Report by Tommy Doleman

Photos: Vince Caratozzolo

ECU Joondalup stretched their unbeaten away run to four games with a 2-1 win against Subiaco at Rosalie Park on Saturday.

All the goals were scored in the first half as Harry Bissett and Tommy Amphlett set the visitors cruising, before Josh Booysen pulled one back before the break.



ECU survived a late rally from the home team but held firm to grind out a victory, which coach Dale McCulloch hopes will give momentum to his youthful team looking forward.

“It’s important as a young side (to gain that winning mentality),” he said.

“The young players are used to winning in the academy but this league is harder and tougher.

“We’ve been scoring goals and haven’t been wining games, but to win today and see the change room as it is, it’s good for their development and teaches them good habits.”



McCulloch, though, believed his side could have wrapped up the game earlier.

“I thought we were comfortable for long periods of the game but conceding that goal made things a bit harder,” he said.

“It’s about having that concentration. Defending doesn’t just come from the back four, it starts up front and we haven’t been resolute enough to keep the goals out.

“We got into some good areas on the break and didn’t quite have the quality to get the third goal but overall it was a scrappy second half from both sides."



ECU Joondalup started the game sharply and took a deserved lead inside 20 minutes.

Bayley Montgomery kept Amphlett’s cross to the back post alive and the ball was eventually bundled in with the last touch coming off Bissett.

Buoyed by the opener, the away side doubled their lead four minutes later, as a corner was not properly cleared and Amphlett struck crisply into the far corner for 2-0.



Subiaco responded quickly, though, and pulled one back when Booysen drove down the left, cut inside and scored to cap a fine solo effort.

A scrappy second half followed, but as the game wore on, the hosts mounted late pressure on the ECU goal.



First, substitute Kevin White found a yard of space on the edge of the area, before clipping the base of the post.

Matt Akehurst then fired dangerous beyond Jamie Serra’s back post, but ECU stayed resolute on this occasion to take the three points back up north.

Subiaco 1 (Booysen 31mins)
ECU Joondalup 2 (Bissett 17mins, Amphlett 21’)
Saturday August 15, 2015
Rosalie Park
Local kick-off: 3:00pm
 
Subiaco: GK: Ryan MONTGOMERY, 2. Nathan DIAZ, 3. Ger FITZGERALD, 4. Jackson DONGRAY, 5. Alexander TRIGLAVCANIN (14. Siyang ZHANG 26’), 7. Matthew AKEHURST, 9. Ian MCMURRAY (8. Kevin WHITE 63’), 10. Zac HARDISTY, 11. Joshua BOOYSEN, 13. George TCHAMI (6. Ignacio DOMINGUEZ 79’), 15. Owen COATES.
Substitutes not used: 12. Dylan ANDREWS, 21. Anastasis FARSALAS.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil

ECU Joondalup: GK: Jamie SERRA, 2. Ryan LOWRY, 4. Charlie COMYN-PLATT, 5. Cian HIRRELL, 6. Josh TUCKER, 7. Paul MILLER, 8. Joe SMITH, 9. Harry BISSETT (10. Stuart MONTGOMERY 86’), 11. Bayley MONTGOMERY (14. POLLARD 90+2), 13. Tommy AMPHLETT, 16. Ollie ANNIS (12. Coire MCGUIGAN 76’)
Substitutes not used: 14. Keylon POLLARD, 15. Kye DOUGLAS, 20. Scott WALLIS.
Yellow Cards: Bissett 42’, Hirrell 64’, Smith 67’
Red Cards: Nil