Report by Ryan Borrett

Bayswater City and ECU Joondalup played out an exciting 1-1 draw on Saturday at Frank Drago Reserve in their Round 18 NPL WA clash.

Both sides left the match frustrated with their poor finishing despite creating a lot of chances in an open contest.

The draw for fifth placed Bayswater means they are now winless in their last three league matches and will hope they can turn their form around in the final four matches of the season if they are to finish in a top four spot.

Meanwhile the Jacks slip a place to 10th place and they face a battle to avoid relegation having been leapfrogged by Rockingham City, who won on Saturday.

Both sides started the match strongly and Bayswater thought they had the opening goal in 38th minute but Todd Howarth’s long range effort was eventually ruled out after Gustavo Giron Marulanda was deemed offside for standing in keeper Johnny Perkins' line of vision.

ECU did find the breakthrough in the 43rd minute. Ewan Fawcett drove into the box following a free kick and in the ensuing scramble, ECU’s Bayley Brown-Montgomery scored from close range.

But Bayswater replied almost instantly after they won a corner following the ECU goal.

Giordano Colli’s corner was swung to the far post and it found the unmarked Jake Sardelic, who finished inside the six-yard box to level the scores going into half time.

The home side came flying out of the blocks early in the second half with two ex-ECU men combining as Daryl Nicol cut back to Gordon Smith, who blasted over the bar.

Brown-Montogmery had a great chance to grab his second goal in the 58th minute following a great run and cross by Joseph Knowles but he sliced his shot wide.

Knowles was crucial to the away side’s attack all day and he was at the centre of several openings for his side, putting together an impressive performance that deserved to be rewarded with a goal.

Prolific Bayswater striker Marulanda almost added to his tally for the club in the 62nd minute but his close range header from Jason Mirco’s cross whistled above the crossbar.

Further chances came and went for both sides in the final minutes. ECU’s Billy Quinncroft missed from not far out, while Bayswater’s Brent Griffths wasted a one-on-one with Perkins five minutes from full time.

Both sides will hope their finishing can improve next time out as Bayswater travel to Stirling, while ECU face a tough challenge as they host Inglewood United.

Star player: Joe Knowles (ECU Joondalup)

NPL WA Round 18
Bayswater City 1 (Sardelic 45min)
ECU Joondalup 1 (Brown-Montgomery 43)

Saturday, August 3, 2019
Frank Drago Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Steven Gregory
Assistant referees: Perter Kaiser, Liam Barclay

Bayswater City: 1. Devon LINDEMANN, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 9. Gustavo Giron (14. Sean MCMANUS 74), 10. Jason MIRCO, 13. Trent KAY, 17. Daryl NICOL, 18. Brent GRIFFITHS, 19. Gordon SMITH, 20. Giordano COLLI (12. Steve HESKETH 67), Jake SARDELIC, 27. Ross MILLARD (16. Hamish VAN DIEKEN 76)
Substitutes not used: 25. Sam REILLY, 30. Adam TONG
Yellow cards: Giron 39, Millard 53, Griffiths 71
Red cards: Nil

ECU Joondalup: 1. Johnny PERKINS, 3. Nicholas KOEFLER, 4. Henry DURR, 5. Shane CASSIDY, 6. Oliver ANNIS (11. Lukas DELIMA 76), 7. Joseph KNOWLES, 9. Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY (13. Fraser DUNLOP 79), 10. Andy HIGGINS, 12. Billy QUINNCROFT, 14. Ewan FAWCETT, 15. Tom HOUGH
Substitutes not used: 8. Kian MCGUIGAN, 16. Ryan MCDARBY, 20. George JACKSON
Yellow cards: Cassidy 42, Knowles 65
Red cards: Nil