Visiting Armadale has come away from ECU Joondalup with a valuable point as both teams failed to find the net in an intriguing contest on Saturday afternoon.

It was a tale of two halves as a lacklustre first half saw ECU fail to register a shot on target whilst Armadale were much the better side.

Roles were reversed in the second as Armadale for the most part were on the back foot with ECU very unlucky on several occasions not to snatch the win.

The first statement in the match came via a crunching tackle by Cameron Burgess on Sam Loveless which earnt the defender a yellow card and left the number 13 on the grass for a few minutes until he was able to shake off the knock and continue.

After that Armadale settled much the better side as they looked to use the width provided by Alan Darlington and Joey Tavernese to their advantage and they delivered some very testing balls into the Joondalup penalty box with alarming regularity. Unfortunately they weren't able to capitalise but they had ECU under sustained defensive pressure throughout the opening 20 minutes.

Tavernese was a real threat down the right and it was his meaningful run which created a good opportunity for Sam Loveless but he unfortunately sliced his effort just wide.

ECU were really struggling to pose a threat on goal with regular contributors Tommy Amphlett and John Thornley rarely sighted in the first half and only a wayward header from the latter following a corner was the best they could muster in the opening 45.

The second period was much more entertaining in terms of goalmouth action with Tommy Jones nearly calling upon Cyril Sharrock for the first time after three minutes, only a great defensive tackle stopped him from shooting.

Scott Blackmore was next in the book for ECU but they then fashioned the best chance of the game when Tommy Amphlett surged down the right beat two defenders and whilst it looked like he overran the ball at the last moment, he managed to cut it back to Thornley who ran onto it but side footed weakly at Sharrock when surely a more meaningful effort would have opened the scoring.

Armadale were now being pushed onto the back foot leaving Ravi Kuppusamy too isolated up front as ECU strode forward regularly with much more purpose and confidence.

A mistake by Mark McClements then let in Thornley down the left channel and with two in support found Matt Italiano who acrobatically twisted a shot over the bar before Amphlett then tested out Sharrock with a stinging drive which the Armadale keeper kept out well low down.

Armadale then took to the bench to breathe some life back into their side as Blake Adams was introduced for the hard working Alan Darlington.

Amphlett though was still causing the Armadale defenders trouble down the right as his bursting runs set up most of Joondalup's best chances and his cross on 74 minutes found an unmarked Jones whose volley was smartly blocked by a defender.

Armadale who were most threatening from set pieces then came close twice as Joey Tavernese then Nick Viaggio had looping headers float over Andy Banks goal as the match reached an exciting conclusion.

As in injury time Scott Bushby had a brilliant chance to win it when he collected a poor clearance inside the box and shot just over the crossbar whilst with seconds remaining up the other end a breakaway lead by Tom Biss saw a great chance for substitute Adams but before he could pull the trigger Scott Blackmore got a foot in and cleared the danger.

The resulting corner saw Adams blaze a volley over the bar which signalled the end of the contest and both teams had to settle for a point apiece.

ECU Joondalup 0
Armadale 0
Joondalup Stadium, Saturday 9^th June, 3.00pm
Attendance: 250 Approx
Referee: Josh Mihevc

ECU Joondalup: GK Andy BANKS, 16. Scott BLACKMORE, 3. Cameron BURGESS, 4. Dale McCULLOCH, 5. Billy QUINNCROFT, 6. Scott BUSHBY, 8. Shaun TIMMINS, 7. Matt ITALIANO, 9. John THORNLEY, 10. Tommy AMPHLETT, 11. Tommy JONES

Subs Not Used: RGK. Andy PETTERSON, 12.Fraser MCGUIRE, 13. Declin HARGREAVES, 14.Nick DAVIES

Yellow Cards: 3. Cameron BURGESS 16', 16.Scott BLACKMORE 53'

Red Cards: Nil

Armadale: GK. Cyril SHARROCK, 13. Sam LOVELESS, 5. Nick VIAGGIO, 3. Mark McCLEMENTS, 14. Mitch CASTRILLI, 10. Alan DARLINGTON (11. Blake ADAMS 67'), 16. Tom BISS, 6. Josh MADDISON, 15. Joey TAVERNESE, 7. Ravi KUPPUSAMY (8. Allan CLAXTON 85'), 9. Darren FRANCIS

Yellow Cards: 8. Allan CLAXTON 87'

Red Cards: Nil