Report by Jayden Lihou

An early strike from Gomo Dukuly proved to be the difference as Balcatta defeated Armadale 1-0 match at Alfred Skeet Reserve on Saturday.

The victory moves Balcatta to sixth on the ladder, leap-frogging ECU Joondalup and Sorrento.

Balcatta’s Marc Anthony said he was happy that his team bounced back after two losses on the trot.

“It was pleasing today to get the three points and hopefully we can start building again,” he said.

“We’ve definitely been off the ball in the last two or three weeks so it was important for us to get a result here.

“Armadale beat us in the reverse fixture this year so it was a big game for us just to give us a bit of momentum for the next few weeks.”

The visitors scored in just the forth minute of the match when James Gordon played a through-ball to Dukuly on the halfway line.

Dukuly took the ball around Armadale keeper Alec Radonich and finished clinically into an empty net.

Armadale’s early woes continued as defender David Annall was substituted off due to an injury in the 12th minute.

Balcatta had the chance to score again in the 32nd minute when Jonathan Corness found Hanafi Ghazali who made a run inside the box but Radonich was up to the task.

Gordon had the opportunity to get a goal for himself when the ball fell kindly for him but Radonich did well to deny the visitors a second before the break.

Balcatta started the second period just as they had done the first when Ali Nazari ran half the length of the pitch to find himself inside his opponent’s box.

However, Nazari’s shot was on a tight angle and Radonich was able to make a comfortable save.

Armadale finally managed to test Balcatta keeper Clint Davies in the 66th minute after Anthony Skorich was fouled outside the box.

Skorich stepped up and hit it with both power and finesse but Davies was able to prevent the equaliser.

It was déjà vu when Dukuly found himself one-on-one with Radonich thanks to a Conor Kavanagh through-ball.

However, this time it was a rather tame effort from Dukuly which was easily saved by Radonich.

Armadale had the opportunity to snatch a late goal deep into injury-time when Corness fouled substitute Hassan Karim in a good crossing position.

Dannie Richman took the free-kick and it was met by the head of Jake Sardelic whose goal-bound effort was denied on the line by Eamon Mcnelis, much to the dismay of the Armadale supporters.

The home side’s disappointment was further compounded when Richman received his second yellow card for a late challenge in the 95th minute of the match.

Armadale coach Paul Price said his team was unlucky and praised the character of his side.

“I thought the keeper and the back four did really well today, it was a brave performance from them,” he said.

“I can’t criticise the players today because although they made a few mistakes, they were honest mistakes.

“But the players gave 100 percent today and I can’t ask for anything more than that.”

Armadale 0
Balcatta 1 (Dukuly 4min)
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Venue: Alfred Skeet Reserve
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistants: Simon Hicks, Callum Haddow

Armadale: GK. Alec RADONICH, 3. Jake SARDELIC, 4. Jesse FULLER (C), 5. David ANNALL (7. Danny HODGSON 12’), 6. Izzy BANGURA, 8. Micheal DOMFEH (13. Hassan KARIM 79’), 9. Darren FRANCIS, 10. Anthony SKORICH, 12. Dannie RICHMAN, 14. Dylan WHITE, 15. Nathan SMITH
Substitutes not used: RGK. Micheal CRAGGS, 18. Brendon OFFER
Yellow cards: Richman 92’and 95’,Bangura 92’
Red cards: Richman 95’

Balcatta: GK. Clint DAVIES, 2. Hanafi GHAZALI, 3. Kieron STALLARD (C), 5. Conor KAVANAGH, 6. Jonathan CORNESS, 7. James SUMMUT (18. Kyle MURRAY 62’), 8. Ali NAZARI (12. Eamon MCNELIS 67’), 9. Gomo DUKULY, 17. Kieran COLWELL, 19. Alan CARROLL, 22. James GORDON (14. Bojan STEFOSKI 76’)
Substitutes not used: RGK. Josiah GODFRY
Yellow cards: Nazary 29’, Carroll 60’, Dukuly 86’, Murray 90’
Red cards: Nil