ECU Joondalup coach Dale McCulloch praised 17-year-old substitute Joe Knowles’ impact in his side’s 2-0 victory over Armadale in the All Flags State Premier League.

Knowles came on 12 minutes into the second half to replace Tanner Selyer and he had no qualms in testing the Reds defence.

Armadale looked like they had the edge over ECU in the first half with midfielder Lance Louvie imperial in the middle, but it was a different story after the break.

McCulloch put this down to his half time instructions to press higher up the pitch and take the oppositions midfielders out of the game.

“After a scrappy first half on our part we knew we needed to change tact and pressure Armadale higher up the pitch,” McCulloch said.

“I brought on young Joe Knowles to work their back four hard and it has paid dividends.”

McCulloch was thrilled with Knowles’ effort and said he would look to blood more youngsters before season’s end.

A stubborn defensive showing from Armadale meant ECU had to keep patient in their approach until midway through the second period when captain Jon Higgins opened the scoring.

Higgins was given licence to maraud forward with the ball and after Army’s defence hesitated to press, he dutifully dispatched a shot low into the bottom right corner.

As the attacks mounted, the experienced Armadale custodian Cyril Sharrock showed off some sharp reflexes to keep the score respectable for the away side.

Shortly after the Joondalup side had opened the scoring, they looked likely to double the lead were it not for a brilliant double save from Sharrock to deny Tommy Amphlett and Joe Knowles’ follow-up.

The mounting pressure told and in the final moments of the match Amphlett profited from Joe Knowles’ neat footwork to run in behind the Army defence and drill in the second and final goal of the game.

Armadale coach Lee Bamber was unimpressed with his side’s performance, considering them to be poor all day.

“I know what went wrong and will be looking to fix it this week in training,” Bamber said.

“We have to now go out and win the next game and get as many points as we can before the season ends.”

ECU Joondalup 2 (Jon Higgins 64’, Amphlett 90')
Armadale 0
ECU Joondalup
Crowd: 200 Appx
Saturday Aug 10
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Steven Gregory
Assistant Referees: Brian McDonald and Arvin Shan

ECU Joondalup: GK Andy BANKS, 2 Jack OLDHAM, 6. Jon STYNES (9. Tommy JONES 64’), 8. Joe SMITH, 7. Dave CAINE, 4. Charlie COTTYN-PLATT, 15. Ryan TOWNSEND,  17. Tanner SELYER (14. Joe KNOWLES 57’), 10. Andy HIGGINS, 3. Jon HIGGINS (c), 13. Tommy AMPHLETT

Subs not used: RGK Tim DOYLE, 19. Scott BLACKMORE
Yellow cards: Smith 25’, A Higgins 89’
Red cards: Nil

Armadale: 1. Cyril SHARROCK, 2. Daniel RICHMAN, 3. Jackson BEALEY (10. Rhys LOXLEY 60’), 4. Nathan COSTELLO, 5. Billy QUINCROFT, 16. Lance LOUVIE, 8. Louie BAKE (c), 18. Jason POTTIER (19. Jack BAMBER 77’), 13. Sam LOVELESS, 14. Mitch CASTRILLI, 7. Rav KUPPUSAMY (12. Alex CLARKE 65’)

Substitutes not used: 15. Brandon CATCHPOLE, RGK. Ellis HAWKSWORTH
Yellow cards:  Castrilli 20’, Costello 69’
Red cards: Nil