Report by Paul J. Laverty

The PS4 NPLWA new kids on the block Joondalup United continued their impressive start to life in the top-flight with a convincing victory at Grindleford Reserve.

“It was a proper team performance,” buzzed United boss Nick Jennings whose side who are yet to lose a game.

“If you make mistakes in this league you get punished but we executed the game plan,” he said.

After an edgy opening period with both sides struggling to find their rhythm, the game sparked to life on 21 minutes when Arran Maplestone struck a delightful side-footed ball across the face of the Balcatta goal which playmaker Alex Wild pounced on to hammer home.

Balcatta were getting little traction in the final third against a well-organised United backline and looked a shadow of the side who dismantled Perth Glory 4-0 away from home in the last round.

At the other end Joondalup’s pace and physical presence was causing Balcatta all sorts of problems.

The visitors got a well-deserved second goal when forward Richard Howles went on a mazy run through the Balcatta defence and slotted home with ease.

Balcatta were thrown a lifeline against the run of play when Jonathan Corness’ super run and cross from the right saw Feisal Zaw react quickest in the box and nudge the ball past the keeper.

But the goal proved to be a mere blip as Jay Marsden collected the ball on the wing and his surging run culminated in a powerful drive which landed in the top corner to seal the points for the away side.

Wild should have added salt in the wounds late on but his header six metres out from a Rowdy Yates cross flew just over the cross-bar, however his side had done enough to secure the points and sent a warning signal to the rest of the competition.

Balcatta coach Salv Todaro lamented the loss after last week’s big win.

“Glory and Joondalup are two different teams, one’s a ball-playing team, one’s a more physical type team,” he said.

“In the first-half we got bullied. A few of our major players had off days and the goals we conceded were sloppy.”

Balcatta 1 (Zaw 73min)
Joondalup United 3 (Wild 21, Howles 68, Marsden 78)
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tom Dowling
Assistant Referees: Darren Quinlan, Brendan Skinner

Balcatta: 1. Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 2. Hanafi GHAZALI, 3. Justin ONEK, 4. Calum O’CONNELL, 5. Kieron STALLARD, 6. Jonathan CORNESS, 9. Luccas MELLO, 11. Feisal ZAW, 12. Kurt KOUAKOU (13. Daniel HEPWORTH 83), 20. Paddy QUINN, 23. Ismael BANGURA (Emmanuel MANSARAY 59)
Substitute not used: 16. Nathan SULLY, 19. Jaedon EWEN
Yellow Cards: Stallard
Red Cards: Nil

Joondalup United: 1. James BOSDET, 2. Joel LEDSHAM, 3. Rowdy YATES, 4. Arran MAPLESTONE, 5. Joe STOCKER (54. Robert BAIN 69), 8. Josh WHITMORE, 9. Richard HOWLES (19. Mike KENNY 81), 10. Alex WILD, 16. Ross EDWARDS, 18. Anthony TAYLOR (17. Luke SERRA 80), 23. Jay MARSDEN
Substitutes not used: 21. Jack NUNN, 22. Luke DOYLE,
Yellow Cards: Whitmore, Stocker, Wild, Edwards
Red Cards: nil