Report by Peter Simcox

Photo by Peter Simcox

Subiaco are back in the NPL WA winner's circle after a gutsy 2-0 win against ECU Joondalup in Round 16 at Rosalie Park on Saturday afternoon.
 
Built on a superb defensive performance, Subiaco had all the answers against a lacklustre ECU side, who still looked jaded after their defeat in the FFA Cup at Armadale on Monday.
 
Jackson Dongray gave the hosts the lead on 53 minutes and they defended with their lives to hold on to it, before David Perich’s late penalty put the icing on the cake.
 
Subiaco player-coach Ian McMurray said his side had worked hard in preparation for the game.

“This is a massive win for us, we were quite confident before the game we could get the job done,” he said.
 
“But we knew we had to improve in certain aspects of our game and we did today - and we showed some great desperation and desire to see it out at the end."  
 
The Scotsman said they have been playing well in recent weeks but hadn’t taken their chances. Today they did. “It’s been the story of our season, not taken our chances but today we took a couple,” he said.
 
“I’m delighted for the boys and it’s the best we’ve played for a long time against a good ECU team.”  
 
The win took Subiaco out of the bottom three and defender Alex Castiello, who was outstanding at the heart of their defence, said the win will give them confidence going forward.
 
“We’ve been under the pump for the last few weeks and we needed the three points today, and we had to work hard to gain them, but it’s good to get a clean sheet,” he said.
 
“It’s great to get some reward for our efforts today, and hopefully we can build on this for the rest of the season.”
 
The storm clouds were building at kick-off, but both sides opened brightly. Subiaco had the first real chance, Robert Harding raced down the right and crossed to Adam Carlino, whose shot on the road was well saved by Jack Nunn.
 
Moments later ECU skipper Daryl Nicol made space down the left and his cross fell kindly for Sam Pollard, whose shot was deflected wide.
 
The visitors were dominating possession but were struggling to break down a solid Subiaco defence.
 
They did almost catch Subiaco napping on the half hour when Steven McGarry’s quickly taken free-kick sent Nicol racing into the box. His cross picked out Gordon Smith, whose effort from close-range flashed over the top.
 
ECU ended the half well and Subiaco keeper Ryan Montgomery produced a good save to deny Cian Hirrell’s header, but it was all-square at the break.
 
It was more of the same after the break, Nicol headed over the top early before Hirrell’s header was saved on the line by the alert Montgomery.
 
Subiaco went close themselves on 52 minutes when Anthony Topini’s cross picked out Harding, whose header was superbly saved by Nunn.
 
But from the resulting corner Subiaco hit the front as Dongray rose highest at the back post to head home, despite McGarry’s attempt to clear the ball off the line.
 
It should have been 2-0 on the hour when Perich’s superb through ball sent Topini in on goal, but he failed to hit the target.
 
Both sides went close as the game opened up. Castiello headed over the top after being picked out by Manase Abandelwa, before Nicol’s free-kick on the edge of the box flashed just wide.
 
The visitors were throwing everything at the Subiaco defence, but to a man they defended heroically. And when they were breached, Montgomery got down well to save Nicol’s shot on the run.
 
But with ECU pushing men forward, Subiaco added a second in stoppage time. A quick break found McMurray, who was pulled back by Ross Millard and referee Julian Serra pointed to the spot.
 
Perich stepped and kept his nerve and scored from the resulting penalty to seal a huge win for Subiaco.
 
Subiaco 2 (Dongray 53min, Perich pen 90+5)
ECU Joondalup 0
Saturday, June 9
Rosalie Park
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Julian Serra
Assistant referees: Andre Ferreira, Albert Muyembe
 
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 4 Robert HARDING (7 Mitchell BATH 64), 5 Manase ABANDELWA, 6 Jackson DONGRAY, 9 Adam CARLINO (19 Ian MCMURRAY 89), 12 Nathan SMITH, 13 Jonas DORLING, 15 Anthony TOPINI, 16 Dean APELGREN, 17 Alex CASTIELLO, 18 David PERICH
Substitutes not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 2 Nathan HARDIE, 3 Vasco DA SILVA
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

ECU Joondalup: GK Jack NUNN, 2 Cian HIRRELL (16 Liam MURRAY 83), 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 6 Kieron STALLARD, 7 Sam POLLARD (15 Adam TONG 67), 8 Josh WHITMORE (13 Lukas DE LIMA 39), 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Brad MCDONALD,
Substitutes not used: RGK George JACKSON, 12 Ryan McDARBY
Yellow cards: Smith 34, McGarry 53, Millard 61, Cassidy 76
Red cards: Nil