ECU Joondalup players celebrate Joe Knowles’ last-gasp equaliser.
Camera IconECU Joondalup players celebrate Joe Knowles’ last-gasp equaliser. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Better late than never for ECU

Mark Donaldson, Joondalup WeekenderWanneroo Times

The Gulls have been regular winners of the North Coastal Shield over the past two Premier League seasons, but could only manage a 1-1 draw at Percy Doyle Reserve against the lively Jacks, who are five places below them.

ECU Joondalup has regained confidence after a recent stint at the bottom of the table brought relegation worries to the fore.

The side was in last place just three weeks ago, but an unbeaten run of five games has boosted them two places to ninth with only two rounds left in the regular season.

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The Gulls were left kicking themselves in last Saturday’s derby after ECU scored an equaliser with just moments to spare in the match.

The Jacks were elated when a Joe Knowles dabble from the edge of a crowded penalty area squeezed its way into the bottom corner four-minutes into second-half injury time.

The game had remained goalless until the 82nd minute when Sorrento winger Ryan Pearson sneaked a lob past ECU keeper Andy Banks.

Joondalup coach Dale McCulloch was happy to escape with a draw, but thought the visitors could have taken more from the game.

‘To score in the last minute after going 1-0 down so late ” we’re happy with the point,’ he told Football West News. ‘That’s five games now we have been unbeaten ” we have drawn our three games away and won our two games at home ” it’s onwards and upwards from here as we try to finish as high as possible in the league.’

The Jacks will look to continue their unbeaten streak when they face Perth on August 31.

Fourth-placed Sorrento faces Floreat Athena.

The sides do not play this weekend due to the State Cup final.