Report by Aidan Shaw

 

Inglewood United have continued their fine run of form under Andy Keogh with a 2-0 win over Sorrento at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday.

Two quick-fire goals to Alex Salmon and Chok Dau in the second half were enough to overrun the home side, who had been reduced to ten men 20 minutes earlier.

Keogh has now led Inglewood to three successive wins over rival PS4 NPLWA title contenders, and made a few changes to the line-up this week.

“We are missing two big players today with Kenny (Keogh) and Brian (Woodall) away, but the lads that came in showed that they could step up to the plate and were very good,” he said.

“We pounced on a mistake of Sorrento's when their keeper got sent off, and to be fair their sub keeper came on and did really well and made some great saves.”

Keogh praised the efforts of Salmon, the league’s top scorer, who was involved in two heavy collisions during the match.

“He’s actually got a bit of a knock on his leg, so considering he wasn’t 100% he played very well to take a goal and long may that continue.”

The match got off to a quick start with both sides battling for possession on the wings.

Sorrento had the better of the chances in the first half, with Ryan Pearson rattling the upright from inside the area in the 19th minute.

Pearson was involved again minutes later when he crossed to Timothy Hill from the right, but Hill’s first time flick at goal went narrowly wide.

A headed flick-on by Scott Johnston sent Hill in on goal in the 32nd minute, but his shot from a tight angle was saved low by Alex Dunn.

Moments later at the other end, Inglewood had their only genuine chance of the half when Victor Brauner’s shot from the edge of the area stung the gloves of James Morgan.

The turning point of the match came early in the second half when Morgan was shown a straight red for his challenge on Salmon, who was in on goal.

Sorrento’s goalkeeping woes were almost compounded minutes later when substitute keeper Anthony Salpietro collided heavily with Salmon, halting play for several minutes.

Inglewood looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage, and had several shots on goal before finding their breakthrough in the 73rd minute.

Salmon drove the ball toward the edge of the area and looked up to see Salpietro off his line, before lobbing it exquisitely over Salpietro and into the back of the net.

Two minutes later Salpietro was unlucky to see Salmon’s flicked on header bounce over the top of him and into the path of Chok Dau, who tapped into an empty net to double the lead.

Substitute Scott Witschge nearly pulled one back late for Sorrento, but he was denied by a great save from former teammate Dunn.

The final whistle sounded and Sorrento found themselves slipping from top spot for the second time this season.

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell felt his side played well despite being a man down for most of the second half.

“Until the red card we were in control of most of the game. We had the better chances, and then the sending off changed everything,” he said.

“Going through a couple of keepers and Anthony (Salpietro) coming on and getting a bit groggy as well didn’t help, but I’m proud of the boys and how they worked.”

 

Sorrento 0

Inglewood United 2 (Salmon 73min, Dau 75)

Saturday June 3, 2017

Percy Doyle Reserve

Kick-off: 3:00pm

Referee: Steven Gregory

Assistant Referees: Julian Serra, Simon Hicks

 

Sorrento: GK James MORGAN,  2. Jacob SHORE, 5. Scott JOHNSTON, 6. Daryl PLATTEN (c), 7. Alex MORGAN, 8. Ryan PEARSON (60. Anthony SALPIETRO 56), 11. Timothy HILL, 12. Joshua TUCKER, 15. Brodie MARTIN (14. Scott WITSCHGE 68), 18. Jordan BROWN, 20. Brad MCDONALD

Substitutes not used: 9. Sean CANHAM, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA, 21. Sam BYLES

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: J Morgan 55

 

Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 3. David CYRUS (c), 4. Scott BLACKMORE (18. Jason COLLI 79), 5. Adam TONG, 6. Victor BRAUNER (17. Hamza HINA 75), 8. Jason BARRERA, 9. Alex SALMON, 11. John MIGAS, 14. Feisal ZAW (10. Ash ROSINDALE 54), 16. Matthew NTOUMENOPOULOS, 19. Chok DAU

Substitutes not used: RGK Riley STEPHENSON, 2. Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: nil