MATCH OF THE WEEK
ECU Joondalup 1 v Wanneroo City
ECU Joondalup overcame a dogged Wanneroo side thanks to a second half Mark Lee goal in their Round Three Football West Match of the Week derby clash at ECU Joondalup this afternoon. Former Perth Glory player Lee showed the sort of class that new Wanneroo boss Mike Brazil would relish in his own side with a well taken goal in the 58th minute to give the three points to the boys from Joondalup.
Referee Troy Miller was in the thick of the action handing out no less than ten yellow cards including a red to Wanneroo’s Daniel Hendley in the 71st minute for his second book-able offence only minutes after his first for scuffling with ECU’s Craig Young.
It was a battling performance from Wanneroo with keeper Kevin Miller producing a string of fantastic saves to deny ECU a more flattering score line with Luke Croxall also in fine form marshalling the Wanneroo defence. But it was ECU who was the dominant side throughout and it only looked as though there would ever be one winner after Miller was finally beaten in the second half.
ECU’s Craig Young hit the side netting in the 16th minute after latching on to a defensive mistake by Mark Donnelly before Miller produced a fine double save to deny Mark Lee from close range and then blocking the follow up from Ian McMurray.
With the side’s level at the break, ECU came out firing with Miller tipping over a long range effort from Tommy Amphlet before finally succumbing to Lee’s strike after the ball spilled to him 12 yards out following a double block by Croxall.
A minor scuffle involving Young and Hendley raised the derby atmosphere with both receiving yellow cards and Hendley was given his marching orders minutes later for a rash challenge on ECU’s Martin Ashworth.
ECU could have wrapped up the three points on 85 minutes after great interplay between McMurray and Young allowed the latter a shot on goal. However, the impressive Miller produced a fingertip save onto the post before gratefully clutching the rebound giving Wanneroo a glimmer of hope of snatching a point at the other end.
Wanneroo had one last chance to snatch a draw in the dying moments after a scramble in the ECU box saw the ball cleared off the line with the rebound blasted over the bar.
ECU coach Willy McNally was pleased to see his side take the three points after his side came into the match with an even 1-1 record.
“I thought we dominated the game. They didn’t get many chances with their goal keeper making four of five really good saves, but that’s been the story of our season so far; we put teams under the kosh but just cant finish at the minute,” said McNally.
Former Glory player Mark Lee made the difference in the second half after McNally moved the hard working midfielder into the centre of the park.
“Overall that’s Mark’s best position but we have a lot of quality midfielders and we try to do different systems but obviously when Mark came in there today we improved” said the former State keeper.
New Wanneroo boss Mike Brazil was disappointed after his side had battled hard all day.
“The way the boys battled was good but to lose the goal the way we did was shocking. Mark Lee took four touches which was disappointing. We’ve still got a bit to go with the fitness thing, we competed for the first half and then we went walk-a-bout in the second.”
Brazil is hoping to bolster his squad in time for next week’s crunch clash with Armadale at Alfred Skeet as his side looks for their first three points for the 2007 season.
“We’ve got some new players in the pipeline. It’s just getting them over the line. There are a lot of players out there and if we get one, we should get two or three.”
Tomorrow, Sunday 29 April 2007 sees glamour side Perth Soccer Club tackle Swan IC from Dorrien Gardens at 3.30pm with the game broadcast live on Let’s Talk Football 90.5FM. The draw for Round two of the Soccer Pools Cup (State League) will take place at half time and will additionally be broadcast on 90.5FM – www.letstalkfootball.org.
Match Reporter: Ben Fitzpatrick
Floreat Athena 3 v Cockburn City 1
Floreat Athena continued their unbeaten start to the Football West Premier League season with a hard fought 3-1 victory against Cockburn City at E&D Litis Stadium this afternoon.
It was an entertaining opening with chances at both ends; Cockburn City midfielder Dominic De Felice found Jason Dos Santos wide on the right and his low shot was wide. The home side pressed and good work by Perth Glory’s Josip Madgic set up Branimir Mikulic who shot straight at keeper Dino Pacella when well placed.
The game ebbed and flowed with both teams looking to continue their winning starts to the season; Dean Wallace and Michael Mirco went close for the Cockerels and Mikulic and Jerry Karpeh for Athena. But the deadlock was broken on the half-hour with a superb individual goal from Adam Bachiller. His surging run from midfield sent him clear, and he fired low past Pacella from eight-yards.
Scott Miller’s side came out positive after the break and leveled in the 53rd minute; the impressive Jason Dos Santos sent a cross from the bye-line on the right and Josh Kamaz volleyed home past Vas Vujacic. The home side was shell shocked but bounced back four minutes later to regain the lead. A long ball caught the Cockburn defence napping and Karpeh made the most of the chance firing low past Pacella at his near post.
The game turned on the hour when Cockburn’s Jason Dos Santos was brought down in the penalty area by John Migas and referee Tom Klaver pointed to the spot. Dominic De Felice stepped up, but his spot-kick was superbly saved by Vas Vujacic.
Floreat brought on substitute Paul Vatistas for Miki Vujacic in the 69th minute and the youngster scored with his first touch 40 seconds later. Again Madgic was the architect feeding the impressive Bachiller down the left and his cross was tapped home by Vatistas at the back-post. The home side had further chances; Karpeh firing wide and Bachiller’s long-range strike cannoning back of the crossbar but ran out 3-1 winners to continue their 100% start to the season.
Coaches Comments:
Michael Roki - Floreat Athena Coach
“Midfield today was the key, Josip Madgic had a stellar performance and Adam Bachiller was outstanding today. The pair took the game by the scruff of the neck and won the game for us this afternoon.”
“Jerry Karpeh worked hard today and his partnership with Branimir Mikulic worked well. They worked off each other well, and Jerry is always going to give you a couple of chances and he bagged one today.”
“The penalty save from Vas was vital, it kept us in the game at the particular time. He’s started well Vas that’s two penalty saves this season.”
Scott Miller - Cockburn City Coach
“Yes disappointed by the result but we were beaten by a better team today. Jason Dos Santos gave us a lot going forward but he didn’t get back to defend as I would have liked and he will have to work on that.”
“I thought when we missed the penalty a number of the guy’s thought that was it, which was very disappointing for me.
“Josh Kamasz is a good kid; he’s worked hard in the pre-season and got himself really fit. He’s gone from a bench player to a starting player and he took his goal well today.”
Squads:
Floreat Athena – GK Vas Vujacic, Magdic, Madaschi, Savic, Bachiller, Miki Vujacic (Vatistas 69), Mikulic (Smiljanic 80), Migas, Kovacevic, Isaiah, Karpeh
Subs not used – Dunn, Pavlovic
Cockburn City – GK Pacella, Michael De Felice, Nunes, Kuzet (Natale 59), Jason Dos Santos, Michael Mirco, Dominic De Felice, John Mirco, Wallace, Kamasz
Subs not used – Lopresti, De Bartolo, Pereira
Referee:
Tom Klaver
Football West Match Reporter – Peter Simcox
Fremantle Spirit 1 v Armadale 1
The crucial southern suburbs derby between newly promoted Fremantle Spirit and Armadale ended in a 1-1 stalemate at the Spanish Club of WA this afternoon. The match was built as a game that would be entertaining and hard fought from both sides and it failed to disappoint.
Fremantle got off to the brighter start controlling the game early. But despite looking threatening were unable to convert their possession into goal scoring opportunities. It was Armadale who had the first good chance to score through Ryan Pearson in the 21st minute who hit a tame shot from beyond 20 yards which took an unusual hop and almost snuck between the goalkeepers’ legs.
Spirit striker Raveshlan Kuppusamy was a constant danger in the first half and nearly found his name on the score sheet when he got through the Armadale defence but had his shot from 10 yards brilliantly saved by Cyril Sharrock.
Armadale raised their game considerably in the second half and looked most likely to score but were caught napping by Fremantle in the 62nd minute as they took the lead through Ray Rose who fired home from close range. Just one minute later Armadale leveled through Pearson. Armadale almost took the three points in the 89th minute as Pearson was played through but his shot from twelve yards cannoned off the crossbar and went down, but was adjudged to have not crossed the line.
Armadale Coach Billy Russell thought his side was slightly unlucky not to pick up all three points.
“In the first half it was all Fremantle, we were asleep. But in the second half we came out and did well. We even deserved to win in the end,” said Russell.
“We were giving them too much room but got a lot tighter in the second half and played to our strengths.”
Fremantle Coach Marc Wingell was pleased with the result.
“We’re happy with the point. It’s crucial that we keep picking up points at this stage of the season,” the former Australian youth international said.
“In the first half we could have had two or three goals but we make it tough and it’s always a tight game.”
Squads:
Fremantle - S Grant, J Barrera, S Booysen, A Christie, F Odong, R Kuppusamy, O Gilford, F Jorquera, A McBride, R Rose, T Straker, R Figg, S Elton Bott, A Pomfret, C Roberts.
Armadale - C Sharrock, C Anderson, R Crerar, S Paterson, D Platten, M Bennion, B Howe, D Kingston, D Macura, S Skilandis, R Pearson, G Goodwin, M Ramirez, S Brooks, A Galvin.
Football West Match Reporter - Jacob Kagi
ECU Joondalup 1 v Wanneroo City
ECU Joondalup overcame a dogged Wanneroo side thanks to a second half Mark Lee goal in their Round Three Football West Match of the Week derby clash at ECU Joondalup this afternoon. Former Perth Glory player Lee showed the sort of class that new Wanneroo boss Mike Brazil would relish in his own side with a well taken goal in the 58th minute to give the three points to the boys from Joondalup.
Referee Troy Miller was in the thick of the action handing out no less than ten yellow cards including a red to Wanneroo’s Daniel Hendley in the 71st minute for his second book-able offence only minutes after his first for scuffling with ECU’s Craig Young.
It was a battling performance from Wanneroo with keeper Kevin Miller producing a string of fantastic saves to deny ECU a more flattering score line with Luke Croxall also in fine form marshalling the Wanneroo defence. But it was ECU who was the dominant side throughout and it only looked as though there would ever be one winner after Miller was finally beaten in the second half.
ECU’s Craig Young hit the side netting in the 16th minute after latching on to a defensive mistake by Mark Donnelly before Miller produced a fine double save to deny Mark Lee from close range and then blocking the follow up from Ian McMurray.
With the side’s level at the break, ECU came out firing with Miller tipping over a long range effort from Tommy Amphlet before finally succumbing to Lee’s strike after the ball spilled to him 12 yards out following a double block by Croxall.
A minor scuffle involving Young and Hendley raised the derby atmosphere with both receiving yellow cards and Hendley was given his marching orders minutes later for a rash challenge on ECU’s Martin Ashworth.
ECU could have wrapped up the three points on 85 minutes after great interplay between McMurray and Young allowed the latter a shot on goal. However, the impressive Miller produced a fingertip save onto the post before gratefully clutching the rebound giving Wanneroo a glimmer of hope of snatching a point at the other end.
Wanneroo had one last chance to snatch a draw in the dying moments after a scramble in the ECU box saw the ball cleared off the line with the rebound blasted over the bar.
ECU coach Willy McNally was pleased to see his side take the three points after his side came into the match with an even 1-1 record.
“I thought we dominated the game. They didn’t get many chances with their goal keeper making four of five really good saves, but that’s been the story of our season so far; we put teams under the kosh but just cant finish at the minute,” said McNally.
Former Glory player Mark Lee made the difference in the second half after McNally moved the hard working midfielder into the centre of the park.
“Overall that’s Mark’s best position but we have a lot of quality midfielders and we try to do different systems but obviously when Mark came in there today we improved” said the former State keeper.
New Wanneroo boss Mike Brazil was disappointed after his side had battled hard all day.
“The way the boys battled was good but to lose the goal the way we did was shocking. Mark Lee took four touches which was disappointing. We’ve still got a bit to go with the fitness thing, we competed for the first half and then we went walk-a-bout in the second.”
Brazil is hoping to bolster his squad in time for next week’s crunch clash with Armadale at Alfred Skeet as his side looks for their first three points for the 2007 season.
“We’ve got some new players in the pipeline. It’s just getting them over the line. There are a lot of players out there and if we get one, we should get two or three.”
Tomorrow, Sunday 29 April 2007 sees glamour side Perth Soccer Club tackle Swan IC from Dorrien Gardens at 3.30pm with the game broadcast live on Let’s Talk Football 90.5FM. The draw for Round two of the Soccer Pools Cup (State League) will take place at half time and will additionally be broadcast on 90.5FM – www.letstalkfootball.org.
Match Reporter: Ben Fitzpatrick
Floreat Athena 3 v Cockburn City 1
Floreat Athena continued their unbeaten start to the Football West Premier League season with a hard fought 3-1 victory against Cockburn City at E&D Litis Stadium this afternoon.
It was an entertaining opening with chances at both ends; Cockburn City midfielder Dominic De Felice found Jason Dos Santos wide on the right and his low shot was wide. The home side pressed and good work by Perth Glory’s Josip Madgic set up Branimir Mikulic who shot straight at keeper Dino Pacella when well placed.
The game ebbed and flowed with both teams looking to continue their winning starts to the season; Dean Wallace and Michael Mirco went close for the Cockerels and Mikulic and Jerry Karpeh for Athena. But the deadlock was broken on the half-hour with a superb individual goal from Adam Bachiller. His surging run from midfield sent him clear, and he fired low past Pacella from eight-yards.
Scott Miller’s side came out positive after the break and leveled in the 53rd minute; the impressive Jason Dos Santos sent a cross from the bye-line on the right and Josh Kamaz volleyed home past Vas Vujacic. The home side was shell shocked but bounced back four minutes later to regain the lead. A long ball caught the Cockburn defence napping and Karpeh made the most of the chance firing low past Pacella at his near post.
The game turned on the hour when Cockburn’s Jason Dos Santos was brought down in the penalty area by John Migas and referee Tom Klaver pointed to the spot. Dominic De Felice stepped up, but his spot-kick was superbly saved by Vas Vujacic.
Floreat brought on substitute Paul Vatistas for Miki Vujacic in the 69th minute and the youngster scored with his first touch 40 seconds later. Again Madgic was the architect feeding the impressive Bachiller down the left and his cross was tapped home by Vatistas at the back-post. The home side had further chances; Karpeh firing wide and Bachiller’s long-range strike cannoning back of the crossbar but ran out 3-1 winners to continue their 100% start to the season.
Coaches Comments:
Michael Roki - Floreat Athena Coach
“Midfield today was the key, Josip Madgic had a stellar performance and Adam Bachiller was outstanding today. The pair took the game by the scruff of the neck and won the game for us this afternoon.”
“Jerry Karpeh worked hard today and his partnership with Branimir Mikulic worked well. They worked off each other well, and Jerry is always going to give you a couple of chances and he bagged one today.”
“The penalty save from Vas was vital, it kept us in the game at the particular time. He’s started well Vas that’s two penalty saves this season.”
Scott Miller - Cockburn City Coach
“Yes disappointed by the result but we were beaten by a better team today. Jason Dos Santos gave us a lot going forward but he didn’t get back to defend as I would have liked and he will have to work on that.”
“I thought when we missed the penalty a number of the guy’s thought that was it, which was very disappointing for me.
“Josh Kamasz is a good kid; he’s worked hard in the pre-season and got himself really fit. He’s gone from a bench player to a starting player and he took his goal well today.”
Squads:
Floreat Athena – GK Vas Vujacic, Magdic, Madaschi, Savic, Bachiller, Miki Vujacic (Vatistas 69), Mikulic (Smiljanic 80), Migas, Kovacevic, Isaiah, Karpeh
Subs not used – Dunn, Pavlovic
Cockburn City – GK Pacella, Michael De Felice, Nunes, Kuzet (Natale 59), Jason Dos Santos, Michael Mirco, Dominic De Felice, John Mirco, Wallace, Kamasz
Subs not used – Lopresti, De Bartolo, Pereira
Referee:
Tom Klaver
Football West Match Reporter – Peter Simcox
Fremantle Spirit 1 v Armadale 1
The crucial southern suburbs derby between newly promoted Fremantle Spirit and Armadale ended in a 1-1 stalemate at the Spanish Club of WA this afternoon. The match was built as a game that would be entertaining and hard fought from both sides and it failed to disappoint.
Fremantle got off to the brighter start controlling the game early. But despite looking threatening were unable to convert their possession into goal scoring opportunities. It was Armadale who had the first good chance to score through Ryan Pearson in the 21st minute who hit a tame shot from beyond 20 yards which took an unusual hop and almost snuck between the goalkeepers’ legs.
Spirit striker Raveshlan Kuppusamy was a constant danger in the first half and nearly found his name on the score sheet when he got through the Armadale defence but had his shot from 10 yards brilliantly saved by Cyril Sharrock.
Armadale raised their game considerably in the second half and looked most likely to score but were caught napping by Fremantle in the 62nd minute as they took the lead through Ray Rose who fired home from close range. Just one minute later Armadale leveled through Pearson. Armadale almost took the three points in the 89th minute as Pearson was played through but his shot from twelve yards cannoned off the crossbar and went down, but was adjudged to have not crossed the line.
Armadale Coach Billy Russell thought his side was slightly unlucky not to pick up all three points.
“In the first half it was all Fremantle, we were asleep. But in the second half we came out and did well. We even deserved to win in the end,” said Russell.
“We were giving them too much room but got a lot tighter in the second half and played to our strengths.”
Fremantle Coach Marc Wingell was pleased with the result.
“We’re happy with the point. It’s crucial that we keep picking up points at this stage of the season,” the former Australian youth international said.
“In the first half we could have had two or three goals but we make it tough and it’s always a tight game.”
Squads:
Fremantle - S Grant, J Barrera, S Booysen, A Christie, F Odong, R Kuppusamy, O Gilford, F Jorquera, A McBride, R Rose, T Straker, R Figg, S Elton Bott, A Pomfret, C Roberts.
Armadale - C Sharrock, C Anderson, R Crerar, S Paterson, D Platten, M Bennion, B Howe, D Kingston, D Macura, S Skilandis, R Pearson, G Goodwin, M Ramirez, S Brooks, A Galvin.
Football West Match Reporter - Jacob Kagi
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