Report by Peter Simcox

 

 

Armadale opened their account for the 2017 PS4 NPLWA season with a surprise 2-1 win against ECU Joondalup at the ECU Football Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The win ended the an unbeaten run in league games for the home side, with their last loss in round 10 last season when they were beaten at Cockburn City.

Midfielder Jackson Bealey gave the visitors the lead early, and the home side then had Tommy Amphlett sent off after receiving a second yellow card just after half time.

Bealey added his second to put them in control, and despite a late goal by ECU’s Gordon Smith, Armadale hung on for the points.

Armadale coach John O’Reilly said they have worked hard on the track all week and it paid off on the day.

“I’m really pleased for Jackson because he found himself out of the side in pre-season, but he never dropped his head and kept working hard,” he said.

“An opportunity has come along for him and he’s taken it with both hands, and today he’s rewarded himself and me in the faith we have in him.”

O’Reilly said they made a great start to the game and had their keeper to thank for securing all three points.  

“We were fast out of the traps early today and we managed to get the early goal, and it was a great build up play which was straight off the training track, which was very pleasing,” he said.  

“They came at us late in the game and I thought we kept our shape well, but we needed a stunning save from Michael (Craggs) to earn us the points.”

Bealy, who has forced his way back into the starting eleven in recent weeks, said it was a good performance and he was happy to get on the score sheet.

“The boys worked really hard today and deserved the win. I thought we were unlucky last week, but we’ve worked hard at training and turned it around today,” he said.

"It’s good to get on the board nice and early in the season and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from here.

"We were good at the back today, and that’s something we’ve worked on at training; trying to implement what John wants from us.”

It was a perfect start for the visitors and they were ahead on 12 minutes. Tristan Taylor was sent down the right and he pulled the ball back to Bealey, who lost his marker and made no mistake from eight meters.

ECU looked to hit back and Michael Craggs had to be alert to save Daryl Nicol’s shot, but that was the best the home side could muster, and Armadale almost doubled their advantage in first half stoppage time.

English import Jordan Pavett’s free kick picked out Taylor at the back post, but the big defender headed over the top.

The home side needed a good start after the break, but it didn’t arrive, and they were reduced to 10 men three minutes in.

Amphlett was involved in an off the ball incident, and was shown a second yellow card by referee Steve Gregory and sent off.

Despite going down to 10 men ECU should have levelled on 70 minutes. A ball over the top picked out Smith, who brought the ball down well, but his low shot was well saved by Craggs.

On 73 minutes Armadale made their numerical advantage count and they added a second.  

Pavett’s corner from the right picked out the unmarked Bealey at the back post who headed past Fraser Greenwood.

The home side gave themselves a lifeline on 84 minutes when they pulled one back. A superb ball from Steven McGarry picked out Smith who made no mistake.

It was the home side doing all the pressing now, and the crowd thought they had found the equaliser in stoppage time.

Nicol’s corner was met by Nathan Diaz, whose powerful header was superbly saved by Craggs, to seal the three points for his side.  

 

ECU Joondalup 1 (Smith 84 Mins)

Armadale 2 (Bealey 12 Mins, 73)

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Kick-off: 4:00pm

Venue: ECU Football Stadium

Referee: Steve Gregory

 

ECU Joondalup: GK Fraser GREENWOOD, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Shane PICKERING (7 Keylun POLLARD 49’), 5 Nathan DIAZ, 6 Jon HIGGINS (C) (8 Declan HUGHES 78’) 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH, 13 Tommy AMPHLET, 14 Steven MCGARRY, 17 Jack JONES, 18 Cian HIRRELL (15 Logan MCISAAC 78’)

Substitutes not used: RGK Todd HOYLE, 16 Jayden DRUMMOND

Yellow Cards: Amphlett 28. 48, Hirrell 46, McGarry 55’

Red Cards: Amphlett 48’

 

Armadale: GK Michael CRAGGS, 3 Jake SARDELIC, 4 Nathan COSTELLO (C), 5 Sam LOVELESS (2 Dylan WHITE 72’), 6 Faustinho MACHOCHI (12 Josh TUMOE 57’), 8 Jordan PAVETT, 9 Kyle KING (17 James ATKINS 72’), 10 Jackson BEALEY, 11 Dannie RICHMAN, 14 Tristan TAYLOR, 16 David ANNALL

Substitutes not used: RGK, Alec RADONICH, 7 Milan OGNJENOVIC

Yellow Cards: Costello 48’, Atkins 88’

Red Cards: Nil