Report by Peter Simcox

 

ECU Joondalup produced a fantastic second half fightback to beat Inglewood United 3-2 in an entertaining PS4 NPLWA clash at the ECU Football Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Scottish striker Daryl Nicol was the star, bagging a brace and setting up the other as the home side won for the first time this season.

It started off well for Inglewood as they rushed into an early two goal lead, with Ashley Rosindale and Alex Salmon on target. Shane Pickering pulled one back for the home side just before half time, before Nicol’s double sealed the points.

Nicol said it was a gutsy win, but it wasn’t the best of starts, which is something they need to address. “It was a disappointing start by us again, I don’t know why this is but we need to sort it out,” he said.

“But that sort of win can kick start our season. We’ve had a slow start and you can struggle with confidence, so to come from two goals down against a top team is great, and we hope to kick on from here.”

ECU Joondalup Coach Dale McCulloch said the comeback showed the sort of character his side has. “We’ve had a couple of results we weren’t happy with, and to go 2-0 behind, you start to think, here we go again,” he said.

“But the lads dug deep and our fitness really showed. We conceded two sloppy goals which was disappointing but I thought we dominated in the second half and thoroughly-deserved the three points.”

Inglewood went into the game undefeated this season, and they made the perfect start on eight minutes.

Teenage defender Alex Ishida-Livings burst down the right and his inch-perfect cross picked out Rosindale, who headed past Fraser Greenwood to give them the lead.  

The home side looked for an instant response and Nicol crossed to Gordon Smith, whose header flashed inches past the post, before Alex Dunn produced a good save to deny Nicol moments later.

But on 16 minutes Inglewood doubled their lead. A corner was flicked on and Salmon lost his marker at the back post to head home.

Inglewood should have had a third, as the home side struggled to cope with their lightning counter attack. Brian Woodall and Rosindale combined down the right before Salmon blazed over the top when well placed.

Then in the shadows of half time the home side found themselves a lifeline. Nicol found space down the right and cut the ball back from the bye-line and Pickering rose highest at the back post to head home.   

ECU Joondalup rode their luck early in the second half and they had keeper Greenwood to thank for keeping them in the game.

Woodall made a great run down the right, and he found Salmon in the penalty area, but his shot was superbly saved by the ECU custodian low at his near post.

Nicol was a constant threat and he was denied by Dunn on the hour, before the Inglewood custodian saved low to thwart Smith moments later.

The home side began to get on top, and their pressure was rewarded as they levelled on 75 minutes.

A ball over the top sent Nicol racing down the left, he outpaced his marker, before finishing clinically past Dunn.

Both sides had chances with the points still up for grabs. Inglewood substitute Mark Pritchard’s long-range shot was straight at Greenwood, before Smith fired wide for the home side.

But the points were wrapped up ten minutes from time. A quick break ended with Smith, who cleverly played in Nicol down the left; again his pace took him clear and he finished with aplomb.

Inglewood pressed late looking for the equaliser and Woodall was denied by a great last ditch tackle for Jack Jones, and in stoppage time Salmon blazed over after being picked out in the penalty area by Woodall.

 

ECU Joondalup 3 (Pickering 40min, Nicol 75, 80)

Inglewood United 2 (Rosindale 8min, Salmon 16)

Saturday, March 11, 2017

ECU Football Stadium

Kick-off: 3pm

Referee: Matthew Southern

Assistant referees: Josh Mannella and Shane Skinner

 

ECU Joondalup: GK Fraser GREENWOOD, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Shane PICKERING, 5 Nathan DIAZ, 6 Jon HIGGINS (8 Declan HUGHES 81), 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH (2 Keylun POLLARD 90), 11 Danny MILNE (7 Jayden DRUMMOND 68), 14 Steven MCGARRY, 17 Jack JONES, 16 Cian HIRRELL

Substitutes not used: RGK Todd HOYLE, 15 Logan MCISAAC

Yellow cards: Hirrell 58, Smith 67

 

Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 2 Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS, 4 Scott BLACKMORE, 5 Adam TONG (C), 8 Jason BARRERA, 9 Alex SALMON, 10 Ashley ROSINDALE (14 Mark PRITCHARD 68), 11 John MIGAS, 15 Brian FARRELL (7 Kenny KEOGH 78), 17 Tim ROBERTSON (16 Matthew NTOUMENOPOULOS 68), 23 Brian WOODALL

Substitutes not used: RGK Riley STEPHENSON, 18 Jason COLLI

Yellow cards: Migas 44, Keogh 92