www.footballwa.net 'Match of the Week'
Football West Premier League 2007
Sorrento |
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Saturday 22nd September 2007
Venue: Percy Doyle Reserve, Duncraig
Kick off 3pm
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Above; ECU Joondalup's Mark Lee in action against Inglewood United this season. (Photo by Brett Kluzcnik) Preview The footballwa.net Match of the week is the local derby between Sorrento and ECU Joondalup at Percy Doyle Reserve. The bragging rights ECU are coming of a hard fought 2-0 victory away to Fremantle Spirit in round 20, goals either side of the break from Marc Anthony and Howard Fondyke secured the points on a day, keeping them in fifth spot on the table. Anthony has been a revelation this season and his all-round game has him high on the list for the 2008 Gold Medal award, but it’s been far from a one man show. In goal Andy Petterson has return after injury and been solid; add to that David Able, Martin Ashworth (right)and the return of Jon Higgins from Western Knights has only added to the quality to a solid backline – ECU only conceding 23 goals this season, second only to Perth SC. In midfield Mark Lee, Tom Amphlett and Howard Fondyke and Scott Blackmore have been outstanding this season, and their supply to the strikers has proved vital. Up front Anthony and fellow Scot Ian McMurray will be a handful on Saturday and will need to be marked closely by the Gulls defence. It should be a great game get along and support your team. My tip Sorrento 1 ECU Joondalup 2
KEY MATCH UP'S AND WHERE IT WILL BE WON By footballwa's - "The Insider"
The insider is away for two weeks
The Past four meetings between the two sides at Percy Doyle Reserve 2003 - Sorrento 1 ECU Joondalup 1 The long awaited northern suburbs derby between Sorrento and E.C.U. Joondalup at Percy Doyle Reserve was undoubtedly the Premier League match of the round. Over the years the two clubs have developed a very healthy rivalry and this season is no different. But adding spice to this years match was the fact Sorrento fielded no less than five former Joondalup players - Gareth Deeg, Richard Watson, Dale McCulloch, Andy Mason and Sean Fallon - in their starting line-up. Last weekend the teams experienced contrasting fortunes - Joondalup humbling a highly rated Inglewood United outfit 5-2, while Sorrento were surprise losers at home to Fremantle City. A good crowd gathered on a warm day for what promised to be an entertaining game. The opening minutes were a racy affair with little in the way of structure to either sides play but plenty in terms of chances on goal.
Following the half-time break during which the players had time to catch their breath and the spectators the opportunity to reflect on what had been an entertaining period, the second half began as the first had ended with Sorrento pressuring the Joondalup rearguard at every opportunity. A well worked free kick four minutes in ended with Andy Mason's attempt deflecting off Daryl Platten's thigh for a corner to the home team. The home side launched a series of attacking raids in their quest to take the lead but found the opposing backline up to the task with the experienced Peter Vukmirovic and youngster Luke Croxall rock solid between Platten and Scott Blackmore. Not wanting to give the wrong impression, Joondalup also created several chances on goal but the second half was one that belonged to the respective goalkeepers with Deeg and Stewart always well positioned to prevent the opposition from taking the lead. On 60 minutes Harnwell pounced on a rare defensive error by Joondalup and, from the byline, cut the ball back to Mason who mis-hit horribly from in front. Four minutes later a curling Cumace free-kick tested Stewart and the visitor's custodian held low down. Not wanting to upset the rhythm of their teams' coaches Steve Neville and Stuart Kamasz left it until late before making any substitutions with David Foster the first player used off the bench in the 72nd minute to replace an injured Harland. Sorrento finished the fast-paced match strongly as Harnwell switched play to Foster whose low effort was wide of the right upright after 81 minutes. Shortly after McCulloch crossed from the left and Love's volley sped across the face of the goal. In a tense finish to the game Joondalup conceded a penalty in the 88th minute after Fallon was fouled by Vukmirovic, Cumace stepped forward to take the spot-kick which Stewart guessed right to parry and from the follow-up Cumace lashed the ball high. Minutes later the final whistle signalled the end of what had been a passionate and entertaining game which, while the play may not have always been pretty, it kept the fans on the edge of their seat. Sorrento would view the result as two points lost rather than one gained after squandering so many opportunities to seal maximum points after the break. For the home side there were stand-out performances from hard-working midfielder Cumace and defensive strongman Watson, while Joondalup's best on the day included Vukmirovic and goalkeeper Stewart. Few could begrudge the visitors a point from their solid overall team performance, but at the end of the day it was Sorrento that were left disappointed. Sorrento : Gareth Deeg, Daniel Cain (Daniel Stoitis 86), Richard Watson, Tony Cumace, Steven McDonald, Glen Thomas, Dale McCulloch, Sean Fallon, Todd Harnwell, Simon Harland (David Foster 72), Andy Mason (Jared Love 78) E.C.U. Joondalup : Peter Stewart, Peter Roberts, Darren Broxton, Daryl Platten, Luke Croxall, Scott Blackmore, Derek Cooke, Scott Bulloch, Peter Vukmirovic, Eugene Singeorzan, Garin Collins (Craig Cheesman 89) Bookings : Singeorzan, Cain, Roberts, Blackmore Disnissals : None Referee: Jeremy Oliphant
2004 - Sorrento 3 ECU Joondalup 3 A healthy sized crowd were treated to perfect playing conditions and a six-goal thriller at Percy Doyle Reserve where honours were shared between northern neighbours Sorrento and E.C.U. Joondalup. Joondalup enjoyed the better of the first half as captain Dale McCulloch and The second half had been underway little over a minute when Andy Brown struck again, this time the striker stabbing home from close-range after a neat pass from Collins. And the game looked over as a contest as Gareth Phillips headed in a deep cross from McCulloch to increase the margin to three goals with 57 minutes elapsed. But matches between Sorrento and Joondalup are never over until the final whistle and slowly but surely the hosts steered play in their direction. Shortly after coming off the bench teenager Tom Straker reeled in the gap with a firm first time shot from inside the box. The Gulls prised open their opponents defence again ten minutes later, MacDonald flicking Jamie Harnwell's free-kick into the path of Jared Love (left) who gave goalkeeper Peter Stewart no chance with a fine volley. It was now a case of all hands on deck for Joondalup who'd forgone all attempts to attack in preference for preserving their slender lead. Sorrento's comeback was completed three minutes into stoppage time when Love's cross into the box landed at the feet of Tom Straker who calmly pushed the ball to his right before firing a cracking drive into the top corner of the net.
2005 - Sorrento 2 ECU Joondalup 2 Northern rivals Sorrento and E.C.U. Joondalup contested a 2-2 draw in front of a big crowd at Percy Doyle Reserve. Pre-match The second half started spectacularly as Harnwell raced on to a pass lofted over the defence which he volleyed into the top left corner of Stewart's net. Simon Harland and Hill forced a magnificent double save from the Joondalup custodian as Sorrento looked to go on with the job. In the 55th minute the ledger was evened once again as Carmona drifted in unmarked to loop a deep cross over Young. Collins and Anthony Jones (left) went close for Joondalup while effort from Jared Love and Bowyer were off target as the teams traded attacks over the closing stages. The final whistle brought to a close an entertaining game which, while not quite up to the standard of previous season's meetings, still had its fair share of highlights.
2006 - Sorrento 2 ECU Joondalup 0 Sorrento celebrated their Premier League championship by defeating northern rival E.C.U. Joondalup 2-0 at Percy Doyle Reserve. It was the perfect way to send off Simon Harland, Brad Hassell and Scott Miller who wore Gulls colours for the final time. Play see-sawed from one end to the other early on as neither sides was able to assert any control. An in-swinging corner by Glen Thomas was met by Danny Hill whose So it was very much against the run of play when the home side went ahead on 31 minutes when Stewart failed to hold a Harnwell cross which spilled to Simon Harland (left) who instinctively lashed the loose ball into the roof of the net from 7-metres. The rest of the half was played out pretty much without incident and neither 'keeper tested. Joondalup began the second half with renewed vigour and Collins' diagonal strike drifted past the top corner. But four minutes after the restart Brad Hassell ghosted in unmarked to head Thomas' cross in at the front post much to the delight of the big home crowd. From here on in it was all one-way traffic with Sorrento carving out chance after chance with Todd Harnwell, Daniel Cagorski and Thomas all going close to adding to the tally. In the 90th minute Miller was given a standing ovation by players and spectators alike as he left the playing arena for the last time.
Above: Sorrento's Todd Harnwell beats Swan IC's Jonathon Mathers last season (Photo by Brett Klucznik)
Last seven meetings between the two sides 2000 - Round 15 - Sorrento 0 ECU Joondalup 1 2001 - Round 8 - Sorrento 2 ECU Joondalup 1 2002 - Round 15 - Sorrento 0 ECU Joondalup 4 2003 - Round 3 - Sorrento 1 ECU Joondalup 1 2004 - Round 14 - Sorrento 3 ECU Joondalup 3 2005 - Round 4 - Sorrento 2 ECU Joondalup 2 2006 - Round 22 - Sorrento 2 ECU Joondalup 0
www.footballwa.net Staff predictions
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between these two clubs have defiantly gone ECU’s way this season, with the Gulls languishing at the bottom of the table. Willie McNally side won the corresponding fixture earlier in the season 1-0, but where ever these two sides are in the league it’s never a game for the faint hearted, and Saturday will be no exception. The home side are coming off a 3-3 draw against Cockburn city in round 19 and are ended the season better than they started. A major reason for this is the return of a number of experienced players. In goal Neil Young has added a great deal of stability at the back along with Steve McDonald (left) and Stuart Banks. In midfield Glen Thomas, Brodie Martin, James Morgan and Chris Boyle have given Steve Neville’s side a solid platform and Todd Harnwell and Jared Love have began to find the back of the net. The season has long gone for the Gulls but a victory against neighbours ECU Joondalup will make up slightly 
for a disappointing season. 
Joondalup should have been a goal to the good after 2 minutes when a good ball over the top presented Garin Collins with the first opportunity but his lob over the advancing Gareth Deeg was wide of the left post. Four minutes later Scott Bulloch weaved his magic inside the area, beating Steve McDonald only to be hauled down by the big defender and referee Jeremy Oliphant had no option but to award a penalty. Darren Broxton (right) stepped up confidently to send the ball for the bottom corner, Deeg guessing the right way and diving full length to get his glove on the ball but unable to prevent it from bobbling over the line to put Joondalup in front. Within a minute the home side should have been level as McCulloch found Todd Harnwell but his lob of Peter Stewart went the same path as Collin's earlier effort. 
The home side continued to go on the offensive only to find Stewart in fine form, blocking a powerful blast on goal from Fallon and shortly after hold onto a left footed effort by Harnwell. The goalmouth action continued minutes later as Stewart failed to hold Glen Thomas's shot and defender Peter Roberts made a desperate clearance of the loose ball after the Joondalup 'keeper and Simon Harland collided. Harnwell was good sped inside his marker after 18 minutes and sent the ball past Stewart only to have it go the wrong side of the left post from an angle. Joondalup managed one of their infrequent attacks through the troublesome Collins in the 28th minute, his skill permitting him to kept possession before Richard Watson made a timely interception. The closing stages of the half saw Sorrento up the pace and after 39 minutes they found an equaliser. Tony Cumace (left) clipped a free-kick dangerously into the area from the left to Harland who got the faintest of headers on the ball but it just enough to take it away from Peter Stewart and into the far corner of the net. 
fellow midfielders Keith Brown and Garin Collins asserted their authority with some enterprising moves. It took until the 30th minute for the games first real chance on goal which Gull's midfielder Glen Thomas sent over the crossbar. Eight minutes later the visitors productivity was finally rewarded with an Andy Brown (right) goal from 18-metres which 
looped over Neil Young and into the net via a deflection off Steve MacDonald.
expectations of a classic derby encounter looked like coming true when Peter Stewart produced a wonderful save to keep out Danny Hill's header on 7 minutes only for Todd Harnwell (left) to whip the loose ball over the line and give the hosts the advantage. The margin should have been increased six minutes later when Stewart was caught out of position and Glen Thomas somehow fired wide of an open goal. Joondalup slowly started to find their way back into the game as Garin Collins' shot took a deflection off Steve MacDonald and Neil Young scrambled across his line to 
keep the ball out of his net. In the 27th minute Joondalup equalised as Kevin Carmona whipped in a cross from the right which Andrew Bowyer had the misfortunate of turning into his own net. Sorrento were lucky not to do down to ten men late in the half when Michael Ord, who had earlier been booked, dragged down Porter as he went past the defence and although the referee agreed it was a foul there was no card shown. 
header crashed into the junction of crossbar and post. Hesitant defending allowed Garin Collins to advance out of midfield and unleash a fierce shot that Neil Young was at full stretch to tip away. By the quarter hour mark Joondalup had gained the upper hand through crisp passing and good use of the flanks. Only through Jared Love's intervention 
did Collins' shot go wide, Scott Bushby (right) lifted over the bar and Tom Jones should have done much better than blaze high after being set up by Ian McMurray. 
