After scoring all of their goals in the first half without reply, Armadale almost made a hash of things courtesy of a spirited ECU revival before hanging on to win yesterday’s All Flags State Premier League fixture, 4-3.

Armadale coach Lee Bamber had warned his troops at half-time to guard against complacency and his words were prophetic as ECU came firing back.

“We should never have been as uncomfortable as we were in the last five minutes and this provides important experience for the team to ensure a similar scenario won’t happen again,” he said.

After registering his side’s third goal with a fine individual effort, Tommy Amphlett will feel aggrieved at not having the final say in matters after spurning two terrific chances to equalise for ECU in the dying minutes.

ECU coach Salv Todaro lamented his side’s first-half capitulation, which he felt came from a loss of confidence after Armadale had edged to a two-goal lead.

“At 4-0 down the easy thing to have done at half time would be panic and kick water bottles about in frustration but I saw enough opportunities in the first half to know we could have a go at them with a few tactical tweaks,” he said.

Armadale started slowly but were in front in the 27th minute when Louis Bake produced a fine finish just seven minutes before Mitch Castrilli doubled the advantage.

When Mark Peers’ cross-shot free-kick flew in for the third goal in the 37th minute, the vocal band of Armadale fans were chanting “can we play you every week” but even they were stunned when Dannie Richman’s improvised header made it 4-0 on the stroke of half-time.

But the confidence that had seeped from the visitors in the first half resurfaced after the break when just five minutes after the restart Jon Stynes headed the first of his two goals.

Three minutes later, Stynes scored his second and when Amphlett fired ECU’s third goal with an hour gone they appeared set to complete the fight back.

But despite creating several opportunities to add to their tally, ECU were unable to complete their revival and Armadale hung on for the three points.

Armadale S.C. 4 (Bake 27’, Castrilli, 34’, Peers 37’, Richman 45’)
ECU Joondalup 3 (Stynes 50’, 53’, Amphlett 60’)

Saturday 11th May 2013
Venue: Alfred Skeet Reserve
Crowd: 150 (Approx)
Referee: H. R. Best
Assistants: T. Chorley and N. Hoyle

Armadale: GK.Ellis HAWKSWORTH, 2. Daniel RICHMAN, 9. Trevor LAURE (6. Chris HOLLAND 75’), 4. Ian MAGUIRE, 5. Nathan COSTELLO, 12. Lance LOVIVIE, 8. Louie BAKE (c) (16. Rav KUPPUSAMY 81’), 10. Rhys LOXLEY, 11. Mark PEERS (3. Jack BAMBER 90’), 13. Sam LOVELESS, 14. Mitch CASTRILLI,

Subs not used: RGK. Cyril SHARROCK, 7. Chan WOO PAYK
Yellow cards: Castrilli 32’, Bake 33’, Loveless 52’
Red cards: Nil

ECU Joondalup: GK Andy BANKS, 2 Jack OLDHAM (14. Ryan LOWRY 46’), 3 SHAUN TIMMINS, 18. Dale McCULLOCH (c), 5 Jon STYNES, 6 Joe SMITH 17. Tanner SELYER 46’), 7 Matty ITALIANO, 9. Andy HIGGINS (16. Jon HIGGINS 75’), 10 Tommy AMPHLETT, 11 Tony TAYLOR, 15 Scott BLACKMORE

Subs not used: RGK Joel DRISCOLL
Yellow Cards: McCulloch 6’, Taylor 72’
Red Cards: Nil