Report by Navrin Secker

Title-chasing Cockburn City and Inglewood United were forced to settle for a point apiece after they drew 1-1 at Dalmatinac Park on Saturday.

Ryan Pratt put the hosts ahead in the 70th minute, but Inglewood centre-back David Cyrus was the unlikely hero for his side when he equalised in the 82nd minute.

The real winners with this result were Bayswater City, whose victory over Stirling Lions means they now have a four-point advantage at the top over Perth Glory who have replaced Cockburn in second place.

Despite not getting the three points, Cockburn coach Scott Miller was pleased with how his side performed.

“I’m really happy, really really happy with the way the boys went about it today,” he said.

“In the first round Inglewood battered us 3-0, they outplayed us and bullied us, but today we stood up and I thought we were very good.”

The match began with both sides looking to attack, despite the difficult conditions caused by the wind.

Inglewood had the first chance of the match when a cross found the back-post run of Kenny Keogh, but his header from close range was wide of the goal.

The hosts soon had a chance of their own as Anthony Skorich got on the end of a great passing move, but the Cockburn talisman’s effort slid just wide of the post.

In a half of few chances, the visitors missed a great opportunity to open the scoring. Keogh beat his man on the wing and sent a dangerous cross into the box which found Cyrus, but the centre-back’s half-volley flew over the bar.

Alex Salmon nearly opened the scoring early in the second half, but Cockburn goalkeeper Luke Radonich denied him with a reflex save.

Cockburn’s Luccas Mello was causing problems down the wing with his great dribbling and ability to beat a man, and he came close to scoring twice but both shots went just over the bar.

The home side eventually took the lead after Mello’s ball from midfield found Pratt, who managed to chip the onrushing keeper with his volleyed effort.

Inglewood pushed for an equaliser and responded just minutes later with Cyrus making up for his earlier miss with a tap-in from close range to draw level.

Cockburn still looked the likelier but were denied by a brilliant save from Alex Dunn, who tipped Daniel Robinson’s effort onto the bar, ensuring the game ended 1-1.

Inglewood United assistant coach Saul Contera said: "I think the boys played well, we’re not dissatisfied with a point but we felt that we should have got the three points in the end.”

Cockburn City 1 (Pratt 71min)
Inglewood United 1 (Cyrus 82)
Dalmatinac Park
Saturday, June 9
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Josh Manella
Assistant referees: Simon Hicks, Adrien Liechti

Cockburn City: 1. Luke RADONIC, 4. Euen GRANT, 6. Reuben TRISTAO, 7. Luccas MELLO, 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 9. Julian TELES, 11. Harry O’BRIEN, 12. Ryan PRATT, 15. Daniel SANTICH, 16. Daniel ROBINSON, 19. Anthony SKORICH
Unused substitutes: 10. David ARAYA, 13. Blake ADAMS, 21. Samuel GARCES, 22. Adam ANFUSO, 23. Ryan BARKER
Yellow cards: Grant 63, Teles 67, Skorich 90+1
Red cards: Nil

Inglewood United: 1. Alex DUNN, 2. Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS, 3. David CYRUS, 7. Kenny KEOGH (14. Hanafi GHAZALI 81), 8. Jason BARRERA, 9. Alex SALMON, 10. Ash ROSINDALE (6. Milorad VUJACIC 62), 11. Ellis HEALING, 15. Brian FARRELL, 16. Jamie MURPHY (23. Brian WOODALL 46), 19. Connor BECSI
Unused substitues: 4. Scott BLACKMORE, 12. Griffin BESCI
Yellow cards: Ghazali 83
Red cards: Nil