Goals: 0:1 Thomas Shepheard (3.); 1:1 Marc Anthony (Penalty, 19.); 1:2 Anthony McStea (36.); 1:3 Aaron Cole (47.); 2:3 Marc Anthony (Penalty, 66.); 3:3 David Able

ECU Joondalup came back from 1-3 down to earn a 3-3 draw against Swan IC in an action packed Football West Premier League match at the ECU sporting complex.

The home side opened brightly and went close in the opening minutes Darren Quinncroft found Marc Anthony whose shot beat Cory Hugo, but Justin Hugo cleared the ball off the line. In their first attack the Swans were ahead, David Perich found John Monterosso who flicked on Thomas Shepheard who finished low past Young.

The Swans were on top and Damien Catalano’s curling shot went inches past the post and Shepheard’s shot was saved low by Young. Joondalup pressed for the equaliser, Garin Collins’ corner was met by Scott Blackmotre who headed wide.

Anthony and Tom Amphlett were both causing problems for the Swans and the pair combined for the equaliser on 19 minutes. Amphlett’s surging run was brought to a halt by Rory Mouttet and referee Jeremy Oliphant pointed to the spot. Anthony kept his nerve to level the score.

Amphlett was the provider again on the half-hour, his pass found Anthony whose acrobatic volley flew inches wide. But against the run of play the Swans made it 2-1 in the 36th minute. A free kick wide on the left by Anthony McStea caught Young out and curled into the top corner.

Justin Hugo came to the Swans’ rescue again on the stroke of half time, again, clearing an Anthony shot off the line to secure the lead for the visitors at the break.

The Swans opened the second half with a contender for goal of the season. Aaron Cole picked up the ball on the edge of his own goalmouth and ran the length of the pitch, beat three players, before beating Young from the edge of the box, it was a superb goal.

The Swans were in control but in the 66th minute Perich was sent off and ECU were back in the game two minutes later. An innocuous push in the box was seen by referee Oliphant and he pointed to the spot despite the protests from the Swans players, Anthony again sent Cory Hugo the wrong way to reduce the deficit.

The home side were now dominating and it was only a matter of time before they levelled. The Swans were caught sleeping at a short corner and Anthony’s pinpoint cross was headed home by David Abel.

Both sides had chances to win the game late, Martin Ashworth fired inches wide and Ryan McDarby fired over for Joondalup and Shepheard headed wide and Dejan Djukanovic fired over for the Swans, but it ended in a 3-3 draw.

Teams

ECU Joondalup GK Young, Mirco (McDarby 55), Baines, Porter, Ashworth, Abel, Amphlett, Blackmore, Quinncroft, Anthony, Collins

Subs not used: Mitrevski, Jones, Kavanagh

Swan IC GK C. Hugo, J. Hugo, Mouttet, Cole, R. Monterosso, Perich, Knox, McStea, Catalano (Mansaray 92), J. Monterosso, Shepheard (Djukanovic 83)

Subs not used: Agudelo, McNally,

Referee Jeremy Oliphant

Goals: 0:1 Jason Dos Santos (40.)

Cockburn City recorded their first away victory of season 2007 as they took the three points from Armadale at Alfred Skeet today. The only goal of the game came from the boot of Jason Dos Santos as his low centre found its way into the net only five minutes before half time.

It was a masterful first 45 minutes from Scott Miller’s men and Armadale could count themselves lucky to still be in the match. The attacking trio of Josh Kamasz, Jason Dos Santos and Johnny Mirco were causing all sorts of problems for the Army and were ably supported by big Michael Mirco and the impressive Dom De Felice and Gio De Bartolo.

It took seven minutes for the game to get going; Kamasz hitting the upright with a low shot from 18 yards. Kamasz was again in the action minutes later, slicing a header over the bar after an inviting ball in from Dos Santos. Michael Mirco was the next to send his header wide after Kamasz played the ball across the box.

Referee Troy Miller was happy to let the game flow however a lengthy delay when Armadale keeper Cyril Sharrock went down with a hand injury saw both sides take a breather.

The Cockburn defensive trio of Liam Lilly, Shane Nunes and Godfrey were superbly marshalling the Armadale strike force before Dos Santos struck only five minutes before the break. Receiving a throw in on the right side with his back to goal, Dos Santos turned his man and smashed in a low centre from just inside the byline that deflected into the net with Kamasz and an Armadale defender in close proximity.

Whatever Billy Russell said to his troops at half time must have worked as his side came out more determined to make a game of it. An attacking trio of Bissit, Kingston and Howe were causing the Cockburn defence trouble for the first time in the match. Scott Paterson really should have hit the target for Armadale 15 minutes after the restart after being played through with a diagonal ball from Kingston, but he smashed his effort just past the upright with Pacella at full stretch.

Dos Santos trickery on the edge of the Army box saw him skip sideways and forwards past three defenders but was denied by a fantastic fingertip save from Sharrock.

Armadale were enjoying their best spell in the match and Kingston had an 18 yard volley parried wide by Pacella in his first save of the match. Cockburn weren’t enjoying anywhere near the same dominance as the first half but still had late chances to Nunes who headed over from a delightful De Felice free kick while Johnny Mirco rolled another effort wide.

The final moments could have resulted in a late Armadale goal however after a Paterson left foot curling free kick hit the upright and bounced wide. From the resulting cross back into the box, some last ditch scrambling from the Cockburn defenders saw the ball spill to Kingston whose diving effort was sliced horribly over the bar from six yards.

Cockburn coach Scott Miller was delighted to see his side take home their first away three points of the season. "We got our first away points, it was getting a bit hairy at the end there, we didn’t take advantage of the dominance in the first half where we should have had three or four really but in the end we are happy to take a 1-0," said Miller.

"You knew Armadale were always going to come back. Billy and Tom always have a disciplined team and they threw everything at us and I am very proud of the defence standing up like that," he said.

Armadale coach Billy Russell was disappointed to see his side walk away with nothing after their second half fight back. "First half was all Cockburn, we just defended well, made one slip up and they scored, second half I thought we deserved to get a draw, but overall they were the better team," said Russell.

Football West Match Reporter Ben Fitzpatrick

Goals: 0:1 Dean Apelgren (7.); 1:1 Jason Barerra (43.); 1:2 Bobby Despotovski (50.); 1:3 Kevin Griffiths (80.)

Inglewood United bounced back into good form today with a 3-1 victory over Fremantle Spirit at the WA Spanish club.

In an entertaining match, it was the experience of the Inglewood players that was telling in what was a close match with numerous goal scoring opportunities.

It took just seven minutes for Inglewood to take the lead, with Dean Apelgren finishing well from inside the 18 yard box.

Both teams were playing attacking football, with crisp passing early on and the chances started to flow later in the half, however both keepers were found to be in good form.

Fremantle equalized just before half time with Jason Barrera, one of Fremantle’s best on the day, launching a 30 yard volley that must surely be one of the goals of the season.

The Inglewood lead was restored just after the interval, Bobby Despotovski, who was influential in a midfield role, took advantage of some sloppy defending and finished with all the class and experience people expect from him.

As Fremantle pushed forward for an equalizer, the defense was unlocked for a third time on 80 minutes, Kevin Griffiths finishing from close range.

The win was a much needed one for Inglewood keeping them in touch with the top half of the table, while for Fremantle, there are still signs that the young players can compete at this level.

Football West reporter: Raymond Bohan

Goals: 0:1 Boima Karpeh (Penalty, 28.); 0:2 Boima Karpeh (55.); 0:3 Miki Vujacic (60.); 1:3 Craig Bowman (62.); 1:4 Boima Karpeh (63.); 1:5 Branimir Mikulic (67.)

Floreat Athena encountered little resistance as they brushed aside a Wanneroo City 5-1 when they faced off at Kingsway Sporting Complex. Josip Magdic, John Migas and Adam Bachiller featured prominently in the early exchanges as Floreat flexed their midfield muscle and piled pressure on the home defence. With 28 minutes gone Floreat got a deserved breakthrough with Boima Karpeh converting from the penalty spot after Josip Magdic’s surging run into the area was brought to a halt by Peter Vukmirovic. After this the game opened up somewhat and Wanneroo created their best chance of the period in which Gary Andrews weaved past two opponents only to shoot wide. The second half was 10 minutes old when John Migas and Adam Bachiller combined down the left with the former delivering an inch-perfect cross that Karpeh headed past goalkeeper Kevin Miller. A terrific move down the opposite flank between Branimir Mikulic and Miki Vujacic ended with the latter angling a fine shot into the top corner on the hour. Wanneroo were given a glimmer of hope when teenager Jack Watts played an exquisite cross field ball into the path of Andrews whose cross was headed in by Craig Bowman. However, that was soon extinguished by Karpeh who worked his way past a couple of defenders before calmly slotting his third of the afternoon into the net on 63 minutes. Miki Vujacic delivered a superb curling cross four minutes later which beat the defensive line and Mikulic cleverly volleyed over the advancing ‘keeper. The final margin could have been much greater but neither Magdic, Karpeh nor Mikulic could capitalise on late opportunities.

Match report courtesy of Floreat Athena

Goals: 1:0 Andrija Jukic (33.); 1:1 Gary Lynn (Penalty, 38.); 1:2 Gary Boyle (41.); 2:2 Andrew Jennings (43.); 3:2 Stuart Montgomery (61.); 4:2 Stuart Montgomery (Penalty, 66.); 5:2 Stuart Montgomery (Penalty, 80.); 6:2 Andrija Jukic (85.)

Western Knights produced a second half onslaught this afternoon to record an emphatic 6-2 victory against a gallant Sorrento at Nash Field. With the scores locked at 2-2 at half time, striker Stuart Montgomery scored a hat-trick after the break before Andrija Jukic put the icing on an outstanding come from behind win.

After losing their last two matches, the Knights were looking to get their season back on track with three points but it was Sorrento who looked the better in the early stages dominating possession. The home side settled though and it was only desperate defending from the visitors which denied the Knights in the opening thirty minutes.

Exciting talent Andrija Jukic broke the drought just after the half hour mark when a ricocheted shot fell to the feet of the midfielder, who easily converted from close range. Minutes later Sorrento was level following a bizarre decision by the referee to award a penalty after a collision between Jared Love, a Sorrento teammate and a Knights defender. Gary Lynn stepped up to the spot and scored to level the ties.

The Seagulls looked in control after the goal and on 41 minutes they took the lead when Gary Boyle curled a wonderful shot past a stranded Tommi Tomich from 25 yards. Within a minute though, the Knights equalized when a dazzling run from Jukic through the box set up substitute Andrew Jennings who shot past Sorrento goalkeeper Anthony Cochrane to lock scores up before the whistle.

After the break, it was the home side dominating and they could have had the lead twice but both Jon Higgins and David Price were denied by the post. They eventually were in front on 61 minutes when Stuart Montgomery scored the first of his three goals after Jennings effort was saved by the feet of Cochrane and Montgomery cleaned up, finishing comfortably into the empty net. Five minutes later, Montgomery had his second after lively substitute Jennings earned his side a penalty after being fouled by goalkeeper Cochrane.

Sorrento continued to fight hard for a result despite the two goal deficit however their hopes were hindered when midfielder Glen Thomas was given a straight red card following two disgraceful unsportsmanlike incidents. Second half substitute Matt Allen hit the post for the third time in the match when he arrived on the field but it was striker Montgomery who added the fifth when a third penalty for the day was awarded following a handball.

Andrija Jukic finished the contest with the goal of the day, weaving through the Sorrento defence before unleashing a powerful shot into the bottom corner to cap off his delightful double.

Football West Match Reporter Beau Crompton

Goals: 0:1 Gary Faria (Penalty, 10.); 0:2 Nikita Rukavytsya (18.); 0:3 Nikita Rukavytsya (20.); 0:4 Barry Wood (30.); 0:5 Barry Wood (68.)

Perth Soccer Club clinically tore a young Stirling Lions side 5-0 in today’s Football West Premier League clash at Macedonia Park.

Perth Glory striker Nikita Rukavytsya was on fire early firing wide on two minutes and he was involved in the opening goal on 10 minutes. His cross found Barry wood in the six-yard box and he was brought down by Steve Hesketh and referee Tom Klaver pointed to the spot. Gary Faria stepped up and scored from the spot to open the scoring.

The visitors continued to dominate with Wood firing over from close-range after a great build up down the right. But Perth’s domination was rewarded again in the 18th minute again a superb build up by Wood and Rukavytsya, which was finished off by the young Glory striker.

It was 3-0 on 20 minutes; Costas Socratous’ through ball found Rukavytsya who finished low past Phil Straker and it was 4-0 on the half hour, Wood heading home at the back post from a Todd Howarth corner.

The Lions were shell shocked but their fans thought they had pulled a goal back when Phil Arnold scored from a Keith Brown free kick but the game was disallowed for hand ball and was given a yellow card for his troubles.

The second half was a more even affair with the Lions going close early Ludovic Boi firing wide. Then Rukavytsya was sent in on goal he beat Straker but youngster Dannie Richman cleared the ball off the line.

The home side were reduced to ten men on 57 minutes when Keith Brown was shown a red card by referee Klaver. The final nail in coffin came in the in the 68th minute Howarth found Wood unmarked in the box and he fired home from close-range.

Stirling lions GK Straker, Pugliese, Ilomanoski (Evans 19) (Jones 31), Henderson, Hesketh, K. Brown, Richman, Muir (Micevski 45), Boi, Arnold, A. Brown

Subs not used: Bentley, Kalogeracos

Perth SC GK Deeg, Kay, Icanovski, Faria, Wood, Puca (Ross 84), Bulloch (Danskin 62), Howarth, Circati, Socratous, Rukavytsya Subs not used: - Trinca, Miraudo,

Football West Match Reporter Peter Simcox