assistant referees: Stewart Beattie, Vraj Patel

Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE (C), 5 Niccolo SABATINI, 6 Harley ORR, 8 Tom KING (4 Thomas SOUTHGATE 46), 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE (18 Michael DOMFEH 67), 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC (17 Frank FURFARO 31), 12 Jordan DE LEO, 14 Kristan SANTICH, 16 Kieran COLWELL, 19 Bojan RADINOVIC, 20 Paul ZIMARINO
Substitutes not used: RGK Malek KUC, 13 Rocco PIZZATA
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS (C), 2 Cian HIRRELL, 3 Ronald RIXER, 4 Brad McDONALD, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 6 Ollie ANNIS, 7 Joe KNOWLES, 8 Josh WHITMORE (16 Henry DURR 75), 9 Richard HOWLES (14 Lukas DE LIMA 90+3), 10 Andy HIGGINS, 11 Jakub SKLENAR
Substitutes not used: RGK Scott WALLIS, 12 Ryan McDARBY, 15 Tom HOUGH
Yellow cards: Annis 22, Cassidy 28, Hirrell 44, Knowles, 79
Red cards: Nil