Posted on February 27, 2021 in 'Reports'
ECU Joondalup have kept their NPLWA Night Series Semi-Finals hopes alive after beating Rockingham City in an eight-goal thriller at Dalmatinac Park on Friday evening.
The Jacks had to come-from-behind after Shane Boyle had given City the lead early, but goals to Chris Harold, Daryl Nicol and Ryan Lowry made it 3-1 to the Jacks.
Ryan Kennedy pulled one back for City before half time, but Nicol and Harold both scored again after the break, while Feisal Zaw scored for City to give Kenny Lowe’s side a 5-3 win.
“An entertaining game for the neutral,” Jacks striker Nicol said. “I thought we were in complete control of the game and caused our own problems through sloppiness and a lack of match sharpness which is to be expected in pre-season.
“But the win puts us in a position to be able to go through to the next round, should we win our final group game against Cockburn City on Wednesday evening.”
Lowe made two changes to the side that drew against Inglewood United last week, with Nelson Tshongo, who signed on for the season in midweek, replacing Shane Cassidy, while Andy Higgins returned for Harry Evans who dropped to the bench.
It was a big game for both, with three points vital to keep their Semi-Final hopes alive and it was Rockingham who drew first blood on eight minutes, Shane Boyle finishing well after a quick break down the left.
But the Jacks hit back five minutes later, Nicol was brought down on the edge of the box and the striker picked himself up and curled the ball home.
The Jacks were in front on 20 minutes, a Nicol corner wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell to Lowry at the back post and the central defender made no mistake.
It was 3-1 eight minutes later, as the Jacks’ dominance was rewarded, a quick break ended with Harold, who burst into the box and finished clinically past Cyril Sharrock.
Rockingham weren’t going away and pulled one back ten minutes before half-time, when referee Stewart Beattie spotted a foul in the box on Boyle. Kennedy stepped up and scored from the resulting penalty, and at the break the Jacks held a narrow lead.
It was a tight start to the second half with both sides having chances, but it was the Jacks who added a fourth just after the hour. Some neat link up play, from Danny Hodgson, Nicol and Harold, the latter racing in at the back post to score.
Once again Rockingham hit back, and four minutes later it was 4-3. Zaw was given far too much room on the edge of the penalty area and he finished powerfully past Johnny Perkins.
The game was evenly balanced, but it was Lowe’s side that sealed the three points on 78 minutes. Nicol’s pace had caused Rockingham problems all night and he was brought down just outside the corner of the penalty area, and once again the Scottish striker stepped up and curled the ball home to seal the win.
Match details
ECU Joondalup 5 (Nicol 13’ 78’, Lowry 19’, Harold 28’, 65’)
Rockingham City 3 (Boyle 8’, Kennedy 33’ pen, Zaw 69’)
ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny Perkins, Nelson Tshongo (Luke Davis) Jeremy Tshongo, Ryan Lowry, Jakub Prajza, Declan Hughes, Sami Riak, Andy Higgins (Harry Evans) Chris Harold, Danny Hodgson (Ben Hinshelwood) Daryl Nicol – Subs not used: Joe Pollard, Oscar Malfiore, Danny Douglas
Rockingham City Squad: Sharrock, Burger, I Ng, Bolan, Sumail, Giyanto, Zaw, Vaenas, Boyle, L Collins, N Ng, Yumange, D Collins, Rogers, Lea, De Araujo, Kennedy, Kaptar – Referee: Stewart Beattie
