Report by Aisling Lawless

Defending champion Bayswater City continued their solid start to the season with a comfortable 3-1 win at ECU Joondalup.

Hayden Doyle, Todd Howarth and David Heagney all struck in the first half for the visitors, as 10-man ECU scored a consolation goal late on through Tommy Amphlett.

Doyle’s goal was his second in two games and the former Stirling Lions player said he had been enjoying the way his new club had started off the season.

“I’m surrounded by good players, so I’ve found it quite easy to come across chances here,” he said.

“I think the first half we were really good, especially with the way we knocked the ball about and opened them up, and it was the best we’ve played in a long time.

“But we were a bit disappointing in the second half as we got complacent and let them back into the game which isn’t great.”

The game started disastrously for the home side after Howarth’s curling free-kick put Bayswater ahead in the third minute.

Bayswater doubled their lead 13 minutes later when Heagney sent the ball into the top right corner.

It could have been worse for ECU when Bayswater was granted a penalty in the 21st minute, but Jamie Serra pulled off a magnificent save to deny Gustavo Giron-Marulanda.

Amphlett came close to putting the home side on the scoreboard, when in front of goal he volleyed from a bad clearance, but it was just off target.

But two minutes later Doyle took advantage of a goal-mouth scramble and knocked the ball into the net to put the visitors three ahead.

ECU began to find their rhythm in the second half but the Bayswater defence remained tight.

The home side suffered a further blow when substitute Stuart Montgomery was sent off for a second yellow card.

Serra pulled off further brilliant saves, including a dive to deny Heagney with his fingertips, which kept ECU in the contest.

After a few close attempts in the closing minutes, Amphlett fired the ball into the net to give the home side a late consolation.

But for ECU Joondalup coach Dale McCulloch it was too little, too late.

“We didn’t play well at all,” he said.

“I thought we gave more effort in the second half and made things hard for them, so we just need to take that as a positive and kick off from there for our game on Monday.”

ECU Joondalup 1 (Amphlett 90 + 1’)
Bayswater City 3 (Howarth 3’, Heagney 16’, Doyle 45 + 2’)
Saturday 4 April 2015
ECU Joondalup Football Stadium
Local kick-off: 3:00pm

ECU Joondalup: GK. Jamie SERRA, 2. Ryan LOWRY, 4. Charlie COMYN-PLATT, 5. Carl RODGERS, 7. Paul MILLER (18. Stuart MONTGOMERY 65’), 9. Guy MCDONALD (6. Jon STYNES 46’), 10. Andy HIGGINS, 12. Josh TUCKER, 13. Tommy AMPHLETT, 14. Danny DIXON, 16. Scott BUSHBY.
Substitutes not used: 11. Rowdy YATES, 17. Bayley MONTGOMERY 20. Ash MAYNARD-BREWER
Yellow cards: Dixon 11’, Miller 51’, Montgomery 66’, 68’, Bushby 78’.
Red cards: Montgomery 68’

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 5. Andy REALE, 3. Declan HARGREAVES (2. Aaron DELANEY), 6. Todd HOWARTH (c), 7. Hayden DOYLE (13. Trent KAY 70’), 9. Gustavo GIRON-MARULANDA, 12. Steve BURTON (10. Damien CATALANO 70’), 16. Jamie COYNE, 20. Sam MITCHINSON, 21. David HEAGNEY, 23. Christopher SALDARIS

Substitutes not used: RGK Jason SALDARIS, 10. Damien CATALANO, 17. Taban MAKOII.
Yellow Cards: Coyne 68’, Kay 71’, Delaney 90 + 3’
Red Cards: Nil