An injury-time penalty from Joondalup United’s new signing Matthew Sparrow salvaged a 2-2 draw for the newly promoted PS4 NPL WA side in the first ever Joondalup Derby against ECU Joondalup.
ECU defender Ross Millard gave the visitors the lead early but Richard Howles levelled before the break. It looked like Tommy Amphlett had won it for ECU but Sparrow had the final word.
United coach Nick Jennings said his side were fantastic and never threw in the towel.
“We had to work hard at the back and in my opinion their front three are the best in the competition, so I was really pleased defensively,” he said.
“We do play some good football but it’s not rocket science. We give it our all, we kiss the badge and go out there and put in 100%.”
Title favourites Bayswater City blew a two-goal lead at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium to share the spoils with Inglewood United on Sunday.
On Saturday, a Gustavo Catarcione double helped champions Perth SC ease past newly promoted Mandurah City in a spirited season opener at Dorrien Gardens.
Cockburn City started off the season with a dominant 3-0 performance against Subiaco at Dalmatinac Park.
Perth Glory trailed to Armadale before rallying to score a 2-1 win at Alfred Skeet Reserve, and Sorrento were too good for Balcatta with a 5-1 victory on Friday night.
An injury-time strike gave Floreat Athena the points in a feisty season-opener against Stirling Lions at E&D Litis Stadium.
Click on the links below for the match report on each game:
Floreat Athena 3-2 Stirling Lions
Joondalup United 2-2 ECU Joondalup
Inglewood United 2-2 Bayswater City