By Bianca Niederberger

Balcatta outplayed their new rivals Inglewood United in a physical encounter on Saturday to move within two points of NPL WA leaders Bayswater City.

Second-placed Balcatta scored an emphatic 2-0 win at Grindleford Reserve to close the gap on Bayswater, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Perth SC.

Balcatta made their intentions clear from the third minute when Benny Kouakou capitalised on a mistake to give his side the early advantage and a 59th-minute own goal made the points safe.

Balcatta captain Adam Tong felt the score would have been greater if his side had done better with their chances.

“We had opportunities to finish the game off and we should have punished them a few more times,” he said. “We’re always wary of Inglewood – they are a talented side but they didn’t take their chances as well as they should have today.

“Our back line has been solid all season and this is where our strength was again today. As a team, I think it’s our seventh clean sheet, so if we can go on like this we’ll be in a very good position.”

Inglewood’s Andrija Jukic nearly found the equaliser in the 19th minute but Tong was on hand with a goal-mouth clearance. Jukic and David Sesay had several opportunities throughout the match but were plagued by inaccuracy.

Kouakou, Lawrence Shuruma and Alex Caniglia wreaked havoc on Inglewood’s defence, creating a multitude of opportunities.

Inglewood raised the intensity in the second half and looked certain to equalise as Sesay sprang to life, putting Balcatta on notice with several near misses.

Balcatta were acutely aware of the shift in momentum and responded with equal effort - Carlo Coehlo combining with Caniglia and Shuruma to put Inglewood keeper Luke Martino through his paces.

But a lack of communication led to the second Balcatta breakthrough when Coehlo chipped the ball towards the goal and it was bundled over the line by an unfortunate defender.

Tong said his team remained confident they could continue their form through the remainder of the season.

“I’m really proud of the boys for getting us to where we are now – in a position to challenge when we were discounted and overlooked by many earlier in the season,” he said. “We’ll never say never… but there’s a long way to go and lots of hard work left to do.”

Balcatta 2 (Benny KOUAKOU 3’, O.G 59’)
Inglewood 0
Saturday 28th June, 2014
Grindleford Reserve
Attendance: approx. 180
Kick Off: 3:00pm
Referee: S. Muldoon
Assistant Referees: P.Vasquez, S. Hicks

Balcatta: 1. Clint DAVIES, 3. Kieron STALLARD, 5. Adam TONG, 6. Patrick QUINN, 7. Lawrence SHURAMA (10. Matt IZZO 88’), 8. David CYRUS, 9. Carlo COELHO, 14. Benny KOUAKOU (12. Ben MEREDITH 86’), 16. Alex CANIGLIA, 18. Marc DE FRANCESCH, 19. Matt BROOK
Substitutes not used: 21. Damien STANOESVSKI, 13. Patrick SARA, 17. Josh MAROCCHI
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Inglewood: 1. Luke MARTINO, 4. Shane PICKERING, 6. Ryan FRANCIS, 9. Ryan CLARKE, 10 Greg SHARLAND, 11. David SESAY, 19. Jarrad McNALLY, 16. Sean BROWNE (15. Josh DEMARTE 86’), 17. Scott WITSCHGE (20. Dejan ANDRIC 38’), 18. Jason COLLI, 23. Andrija JUKIC
Substitutes not used: 22. Jake LUIK, 12. Cam SUTTON, 21. Dario PAVIC,
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil