Report by Chris Caldwell

James Morgan’s heroics between the Sorrento posts at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium proved in vain as, for the second week in a row, Inglewood United struck late to earn a 2-2 draw.

The goalkeeper produced three top-drawer saves, one from a powerful Scott Blackmore header in the second half that was described as ‘world class’ by United coach Taki Nicolaidis, to keep the home side at bay.

However, there was little he could do to stop Alex Salmon’s clinical double - a late first half penalty and a last minute equaliser - which cancelled out earlier strikes from Billy Quinncroft and substitute Sean Canham.

“Their goalkeeper has had an absolute worldy!” Nicolaidis said. “I’ll be honest and say he’s pulled off the best save I’ve seen in my whole career at this level – outstanding. At the end of the day, he’s got them their point.

“I’m disappointed that we’ve conceded as we have, but there’s always goals in us. We just have to make sure we do a bit better on the defence phase, but the attitude amongst the group is phenomenal.

“While it’s disappointing, they are a good side and I expect them to be in the mix at the end of the season. We take one point and we move on to next week.”

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell said Inglewood is a good side and he knew they would be challenging.

“First half, we switched off a little bit and let them back into the game a little bit,” he said. “Second half, when you cop a late equaliser it’s tough but we played well and if we continue to play like that we’ll win more than we’ll lose.

“It’s probably a good point. There won’t be too many teams who come away from here with three points. It’s disappointing but there are always positives.”

Sorrento created the better of the early openings but it took until the 17^th minute for Quinncroft to deftly open the scoring when he converted an inch-perfect Scott Bulloch cross at the near post.

Inglewood responded well from the set-back and launched several dangerous attacks, but a combination of a timely Steve McDonald challenge on Brian Woodall and a stunning Morgan save from Salmon ensured the visitors retained their lead.

Morgan was back in the thick of the action again on 35 minutes, saving well with his feet to deny John Migas, who got on the end of some intricate interplay between Woodall and Salmon on the edge of the box.

Inglewood equalised on 42 minutes when Salmon fired a spot kick into Morgan’s top right corner, after Jordan Brown was harshly adjudged to have handled in the area.

Clearly buoyed by the goal, Inglewood dominated the early second half exchanges, but again they found Morgan in inspired form and he produced another stunning save to deny Blackmore just after the hour mark.

Morgan’s heroics were backed up by his attackers on 70 minutes when, on their first meaningful attack of the second period, substitute, Sean Canham placed his header beyond the grasp of Alex Dunn.

But victory was not to be as Inglewood took advantage of an advantage, running the ball from their own half, up to the Sorrento penalty area where Woodall found Salmon, tucked the ball low, into Morgan’s bottom left corner.

 

Inglewood United 2 (Salmon 42min pen, 90)

Sorrento 2 (Quinncroft 17min, Canham 70)

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium

Kick-off: 7pm

Referee: Adam Fielding

Assistant referees: Josh Mannella and Walter Ciotti

 

Inglewood Utd: 1. Alex DUNN, 2. Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS, 4. Scott BLACKMORE, 5. Adam TONG (Cpt), 8. Jason BARRERA, 9. Alex SALMON, 11. John MIGAS (10. Ash ROSINDALE, 58), 14. Mark PRITCHARD (16. Matthew NTOUMENOPOULOS, 76), 15. Brian FARRELL (18. Jason COLLI, 81), 17. Tim ROBERTSON, 23. Brian WOODALL.

Substitutes not used: 12. Luke RANDAZZO, RGK. Riley STEPHENSON.

Yellow cards: Salmon, 58; Blackmore, 66.

Red cards: Nil.

 

Sorrento: 1. James MORGAN, 4. Shaun KILKELLY, 5. Billy QUINNCROFT (9. Sean CANHAM, 64), 8. Ryan PEARSON, 10. Scott BULLOCH (19. Jack SLATER, 70), 13. Steven MCDONALD (cpt), 14. Scott WITSCHGE (11. Timothy HILL, 83), 15. Brodie MARTIN, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA, 18. Jordan BROWN, 20. Brad MCDONALD.

Substitutes not used: 2. Jacob SHORE, 60. Anthony SALPIETRO.

Yellow cards: Brown, 75.

Red cards: Nil.