Sporting Armadale gift Inglewood winner

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Report by Tommy Doleman

 

Photo by Brett Klucznik

 

Inglewood United survived a second-half onslaught from Armadale to edge a five-goal thriller 3-2 and move back into the top four at the expense of Perth SC.

 

Goals from Kenny Keogh and Brian Woodall looked to put the hosts in control, despite a flurry of chances for Armadale in between.

 

Josh Kuser did pull one back with 13 minutes to play before Chris Jackson scored a controversial equaliser that caused confusion around the stadium after an injury to Keogh.

 

After a few minutes of deliberation, Armadale goalkeeper Sam Hutchings put the ball into his own net from Alex Salmon's kick-off in an act of sportsmanship, and that proved to be the winner as the home side held firm.

 

Armadale coach John O'Reilly said it was difficult to give the goal back to Inglewood in what was a close game, but admitted it was correct thing to do.

 

"I've got a lot of respect for the game. In that instance, if that had happened to us I would have been fuming," he said.

 

"When you're losing 2-1 and the ladder is as close as it is, you don't want to give anything away. But my conscience got the better of me. I spoke to my captain and he agreed.

 

"It was a bizarre moment, which happens in football from time to time. I think we did the right thing at the end of the day, but it also took momentum away from us as we were pushing for that equaliser and to give the opposition a reason to want to beat us may have gone against us."

 

O'Reilly added that he was gutted his team didn't get anything out of the game.

 

"Last week we played below our standard and we got a win, and its frustrating when we come to one of the top four teams, put in a solid performance, carve out good opportunities to win and not be able to put the finish on it. It's really gutting."

 

Inglewood manager Andy Keogh was satisfied to get the goal back but admitted his team has dropped off in the second half.

 

"Their captain and manager deciding to give us an own goal speaks volumes for the fact their striker shouldn't have done what he did. It's not what anybody wants to see in the game," he said.

 

"Sometimes you can't be at maximum effort every week like we have been and this week we dropped off a bit in the second half – but we had substitutes to come on and settle the game."

 

Inglewood coasted through the first half comfortably and led when Kenny Keogh slid the ball past Hutchings at his near post.

 

They could have led by more, but didn't, as Armadale surged with Jackson coming close and James Atkins hitting the base of the post.

 

Jackson and Michael Rizidis could not convert further chances and they were punished for their profligacy when Brian Woodall turned his man, raced clear and found the bottom corner.

 

Inglewood's two-goal lead lasted five minutes before Jackson's cross-shot took a couple of deflections and landed at the feet of Kuser, who poked home for 2-1.

 

A bizarre passage of play then unfolded as Keogh went down injured and play was halted. As Armadale was returning the ball to goalkeeper Alex Dunn, Jackson stole in and put the ball into an unguarded net for 2-2.

 

After plenty of confusion, the visitors decided to return the goal back to Inglewood, as Alex Salmon shot toward goal from the kick off and Sam Hutchings rolled the ball across his own line.

 

That took the wind out of Armadale's sails slightly – but they did have a late penalty appeal when Rizidis tried to get beyond the last man and thought his shirt was pulled.

 

Salmon had a late chance to add a fourth as the away team threw bodies forward, but he crashed his shot against the post as Inglewood held firm in stoppage time.

 

Inglewood United 3 (Keogh 12min, Woodall 74, Hutchings og 82)
Armadale 2 (Kuser 77 Jackson 81)
Saturday June 23
Inglewood Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tom Glavovic
Assistant referees: Sailota Phiri, Liviu Katona

Inglewood United: GK: Alex Dunn, 2. Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS (5. Scott ROBERTSON 70), 3. David CYRUS, 7. Kenny KEOGH, 8. Jason BARRERA, 9. Alex SALMON, 11. Ellis HEALING (10. Ash ROSINDALE 58), 15. Brian FARRELL, 16. Jamie MURPHY, 19. Conor BESCI, 23. Brian WOODALL (6. Miki VUJACIC).

Substitutes not used: 4. Scott BLACKMORE, 12. Feisal ZAW.
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

 

Armadale: GK: Sam HUTCHINGS, 2. Joshua KUSER, 4. Nathan COSTELLO, 5. David ANNALL, 10. Chris JACKSON, 11. Michael RIZIDIS, 15. Ali GHOLAMI (14. Milan OGNJENOVIC 84), 16. Charlie SIMPSON, 20. Friday ZICO (17. James ATKINS 45), 21. Beau RAHIM, 22. Ryan HASLETT (18. Brad GRIEPL 90).

Substitutes not used: RGK: Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 3. Delan DE SILVA
Yellow cards: Rahim 32, Costello 83
Red cards: Nil

 

Last Modified on 26/06/2018 15:45

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