Report by Peter Simcox

Photo by Peter Simcox

ECU Joondalup won a first ever home derby after beating Joondalup United 5-0 at the ECU Football Stadium on Saturday.

First-half goals from former United midfielder Josh Whitmore, defender Shane Cassidy and Daryl Nicol put the home side in control, before Tom Hough’s deflected shot and Ethan Brooks' fine finish wrapped up the points after the break.

But the Jacks ended the game with nine men after Tommy Amphlett and Cassidy went off injured and head coach Dale McCulloch had already made his three substitutions.

McCulloch said: “I thought we controlled the tempo of the game and that’s credit to the team who worked hard, especially late when we were lost a couple of players.

“I told the players after the game we are still in this and we’re close enough. Results went our way today, so with four games to go we will be doing all we can and see where it takes us.”

Whitmore, who joined the Jacks this season from United, said it was good to get back to winning ways.

“A great win for us today after the draw last week and the lads played really well,” he said.

“They came at us early but we weathered the storm and luckily I managed to score. We took control and started to play our football and run out deserved winners.”

With relegation confirmed for the visitors last week, they went into this one looking for some pride but found themselves behind after only five minutes. Steven McGarry’s cross from the byline was turned home by Whitmore at the near post.

Despite conceding United looked lively going forward and Lee Jones was sent clear by Matthew Cherrie but Jacks keeper Johnny Perkins was out smartly to clear the danger.

ECU still looked dangerous going forward and James Bosdet had to be alert to save Ross Millard’s shot, before Cameron Murray’s solo effort was deflected wide.

But their pressure was rewarded just after the half-hour with a second. Nicol’s run and cross went across the face of goal and Cassidy was on hand to score from close range at the back post.

It was 3-0 just before half-time. Murray found Nicol on the edge of the box and he eased past his marker before finishing powerfully.

The home side looked sharp after the break and Bosdet was again called into action to save well from Nicol’s in-swinging corner, before Hough’s follow-up shot was straight at the United keeper.

But there was nothing Bosdet could do when ECU added a fourth on 54 minutes. Murray raced down the left and pulled the ball back to Hough, whose shot took a deflection off Liam Mooney wrong footing Bosdet.

It looked how many the home side would score. Nicol was again thwarted by Bosdet before his shot on the turn flashed wide of the target.

They did make it 5-0 just after the hour, substitute Brooks was sent down the right and he finished well from the angle.

The home side held firm late after losing Amphlett and Cassidy with leg injuries, but they held on for a clean sheet and the win moved them to within three points of a top-four spot.

Joondalup coach Nick Jennings poor defending cost them today but insisted they will be fighting till the end.

“Defensively we were awful today,” he said.

“But we have been decimated with injuries, suspensions and players leaving the club. But we’ll keep going and we’ve got four games left and the boys will give me 100% and hopefully cause an upset.” 

ECU Joondalup 5 (Whitmore 5min, Cassidy 35, Nicol 41, Mooney og 55, Brooks 67)
Joondalup United 0
Saturday July 28
ECU Football Stadium
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Joshua Nixon
Assistant referees: Livin Katona, Callum Haddow

ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 2 Cian HIRRELL (12 Ryan MCDARBY 69), 3 Ross MILLARD (16 Ethan BROOKS 62), 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 8 Josh WHITMORE (13 Tommy AMPHLETT 57), 9 Daryl NICOL (C), 10 Brad McDONALD, 11 Andy HIGGINS, 50), 17, 18 Tom HOUGH
Substitutes not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 17 Liam MURRAY
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 2 Johnny CHALMERS, 4 Danny O’SHEA, 6 Sam WYNNE, 9 Lee JONES, 11 Anthony TAYLOR (C), 12 William KESSEL, 14 Liam MOONEY, 15 Callum STOCKS (23 Ellis HESLOP 76), 17 Matthew CHERRIE (24 Ayden DRAGUN 55), 19 Adam BUCKLEY
Substitutes not used: RGK Johann MORITZ SILVER, 3 James SPURRY, 20 Morgan COOPER
Yellow cards: Buckley 72
Red cards: Nil