Report by Jayden Lihou

Inglewood United remain at the top of the PS4 NPLWA after a convincing 6-2 victory over 10 man Armadale at Alfred Skeet Reserve.

Alex Salmon led the way for Inglewood with a hat-trick to ensure his side retained their one point lead over rivals Perth SC.

Captain David Cyrus said he was pleased his side went out and got the job done.

“The game got a bit upsidaisy in the second half, but the lads stuck together and we got the win which is what counts at this stage of the season,” he said.

“This result puts the pressure on Bayswater who play tomorrow and Perth keep piling the pressure on us, but we are in pole-position and it’s ours to lose.

“It’s close at the top but we just have to keep plodding on, it doesn’t matter how the results come as long as they keep coming.”

Cyrus also praised the performance of the league’s top goal scorer Alex Salmon.

“Alex is the best striker in the league and he’s proven it today,” he said.

“He’s been outstanding for us all year and let’s hope he can keep it going to the last game of the season.”

Armadale were reduced to 10 men on 12 minutes when Jackson Bealey was given his marching orders after a poor challenge on Alex Ishida-Livings.

Inglewood capitalised on their one man advantage eight minutes later when Salmon made his way past Armadale’s final defender before firing home his side's first.

Kenny Keogh doubled his side's lead in the 36th minute when he received the ball in the box before turning and unleashing a powerful shot into the bottom corner.

A miscommunication between the defender and goalkeeper Michael Craggs handed Salmon his second when both players hesitated over Matthew Ntoumenopoulos’ long ball.

The striker took full advantage of the calamity and tapped the ball into an empty net.

Salmon wasted no time in scoring his third of the day when he converted from the spot after being fouled by Milan Ognjenovic three minutes into the second half.

It was 5-0 on 55 minutes when Cyrus’ first time volley from inside the area found its way past Craggs.

Armadale pulled one back in the 68th minute when a nicely struck free-kick from Jordan Pavett was too much for the diving Alex Dunn to handle.

The Army scored again to make it 5-2 in the 77th minute when an Ognjenovic free-kick from half-way was put into the net by Pavett.

Inglewood put the icing on the cake late on when Keogh squared the ball to Hamza Hina who tapped home to seal another impressive win.

Armadale assistant coach Jonathan Lupolo-Chan said the final result wasn’t a fair reflection of the game, but admitted he was disappointed with how his side performed in the first-half.

“The sending off in the first 10 minutes didn’t help us, but I think it was a game of two halves today,” he said.

“In the first-half we just couldn’t get our heads around it, but we regrouped at half-time and it showed because in the second half the boys showed they have the heart to play competitively against a big side like Inglewood.”  

Armadale 2 (Pavett 68min, 77)
Inglewood United 6 (Salmon 20min, 39, 48, Keogh 36, Cyrus 55, Hina 93)
Saturday August 5, 2017
Alfred Skeet Reserve
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: David Bruce
Assistants: Arvin Shanmuganathan, Callum Haddow

Armadale: GK. Michael CRAGGS, 2. Dylan WHITE (17. James ATKINS 68’), 3. Jake SARDELIC, 4. Nathan COSTELLO (C) (Broden BROWN 86’), 7. Charlie KENNA, 8. Jordan PAVETT, 14. David ANNALL, 15. Jackson BEALEY, 16. Billy QUINNCROFT, 18. Milan OGNJENOVIC (10. Herman ALOGNON 86’), 19. Beau RAHIM
Substitutes not used: RGK. Alec RADONICH, 21. Daniel CUMMING
Yellow Cards: Quinncroft 40, Kenna 57, Pavett 79
Red Cards: Bealey 12

Inglewood United: GK. Alex DUNN, 2. Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS, 3. David CYRUS (C), 5. Adam TONG, 7. Kenny KEOGH, 8. Jason BARRERA (10. Ash ROSINDALE 58’), 9. Alex SALMON (6. Victor BRAUNER 48’), 15. Brian FARRELL, 16. Matthew NTOUMENOPOULOS (18. Jason COLLI 65’), 17. Hamza HINA, 19. Choc DAU
Substitute not used: RGK. Ryan STEPHENSON, 4. Scott BLACKMORE
Yellow Cards: Tong 29, Keogh 40, Hina 58
Red Cards: Nil