Report by Peter Simcox

ECU Joondalup maintained their unbeaten start to the NPL WA season with a battling 2-1 win against Perth Glory at Ashfield Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Gordon Smith gave the visitors the lead at the break, before substitute Yacoub Mustafa levelled midway through the second half.

But Glory defender Ollie Annis was sent off on 79 minutes after pulling back Daryl Nicol in the box and Nicol won it for the Jacks by converting the penalty.

Jacks coach Dale McCulloch, whose side are now sixth just a point off third-placed Glory, said it was a hard-earned three points but thought his deserved it.

“It was a real gutsy effort by the boys today,” he said.

“They had some decent players in their side who have played A-League football, but we have a squad of players who are willing to fight for each other and they all stood up today.

“We’ve probably drawn games we should have won this season, but we didn’t today. It was a performance full of desire and I’m really proud of the boys.”

Midfielder Josh Whitmore said it was a case of ECU dominating the first half then Glory having the better of it after the interval.

“I thought we stuck to the game plan in the first half and were the better team, but after the break we struggled into the wind,” he said.

“We worked hard for each other and the midfield battle had to be won and I thought young Declan Hughes was great for us today.

“But we ground out the result and got the penalty, and I think we deserve that after things have gone against us in recent games.”

Like ECU, Glory also went into the match unbeaten and it was a lively opening. First Walter Scott picked out Jake Brimmer, whose curling effort went wide of the post for the home side, while at the other end Jon Higgins’ free-kick was saved by Jackson Lee.

The visitors started to get on top, using the wind to their advantage, and Tommy Amphlett was sent clear on 20 minutes but he fired wide.

Moments later Smith played a neat one-two with Amphlett but the Scottish striker's shot was well saved by Lee.

Higgins’ inswinging corners were causing havoc in the Glory defence and on 26 minutes his third one beat everyone but drifted just wide of the back post.

But four minutes later ECU hit the front. A long throw-in by Adam Tong was flicked on by Shane Cassidy and Smith finished at the back post.

ECU almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, Nicol picked out Ross Millard whose shot on the run was saved by Lee.

With the wind at their backs the Glory started to get on top after the break and Daniel Stynes and Scott had shots flash over the top.

Glory were suddenly dominating and after Joe Knowles’ shot flew over the top it wasn’t a surprise when they levelled on 67 minutes.

Second-half substitutes Henry Hore and Mustafa combined on the left, the latter cutting inside his marker and drilling a low shot past Johnny Perkins and into the net via the post.

It looked like Glory would go on and win it but against the run of play ECU regained the lead. Nicol raced clear and was held back by Annis. Referee Joshua Nixon pointed to the spot and booked the Glory defender.

Annis continued his argument with the referee and received a second yellow card and was sent off. When the penalty was eventually taken Nicol sent Lee the wrong way.

Glory pressed late searching for the equaliser and went mighty close in the final minute. Knowles found Mustafa on the edge of the penalty area and his shot whistled inches over the bar.

But it was ECU who took the points and they are now the only team in the league still unbeaten this season. 

Glory coach John Gibson said his side had learned a harsh lesson.

“We’ve got done on two set-pieces today, which was disappointing, but they set up in a certain way and we fell into a few traps, in the first half,” he said.

“We changed a few things at half-time and provided a few solutions and I thought our second half was good, but we now move on and look forward to next week against Floreat.”

Perth Glory 1 (Mustafa 67 mins)
ECU Joondalup 2 (Smith 30, Nicol 80 pen)
Saturday March 24, 2018
Kick-off: 3pm
Ashfield Arena
Referee: Joshua Nixon
Assistant referees: Walter Ciotti and Harry Bolan

Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luca BODNAR, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Riley WARLAND, 5 Ollie ANNIS, 6 Callum TIMMINS, 7 Chok DAU (13 Yacoub MUSTAFA 56), 8 Brandon WILSON, 9 Joe KNOWLES, 10 Jake BRIMMER (15 Henry HORE 46), 11 Daniel STYNES
Substitutes not used: RGK Nicolas SPECA, 12 Jack LEECH, 14 Sam RIAK,
Yellow cards: Knowles 57, Annis 79, 79
Red cards: Annis 79

ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 3 Ross MILLARD (7 Cameron MURRAY 74), 4 Shane CASSIDY, 5 Adam TONG, 8 Josh WHITMORE, 9 Daryl NICOL (c), 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Andy HIGGINS, 13 Tommy AMPHLETT (6 Lukas DE LIMA 57), 18 Declan HUGHES, 19 Cian HIRRELL,
Substitutes not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 12 Ryan MCDARBY, 15 Jack JONES
Yellow cards: Hirrell 50, Tong 52, Murray 74, De Lima 92
Red cards: Nil