Report by Edward Nixon

Ross Millard’s first-half strike was enough to hand ECU Joondalup all three points in an untidy NPL WA fixture at E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday night.

The victory was ECU’s first of the season and moved them into fifth place on the ladder, while Floreat remain winless in ninth.

“Tonight was a real scrap. It was nowhere near our best football but I don’t care how we get three points,” ECU first-team coach Dale McCullogh said.

In a cagey opening half, it the away side who had the first clear-cut opportunity - striker Lukas De Lima blazing over from close range.

With chances hard to come by, ECU thought they had taken the lead after Millard poked home from close range only for the goal to be disallowed for an infringement.

The visitors weren’t to be denied, however, and got on the scoresheet moments later. Winger Daryl Nicol showed a great turn of pace to find Millard at the back post and he volleyed home.

“Daryl put in a cracking ball and I swung my foot at it and luckily it went in the back of the net,” Millard said.

Floreat looked to hit back immediately and would have found themselves level but for a smart save from ECU keeper John Perkins from Ludovic Boi’s shot.

In the second half Athena’s Jason Saldaris was the busier of the two keepers and was called into action to deny Nicol with a sharp save low to his left.

Despite seeing less of the ball, it was the away side who looked the more threatening to add a second on the counter-attack.

At the other end a lack of quality in the final third cost Floreat, with their balls into the box too often letting them down.

“All through the game we were in control of the ball but just didn’t have the cutting edge in the last third,” Floreat coach Howard Tweats said.

Athena will monitor the fitness of right-back Juma Awaka after he limped off injured in the second half.

ECU now turn their attention towards Round Three where they will host Subiaco, while Floreat will search for a first win of the season at home to Balcatta.

Floreat Athena 0
ECU Joondalup 1 (Millard 26min)
E&D Litis Stadium
Sunday, 4 March 2018
Kick-Off: 7pm
Referee: Nico Hoyle
Assistant Referees: Stewart Beattie, Liviu Katona

Floreat Athena: 1. Jason SALDARIS, 2. Marco SANTA LUCIA, 3. Edin NILAC, 4. Andrew Scaldaferro, 6. Jessie FULLER, 10. Calvin WHITNEY, 11. Dennis GALAN, 12 Juma AWAKA (5 Jamie STREET), 14. Ludovic BOI, 17. Dean EVANS, 18. Philip ARNOLD
Substitutes not used: 13. Ethan KERDIDGE, 16. Declan HUDSON, 20. James OWEN, 23. Jordan BARBAS
Yellow Cards: Boi 33, Santa Lucia 43
Red Cards: Nil

ECU Joondalup: 3. Ross MILLARD (13. Tommy AMPHLETT 67), 4. Shane CASSIDY, 5. Adam TONG, 6. Lukas DE LIMA, 8. Joshua WHITMORE, 9. Daryl NICOL, 10. Gordon SMITH (Cameron MURRAY 85), 11. Andy HIGGINS, 16. Declan HUGHES, 18. Cian HIRRELL, 20. John PERKINS
Substitutes not used: 1. Jack NUNN, 2. Jack JONES, 15. Liam MURRAY
Yellow Cards: Tong 73, Smith 75
Red Cards: Nil