Report by Ryan Borrett

Photo by Brett Klucznik

Alex Salmon banged in two goals as Inglewood United beat Balcatta 3-1 at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium on Saturday.

Balcatta started out the stronger and took the lead through Kris Gate. But the home side rallied and replied through Salmon's double and a Kenny Keogh header to move to fifth on the ladder.

Salmon capitalised on Balcatta’s mistakes at the back, much to the delight of Inglewood coach Andy Keogh.

“He was slow to start but once he got his name on the scoresheet, he got a bit of confidence in him. He was linking the play very well and took his chances in front of goal excellently,” Keogh said.

“We were a bit sloppy in the first half hour but once some of our players picked up the tempo we controlled the game and should have won by even more."

Balcatta’s early advantage came when goalkeeper Kyle McDonald launched a long ball forward. Gate controlled it well then rounded Inglewood keeper Alex Dunn and slotted home to make it 1-0.

Inglewood seemed stunned but grew into the match and started to control play as the first half wore on.

Their composure was rewarded with an equalising goal in the 42nd minute when winger Kenny Keogh crossed from the right and Salmon headed in at the far post.

Inglewood were the better side in the second half and Salmon gave them the lead in the 68th minute. Jason Barrera fired in a long-range effort which was well saved by McDonald. Balcatta’s Joseph Marino's poor clearance fell to Salmon and his near-post shot found the back of the net.

Inglewood sealed the three points in the 76th minute when Ellis Healing’s cross from the left found Keogh and he had a free header to make it 3-1.

Balcatta piled men forward in the final minutes of the match but couldn’t find a breakthrough against a solid Inglewood defence.

Balcatta assistant coach Dimitri Phylactou said a combination of wasted chances and mistakes at the back cost his side.

“We have to take the chances when we create them because if you don’t you get punished at the back, especially against the front line they’ve got,” he said.

“We need to keep the ball better. Once we go direct it probably plays into other team’s hands a bit much.

Inglewood United 3 (Salmon 42min, 68, Keogh 76)
Balcatta 1 (Gate 14)
Saturday, May 12
Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Matthew Southern
Assistant referees: Brendan Skinner, Troy Malatesta

Inglewood United: 1. Alex DUNN 2. Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS (6. Milorad VUJACIC 53), 3. David CYRUS, 7. Kenny KEOGH (12. Feisal ZAW 82), 8. Jason BARRERA, 9. Alex SALMON, 11. Ellis HEALING, 14. Hanafi GHAZALI, 15. Brian FARRELL, 16. Jamie MURPHY (23. Brian WOODALL 60), 19. Connor BECSI
Substitutes not used: 4. Scott BLACKMORE, 17. Rikki SMITH
Yellow cards: Besci 21
Red cards: Nil

Balcatta: 2. Joseph MARINO, 3. Hayden STEVENS, 4. Calum O’CONNELL, 5. TOM PELLIZZARI (9. Dejan ANDRIC 76), 6. Kris GATE, 8. Carmelo GIUFFRE (22. Tom LOGAN 60), 10. Jonathan CORNESS, 15. Adriano JELENOVIC (12. Anton DE FRANCESCH 56), 20. Shubbham MOKALA, 23. Lawrence SHURAMA, 25. Kyle McDONALD
Substitutes not used: 1. Damien STANOEVSKI, 11. Renee ALBA
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil