Chok opens the Dau for Inglewood
Report and photo by Peter Simcox
A goal from youngster Chok Dau has given Inglewood United a hard-fought 2-1 win over ECU Joondalup in round 17 of the PS4 NPLWA.
Top scorer Alex Salmon opened the scoring with his 19th goal of the season, with Daryl Nicol levelling for the visitors before half time.
Both sides had chances in an end-to-end second half, but Dau’s deflected shot just before the hour mark won it for Andy Keogh’s side, as they moved to the top of the league.
Dau was happy to score the winner and said they have worked extremely hard to reach the summit.
“It’s great to be top of the league. We’ve worked really hard, it’s a great feeling for everyone involved and we want to stay there,” he said.
“The goal took a deflection, but I’ll take it, and if it wins us the points it doesn’t matter.”
The former Perth Glory Youth striker said it’s been good for him and the other younger players in the group to have an experienced Andy Keogh guiding them this season.
“We have a great squad and we’re all doing our jobs and getting the rewards,” he said.
"The older players are good to learn off. Andy has been great since he took over the team, and for me personally, his experience in the game has helped me improve my game.”
Keogh praised Dau and said the youngsters who have come into the squad are doing a great job.
“Chok’s been great. He scored the goal and put in a good shift, while Hamza (Hina) and Alex were great,” he said.
“The unsung heroes were Matty (Matt Ntoumenopoulos) and Chilli (Jason Barrera) in the middle of the park and our skipper David Cyrus was immense again.”
Keogh said it was a great team performance and continues their momentum.
“It’s a great result for the club. The lads created chances and I thought it was a great game and ECU Joondalup played their part,” he said.
“The lads are a good run and we’re just taking each game as it comes.
"They are training hard and getting set for the next game and we’ll see what it brings. The lads are enjoying winning, who doesn’t?”
Only five points separated the teams going into the game and there were chances at both ends early.
Youngster Hamza Hina’s shot was saved by Fraser Greenwood before Alex Dunn saved Nicol’s low effort.
But it was the home side that opened the scoring on 20 minutes. Ashley Rosindale raced into the penalty area and crossed from the by-line for Salmon to ghost in and score.
It was almost two, when the lively Salmon fed Hina, but his shot flashed over the top and five minutes before the break the visitors levelled.
Great work on the left by Ross Millard saw him race past his marker, and his deep cross to the back post picked out Nicol, who finished low past Dunn.
It was more of the same after the break as Rosindale shot inches wide, before Nicol’s curling shot did likewise at the other end.
Dunn then produced a fingertip save to turn Nicol’s shot around the post, before Cyrus got back with a last ditch tackle to deny Nicol again moments later.
But Inglewood looked dangerous going forward with Salmon, Hina and Dau a contest threat and on 57 minutes they regained the lead.
Salmon was sent clear down the left and his shot on the run was superbly saved by Greenwood.
The rebound fell for Rosindale, who laid the ball off to Dau on the right, and the youngster’s shot nestled into the back of the net with a slight deflection off Millard.
ECU went close to levelling on 73 minutes when Nicol released Steven McGarry, but the post came to Dunn’s rescue.
It looked like Inglewood had scored a third goal nine minutes from time, when Dau’s cross found Salmon at the back post, but the assistants’ flag cut the celebrations short.
ECU went for broke and changed formation with big defender Graham Doran becoming a target man and it almost paid dividends late on.
Doran flicked on Greenwood’s long ball, but Kevin Moon’s shot failed to find the target and it was Inglewood who celebrated at the final whistle.
Inglewood United 2 (Salmon 20min, Dau 57)
ECU Joondalup 1 (Nicol 40min)
Saturday June 17, 2017
Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tom Glavovic
Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 3 David CYRUS (C), 5 Adam TONG (4 Scott BLACKMORE 73’), 8 Jason BARRERA, 9 Alex SALMON, 10 Ashley ROSINDALE (6 Victor BRAUNER 77’) 11 John MIGAS, 16 Matthew NTOUMENOPOULOS, 17 Hamza HINA (14 Feisal ZAW 83’, 18 Jason COLLI 19 Choc DAU
Substitutes not used: RGK Riley STEPHENSON, 7 Kristian DESPOTOVSKI
Yellow cards: Migas 23’, Colli 90’
Red cards: Nil
ECU Joondalup: GK Fraser GREENWOOD, 2 Cian HIRRELL, 4 Jack IREDALE, 5 Graham DORAN, 6 Shane PICKERING, 7 Kevin MOON, 8 James OWEN, 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Sam POLLARD (12 Jon HIGGINS) 71’), 11 Ross MILLARD (15 Fraser GARNAUT 80’), 14 Steven MCGARRY
Substitutes not used: RGK Todd HOYLE, 13 Declan HUGHES, 17 Ben JOHNS
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
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