Report by Peter Simcox

Photo by Peter Simcox

Inglewood United secured a 5-2 come-from-behind victory against Joondalup United thanks to hat-trick hero Kenny Keogh at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
 
It was Keogh’s first start since round two after recovering from a hamstring injury and was happy to be on the score sheet and secure the three points.
 
“We had to work hard for the points, they are a physical team, but I thought we overran them in the second half and I thought our fitness shone through,” he said.
 
“It’s good to get back in the team, but more importantly we got the three points. It’s starting to click now, and playing up front with the quality we have up there is good, so there is always going to be chances and luckily I managed to bag a few today.”   
 
Inglewood Coach Taki Nicolaidis said Keogh was outstanding but drifted out of the game, and had words with him at the break.
 
“Today has been the story of our season, we play some really good football, and one mistake costs us a goal, but I asked for a response at half time and I got it, which is pleasing, and hopefully that’s the kick start to our season.” he said.
 
“Kenny was great for the first 20 minutes, but drifted out of the game, and I had a few words with him at half time and he got his second wind, but credit to him he’s been working hard to get his fitness levels up and he was in the right place at the right time to score a hat trick.”
 
The Coach said the young players who come off the bench shows the talent they have at the club, and it bodes well for the future.
 
“These youngsters have a big future, and we’ve got to keep giving them the opportunity, and their performances today will give me a few selection headaches next week.”  
 
The home side made the perfect start and were ahead on six minutes. Keogh made space down the right and his cross picked out Salmon who headed home at the back post.
 
Joondalup settled with Matt Sparrow and Guy McDonald working overtime in the middle of the park, and their hard work was rewarded with the equaliser on 31 minutes.
 
A ball over the top caught Inglewood square at the back sending Howles clear, he held off his marker and finished low past Alex Dunn.
 
Three minutes later Inglewood could have equalised. Scott Blackmore sent Salmon down the right, his cross picked out Brian Woodall who blazed his strike over the bar from close range.
 
That miss came back to haunt Inglewood when Joondalup hit the front moments later. Sparrow’s corner was headed back across goal and Howles got in front of his marker to fire home from close-range.
 
Joondalup skipper James Bosdet came to his sides rescue on the stroke of half time pulling off a good double save to ensure his team the lead at half-time.
 
After the break Jason Barrera fired just wide, before Mark Pritchard’s free kick was headed inches wide by Woodall.

Inglewood’s pressure was rewarded with the equaliser on 69 minutes. Barrera’s through ball picked out the overlapping Jason Colli on the right whose cross found Keogh, striking the ball past Bosdet.
 
Moments later Alex Dunn produced a superb save to deny Howles his hat-trick.
 
Inglewood then regained the lead as a low cross from Colli was turned home by Keogh.
 
The home side added a fourth six minutes from time, when Woodall was brought down by Greg Pellow with referee Adam Fielding pointing straight to the spot. Salmon stepped up and sent Bosdet the wrong way.
 
With three minutes to go Inglewood produced a fantastic team goal to put the result beyond doubt. Salmon and Woodall combined down the left as Woodall cut the ball back to Keogh who fired home to complete his hat-trick.  

Inglewood United 5 (Salmon 6min, 84 pen, Keogh 69, 80, 87)
Joondalup United 2 (Howles 31min, 37)
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistant Referees: Julian Serra, Jatin Lodhia

Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 4 Scott BLACKMORE (C), 5 Adam TONG (20 Connor BECSI 93), 7 Kenny KEOGH, 8 Jason BARRERA, 9 Alex SALMON, 11 John MIGAS, 14 Mark PRITCHARD (19 Chok DAU 67), 15 Brian FARRELL (16 Matthew NTOUMENOPOULOS 41), 18 Jason COLLI, 23 Brian WOODALL
Substitutes not used: RGK Riley STEPHENSON, 3 David CYRUS
Yellow Cards: nil
Red Cards: nil

Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET (C), 2 Joel LEDSHAM, 3 Rowdy YATES (18 Anthony TAYLOR 46), 5 Joe STOCKER, 6 Guy MCDONALD, 7 Matthew SPARROW (14 Jess COMPTON 86), 9 Richard HOWLES (12 David JAY 85), 10 Alex WILD, 17 Luke SERRA, 54 Robert BAIN, 25 Greg PELLOW
Substitutes not used: GK Jack NUNN
Yellow Cards: Sparrow 10min, McDonald 19, Bain 45+1, Wild 56
Red Cards: nil