Report by Peter Simcox

ECU Joondalup celebrate after receiving the NPLWA Men's trophy. Photo by Peter Simcox

ECU Joondalup are the 2020 NPLWA Men’s champions after a thumping 4-0 win over Sorrento and Floreat Athena’s 2-1 loss to Cockburn City.

ECU celebrated their first Premier League title since 1999 and striker Danny Hodgson completed a perfect day for the Jacks by claiming the Golden Boot as the competition’s top scorer.

The home side went into the match aware that nothing less than a victory would do, and even that would not be enough should Floreat win.

And it all worked out as Kenny Lowe marked his first season as head coach in perfect style.

Yet the Jacks were on the back foot early on as Sorrento striker Cameron Teece, who was also chasing the Golden Boot, headed against the upright before Alex Morgan's shot flashed inches past the post.

Then on 20 minutes, and against the run of play, the home side hit the front.  
 
Callum Timmins raced through the middle of the park and was given a good advantage by referee David Bruce before finding Andy Higgins, who finished clinically past Joel Driscoll.  The Sorrento keeper then saved well to deny Harry Evans and Hodgson before the break, but as results stood at half-time ECU were on top.

They wasted no time in strengthening their own position after the break. Hough got the ball in the middle of the park, he wasn’t closed down, so the midfielder fired home superbly from distance. Simple.

News then filtered though from Floreat that they were leading 1-0, but it didn’t affect Lowe’s side who added a third five minutes later. Ethan Brooks was sent down the right and he eased past his marker before his cross was turned home by Hodgson from close range.

The word had reached ECU Football Stadium that Cockburn had levelled and the title was suddenly back in ECU’s hands. Then, as both games drifted into injury time, a roar went up as news broke that Cockburn had hit the front at Floreat and the Jacks were set to be champions.

And there was still time to put the icing on the cake in the final minute, with Hodgson adding his second from the spot to make the final score 4-0 as the celebrations started in earnest.