Report by Navrin Secker

Photo by Brett Klucznik, Inglewood United

Inglewood United coach Andy Keogh praised his team’s application after they ended Cockburn City’s 100 per cent start to the National Premier Leagues WA season on Friday night.

The 3-1 result at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium gave unbeaten United their first win as they recovered from conceding after just two minutes.

“We were excellent, brave on the ball, and worked ever so hard,” Keogh said.

“Us managers, we like to think that we can devise a way to win the game and when your game plan isn’t followed you usually don’t get the results that you want.

“I’m quite happy with our game plan and how we implemented the tactics that we worked on all week."

Cockburn suffered a blow before kick-off when captain Euen Grant failed a fitness test on his Achilles injury.

But they seemed unfazed by the setback as they set about the Inglewood defence, and that early pressure paid off when Jesse Lazzaro scored with a low, fizzing shot across goalkeeper Alex Dunn.

Inglewood continued to struggle early on as Cockburn pressed high up the pitch, ensuring the home side had no time on the ball.

They came desperately close to doubling their lead when they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, Lazzaro’s effort rattling the frame of the goal.

Eventually the home side grew into the game as the half progressed and Kenny Keogh’s header forced a save from Ryan Barker.

And it was Keogh who brought Inglewood level in the 45th minute after Cockburn failed to deal with a set-piece.

The goal gave Inglewood a lift for the second half and Brian Woodall put them into the lead in the 57th minute with a curling effort from the edge of the box into the top right-hand corner.

Woodall was a constant threat and sent a powerful volley fizzing just wide of the goal, before Inglewood made the game safe eight minutes from time. A corner was headed to the feet of Ash Rosindale, who spun and scored the clincher.

The Cockerels tried to mount a comeback but were frustrated by keeper Dunn near the end, leaving coach Scott Miller disappointed with his side's inability to keep the ball.

“In the first 20 minutes we were good, we competed really well. From then on Inglewood started taking control and got the goal on half-time,” Miller said.

“Nothing really changed in how we played, they played really well and turned up today.

“We need to improve on keeping the ball. We gave it away to much and against good teams you have to keep possession because they will punish you.”

Inglewood United: 3 (Keogh 45 mins, Woodall 57, Rosindale 82)
Cockburn City: 1 (Lazarro 2)
Friday, March 9, 2018
Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Tom Glavovic
Assistant referees: Jatin Lodhia, Adrien Liechti

Inglewood United: 1. Alex DUNN (GK), 3. David CYRUS, 5. Scott ROBINSON, 7. Kenny KEOGH, 8. Jason BARRERA, 10. Ash ROSINDALE, 11. Ellis HEALING, 14. Hanafi GHAZALI, 15. Brian FARRELL, 17. Rikki SMITH, 23. Brian WOODALL
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Cockburn City: 5. Keiron STALLARD, 6. Reuben TRISTAO, 7. Luccas MELLO, 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 11. Daniel SANTICH, 12. Ryan BARKER (GK), 16. Daniel ROBINSON, 17. Jesse LAZARRO, 18. Aden DA LUZ, 19. Anthony SKORICH, 20. Chris THACKRAY
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil