Melinda Fawcett Match Report NPL WA Round 13

Adam Tong scored a memorable 90th-minute debut winner as Bayswater City snatched a 2-1 victory over ECU Joondalup at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday.

Tong, who recently joined City from Balcatta, added to Gustavo Giron Marulanda’s first-half goal to extend to eight points Bayswater’s lead at the top of the table.

The game was soured in injury time when players from both teams were embroiled in a fracas that resulted in goalkeepers Devon Spence and Jamie Serra receiving red cards.

It was a disappointing end for ECU who had worked their back into the contest in a promising second half.

Skipper Jon Higgins had first threatened the Bayswater goal with a shot that flashed wide before Cian Hirrell provided a cross for Stuart Montgomery to head home and draw the visitors’ level in the 81st minute.

But Joondalup’s hard work was undone when Tong, who was sidelined recently after being bitten by a white-tailed spider, scored a late winner.

ECU coach Dale McCulloch was disappointed not to get the draw he felt they deserved.

“We really dug deep today,” he said. “(It was) probably the best we’ve played all season and I’ve said it for the last four weeks – I’m really proud of them”

“It’s just hard when we’re not getting the results out of it.”

Goalscorer Montgomery mirrored the coach’s thoughts on the game.

“As a team we battled,” he said. “(We) did everything the coach asked us to do and just got robbed at the last minute”

“But that’s been our season – just no luck.”

Bayswater had plenty of possession and excellent link-up between David Heagney and Marulanda, which resulted in the opening goal – Heagney’s cross was put away by Marulanda in the 14th minute.

Heagney acknowledged his growing understanding with the Colombian front man.

“We’re starting to play well together now,” Heagney said. “We’ve had one and a half years together, so it’s looking good and feeling good.”

Bayswater City SC 2 (Giron Marulanda 14min, Tong 90)
ECU Joondalup 1 (S. Montgomery 81)
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Frank Drago Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: David Bruce

Bayswater City: 1. Devon SPENCE (GK), 2. Declan HARGREAVES, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 9. Gustavo GIRON MARULANDA (25. Jason SALDARIS 94), 12. Adam TONG, 13. Trent KAY (C), 14. Danny DIXON (8.Paul McCARTHY 78), 16. Jamie COYNE, 17. Bor Bor SAM (15. Brian FARRELL 56), 21. David HEAGNEY, 23. Christopher SALDARIS.
Substitutes not used: Alex WILD, Patiente ILAHAMBAYE
Yellow cards: 23. Christopher SALDARIS 35
Red cards: 1. Devon SPENCE 94

ECU Joondalup: 1. Jamie SERRA (GK), 2. Ryan LOWRY, 3. Jon HIGGINS (C), 4. Charlie COMYN-PLATT, 5. Cian HIRRELL, 7. Paul MILLER, 8. Joe SMITH, 9. Stuart MONTGOMERY, 10. Andy HIGGINS (11. Bayley MONTGOMERY 64), 12. Josh TUCKER (6. Ryan McDARBY 9)(16. Ciore McGUIGAN 43), 13. Tommy AMPHLETT
Substitutes not used: 14. Harry BISSETT, 20. Andy BANKS
Yellow cards: 5. Cian HIRRELL 41, 11. Bayley Montgomery 79
Red cards: 1. Jamie SERRA 94