Mandurah grab first win in top flight
Report by Tristan Wheeler
Mandurah City take their first three points of the season with a narrow 1-0 win over Balcatta at Securitas Protect Stadium on Saturday.
An early strike from Mark McLaughlin proved the difference between the two struggling sides in a tight encounter.
Starting as the aggressors, Mandurah put pressure on Balcatta asking questions from the outset.
In the eighth minute the home side's aggression quickly paid off. Mark McLaughlin found himself unmarked in the box and took full advantage of an unclaimed cross beating the keeper.
Mandurah continued to enjoy the majority of the possession throughout the first half as Balcatta struggled to find their feet.
Ten minutes into the second half, Mandurah survived a nervous moment when keeper Eiffe contested the ball under heavy pressure from Balcatta. The ball deflected wide and the subsequent shot from Patrick Sara was cleared off the line by Oliver McGee.
In the 78th minute, Paddy Quinn’s long range effort forced Eiffe to tip the ball wide with their best chance of the match.
Mandurah endured some nervous moments and found themselves defending a free kick late in injury time only for Eiffe to clear the ball to safety.
Balcatta coach Salv Todaro acknowledged that his side had lacked quality in the final third as Mandurah claim their first win of the season.
Mandurah City 1 (McLaughlin 8min)
Balcatta 0
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Securitas Protect Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00 pm
Referee: Michael Jasinski
Assistant referees: Anastasios Paraskevas, Adrien Liechti
Mandurah City: 1. Bradley EIFFE, 2. Oliver MCGEE, 3. Jeffey BRIGHT, 4. Matthew STARES, 5. Mitchell FIRTH, 6. Mark MCLAUGHLIN, 7. Thomas STRAKER, 9. Craig TONE, 10. Jordan RHODES (8. Cyril SHARROCK 75) 11. Slade RULE, 13. Joshua WARREN
Substitutes not used: 12. Jacob HEADINGTON, 14. Michael EVANS, 16. Daniel MARSHALL, 17. Brendan MCCAMLEY
Yellow cards: Rule 52
Red Cards: nil
Balcatta: 1. Domenico SALVOLDELLI, 3. Justin ONEK, 4. Calum O’CONNELL, 6. Jonathon CORNESS, 8. Patrick SARA, 11. Feisal ZAW (18. Ben MEREDITH 35), 12. Kurt KOUAKOU, 13. Daniel HEPWORTH, 15. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 20. Paddy QUINN, 23. Ismael BANGURA (16. Abbas AL SHAIKH 76)
Substitutes not used: 5. Kieron STALLARD, 14. Brennan BORZECKI, 21. Jake SEYMOUR
Yellow cards: Onek 59, O’Connell 90+3
Red Cards: nil
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