Report by Peter Simcox

ECU Joondalup made it ten games without defeat in the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA after a 3-0 win against Bayswater City at Finance 365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Daryl Nicol gave the visitors the lead in first half stoppage time before a double from top scorer Gordon Smith put the result beyond Bayswater.

The win was built on another great defensive display - eight clean sheets from their unbeaten streak – and defender Andy Higgins said confidence is high and they have a great team spirit.

“A great win for the club today, we do usually play well here but to dominate and win comfortably, it was a great team performance,” he said.

“We’ve a strong back five and created a strong bond, and that’s eight clean sheets in our last ten games.

“A few weeks ago we were just playing for pride really and not thinking about the top four but after today’s big win and results going our way, today we could be up for it.”

ECU assistant David Tough said they knew it would be a hard-fought game but he said the side put in another fantastic performance.

“This result is huge, a massive turning point for the club,” he said. “They (Bayswater) were 15 points ahead of us at the half way mark of the season and now we are even, the boys have been unbelievable.

“The back four again were outstanding, while Lewis (Italiano) also had to make some big saves. We’ve still got two games to go and need to keep focused, as the top six sides are very close.”

At kick off only three points separated the sides and it was Bayswater who had the best early chance on 13 minutes. Andy Reale’s cross from the right found the unmarked Jason Mirco, who fired wide of the target from 6m.

The visitors went close themselves four minutes later. A quick throw by keeper Lewis Italiano sent Nicol racing forward, he skipped past three Bayswater defenders but his curling shot was saved low by Devon Spence.

Bayswater were on the front foot and ECU had to rely on some desperate blocks from Rikki Smith and Cian Hirrell to keep a rampant home side at bay.

But on 20 minutes ECU should have hit the front. A superb through ball from Shane Pickering sent Gordon Smith clear but Spence stood tall and saved well.

The Bayswater custodian kept his side in the game with two telling saves. First he got down well to save Nicol’s close-range shot, before superbly tipping Gordon Smith’s shot on to the bar moments later.

Bayswater were not without chances themselves, Kay heading inches over the top from David Heagney’s corner but in first-half stoppage time ECU hit the front.

Kevin Moon sent Tommy Amphlett down the right, his low cross picked out Nicol in the penalty area, who finished clinically past Spence to send the visitors into half time with the lead.

The home side were out of the blocks early in the second half and Mirco set up Heagney ten minutes in, his shot beat Italiano but flicked the outside of a post.

But against the run of play, ECU doubled their advantage. Gordon Smith was brought down in the area by Kay and referee Matthew Southern pointed straight to the spot. Smith picked himself up to score from the resulting penalty.

Italiano then came to his sides’ rescue after Reale’s cross picked out substitute Luka Ninkovic but his header was superbly saved by the ECU custodian.

The points were made safe 14 minutes from time, when ECU added a third.

A quick counter attack saw Nicol race clear down the left, he squared the ball to Gordon Smith, who finished with aplomb, chipping over the on-coming Spence.

Bayswater pressed late and Italiano produced another stunning save to deny Brian Farrell, before Lawrence Shuruma fired wide.

The win moves ECU level on points with Bayswater and Floreat Athena, as the race for the West Australian Top Four Cup heats up.   

Next week Bayswater and Floreat meet at the E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday, while ECU face Cockburn City at the ECU Football Stadium on Saturday.

Bayswater City 0
ECU Joondalup 3 (Nicol 45+1Mins, Smith 64’ Pen, Smith 76)
Saturday 13 August, 2016
Finance 365 Stadium
Referee: Matthew Southern
Assistants: Josh Mannella, Jatin Lodhia

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 5 Andrew REALE, 10 Jason MIRCO (8 Paul MCCARTHY 56’), 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie COYNE, 17 Alex WILD (18 Luka NINKOVIC 67’), 21 David HEAGNEY, 23 Andrija JUKIC (14 Lawrence SHURUMA 56’), 20 Samuel MITCHINSON, 13 Trent KAY, 24 David STOKOE,
Subs not used: RGK Fraser GREENWOOD, 22 Nathan COSTELLO
Yellow cards: Reale 44’, Wild 60’, Heagney 77’, McCarthy 79’
 
ECU Joondalup: GK Lewis ITALIANO, 2 Ryan LOWRY, 3 Rikki SMITH, 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Andy HIGGINS, 6 Shane PICKERING, 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Cian HIRRELL, 13 Tommy AMPHLETT (11 Paddy DOYLE 74’), 17 Kevin MOON (8 Oliver ANNIS 92’)
Subs not used: RGK Todd HOYLE, 12 Ryan MCDARBY, 16 Michael MCDOUGALL
Yellow cards: Nicol 62’