Smokin' Joe on fire for Jacks

Tweet

Report by Peter Simcox

 

ECU are now four points clear of bottom side Stirling Lions and the sole relegation spot. Photo by Peter Simcox

 

Joe Knowles bagged a first-half brace as ECU Joondalup secured a vital 2-1 win away at Floreat Athena.

 

Saturday's result at E&D Litis Stadium moved Dale McCulloch’s side four points clear of the drop zone with two matches remaining.

Meanwhile defeat finally extinguished Floreat's slim chance of catching Perth SC at the top of the NPL WA, although as it panned out the Azzurri won 2-0 at Armadale at the same time to ensure their 23rd top flight title anyway.

Former Perth Glory striker Knowles fired an early opener and doubled the visitors’ lead before the break.

 

Floreat pulled one back just after the hour through substitute Robert Harding and they had the chance to draw level in stoppage time but Robert Petkov fired his penalty wide.

This game was massive for both sides and the Jacks were ahead on four minutes. Ollie Annis’ ball sent Knowles in on goal and he cleverly lobbed the oncoming Jason Saldaris. 

Knowles was on fire and could have had a hat-trick in the opening seven minutes. Bayley Brown-Montgomery sent the striker clear, but Saldaris denied him, and from the corner the Floreat keeper got down well to thwart Knowles again.

The home side soon lifted and Johnny Perkins had to be alert to save from Ludovic Boi, then Nick Ambrogio’s shot on the turn flashed wide. Next it was Phil Arnold who went close as he headed over from Boi’s teasing cross. 

But on 37 minutes ECU doubled their advantage. Ewan Fawcett’s ball sent Knowles clear, and he raced into goal and finished clinically past Saldaris, much to the delight of the travelling supporters.

Floreat lost Adam Falcone and Chris Saldaris before the break with injury but at half time ECU held the upper hand.

It was an even start to the second half and Knowles’ curling effort flashed wide before Petkov was off target for the hosts. Knowles was in again on 64 minutes but Saldaris stood tall to deny the striker his hat-trick.

Three minutes later the home side found a lifeline, ECU gave the ball away on the edge of the penalty area and Petkov’s cross found Harding, who finished low past Perkins.

Both sides had chances as the game opened up. Petkov was again denied by Perkins, before debutant defender Luke Rhodes saw his shot well saved by Saldaris.

It looked like the visitors would hang on for the points but in the first minutes of stoppage time Floreat won a penalty. 

A ball over the top sent Arnold in on goal and while he got a shot on target which was cleared off the line, he had been brought down by Perkins in the box Referee Josh Mannella brought back play for the foul and pointed to the spot. Petkov took responsibility but he fired well wide of the target.

Floreat still pressed for an equaliser but after six minutes of stoppage time Mannella blew for full time as ECU sealed a vital win to aid their fight to avoid relegation.    

Star player: Joe Knowles (ECU Joondalup)

Floreat Athena 1 (Harding 67min)
ECU Joondalup 2 (Knowles 4, 36) 

Saturday, August 17, 2019
E&D Litis Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistant referees: Arvin Shanmuganathan, Simon Hicks

 

Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 5 Thomas JEBB (24 Sam THORNLEY 86), 6 Jesse FULLER, 9 Robert PETKOV, 10 Nick AMBROGIO, 14 Ludovic BOI, 15 Chris SALDARIS (13 George FESTA 45), 16 Ryan MALTON, 17 Dean EVANS, 18 Phil ARNOLD, 38 Adam FALCONE (32 Robert HARDING 43)
Substitutes not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 31 Jacob STUBBERFIELD
Yellow cards: Arnold 29, Harding 73, Malton 77, Boi 90+6
Red cards: Nil

 

ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 3 Nicholas KOEFLER, 5 Luke RHODES (13 Tommy AMPHLETT 87), 6 Ollie ANNIS, 7 Joe KNOWLES, 8 Josh WHITMORE, 9 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY (11 Lukas DE LIMA 49), 10 Andy HIGGINS, 12 Billy QUINNCROFT, 14 Ewan FAWCETT, 15 Tom HOUGH
Substitutes not used: RGK George JACKSON, 2 Ryan McDARBY, 4 Henry DURR,
Yellow cards: Brown-Montgomery 41, Perkins 90, Hough 93, Whitmore 94
Red cards: Nil

 

Last Modified on 18/08/2019 00:33

Comments

Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.