Report by Peter Simcox

Photos: Peter Simcox

A goal from skipper Adam Tong 11 minutes from time earned Balcatta a 1-1 draw against Inglewood United in week four of the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA at Inglewood Stadium.

Matthew Izzo gave the home side the lead just before half time but Balcatta equalised after moving Tong up front as they chased the game.

It was the second time this season the big centre half has moved up front to earn points for his side and he said he hopes to cash in from it.

“I’ve been here a while, so maybe they will give me a pay rise, buy me a beer or some new boots,” Tong joked.

It was the big defender's third goal of the season.

“We came out second half and said we would get in their faces and the goal would come," said Tong, who conceded his side needed to improve in front of goal.

“It’s not gelling upfront for us at the moment. We’re getting into good positions but not converting, so it’s something we’ve got to work on at training.”

Balcatta remain undefeated this season, but coach Ramon Falzon said they need to improve with games against Perth and Bayswater up next.

“We had the opportunities to win it today, but we didn’t take our chances and struggled at times in the final third,” he said.

“We gave them too much space late in the first half and we gave away a needless free kick and they scored.

We know we will have to improve with games against the top two in the next two weeks.”

It was a great day for football and both sides went close early. Balcatta midfielder Luke Randazzo’s shot was saved low by Aleks Vrteski, before Ryan Clarke headed wide for Inglewood after good work on the left by Jarrod McNally.

Chances were few and far between, but it was the home side that ended the half better.

On 40 minutes McNally slid the ball through to Scott Witsche, whose shot was well saved by Clint Davies, but they did make the breakthrough on half time.

Kenny Keogh was brought down on the edge of the penalty area by Tong, and Izzo curled his free kick up and over the wall into the top corner of the net.

The home side also started the second half brighter.

Clarke fired wide early, before Keogh headed back across goal, but no Inglewood player could get on the end of it.

Then with 15 minutes remaining Tong moved up front and it had an immediate effect. Randazzo fed the ball into Tong, who raced into the penalty area to finish clinically past Vrteski.

Balcatta almost won it in the last minute. Tong’s free kick from the edge of the area deflected off the wall, but Vrteski produced a stunning save to earn his side a share of the spoils.  

Inglewood Coach Michael Garcia said they dominated possession but failed to take the points.

“It’s the third week running we’ve done that and we’ve failed to capitalse on the scoreboard,” he said.

“Conceding the goal late on was fairly sloppy and it’s something we have to minimise going forward if we want to compete with the best teams.

"The players need to believe in the system we’re working on and with the players we have here, we will improve.”

Inglewood United 1 (Izzo 43 mins)
Balcatta 1 (Tong 79 mins)
Saturday 18 April 2015
Inglewood Stadium
Referee: Matt Southern
Assistants: Brendon Skinner and Oliver Allen
      
Inglewood United: GK Aleks VRTESKI, 2 Rikki SMITH, 5 Scott BLACKMORE (C), 6 Matthew IZZO, 7 Kenny KEOGH, 8 Scott WITSCHE, 9 Ryan CLARKE, 11 David SESAY, 13 Jovo PAVLOVIC, 14 Jarrod MCNALLY, 21 Abdul SESAY
Subs not used: RGK Mitchell PAPAS, 3 Mark BARNETT, 17 Daniel DOLS, 23 Andrija JUKIC
Yellow Cards: Smith 73’

Balcatta: GK Clint DAVIES, 2 Hanafi GHEZALI, 3 Kieren STALLARD, 5 Adam TONG (C), 6 Luke RANDAZZO, 7 James SAMMUT, 8 David CYRUS, 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE, 11 Alex CANIGLIA, 15 Marc DE FRANCESCH, 18 Shazalee RAMLEE (16 Dejan ANDRIC 65’)
Subs not used: RGK Daniel PASSARELLI, 4 Alex SULESKI, 14 Alen PATAROV, 50 Blamo QUAQUA
Yellow Cards: Cyrus 36’, De Francesch 86’