Report by Aidan Shaw

Photo: Fotoenzo

 

A late goal by Brian Woodall earned Inglewood United a confidence-boosting 2-1 victory over Perth Soccer Club at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday.

Harley Orr’s bizarre goal early in the first half saw the reigning champions lead at the break, but a strong second-half performance from the visitors turned the result on its head.

Woodall said he was pleased with the overall team performance and spoke humbly of his individual impact.

“It was great to score a winner, it’s a good feeling, but I think we worked hard as a team and deserved the full points there at the end,” he said.

With the result marking Perth’s second loss on the trot, coach Ramon Falzon remained positive about the season ahead.

“It’s a long season, there are still 18 games to go, so from our side we need to very quickly regroup and start winning games,” he said.

“That is the only thing we should be focusing on this week.”

Neither side looked at their best in the early stages, with Inglewood making a number of risky back-passes and Perth giving away possession cheaply in the middle of the park.

The hosts opened the scoring on the quarter hour through Harley Orr, who had put Alex Dunn under immediate pressure when the visiting custodian received the ball in his area.

Dunn attempted a clearance, and could only look on in disbelief as the ball rebounded off Orr and into the back of the net.

Perth suffered a setback when Aleks Jovic was stretchered from the field after half an hour of play.

Tom King had two close chances to double his side’s lead before the break, but both narrowly missed the target.

The second half started in a scrappy fashion, with both sides giving away a number of fouls. 

Just before the hour mark Orr appeared to have doubled his side’s tally when he headed home a Matthew Milenkovic cross, but the assistant had his flag raised. 

Moments later Inglewood found an equaliser when Alex Salmon tapped home from close range after receiving a pin-point pass from Mark Pritchard on the left, becoming the league’s top scorer in the process. 

Despite conceding, Perth began holding possession well and created a number of chances to regain the lead, but they were not their usual clinical selves in front of goal. 

Inglewood eventually punished the hosts for their failure to capitalise, with Woodall firing home in the 88th minute to secure the result for his side. 

With the result bringing a revival to what has been a slow start to the season for last year’s runners up, coach Taki Nicolaidis said his side were hungry for a win. 

“I wouldn’t say we were the better team, but we were the one team that wanted to get out there and get three points,” he said.

“Perth are a very difficult team to break down and we knew that it would have to take something special, which it did for both goals.”

“For me it is another three points and a win, so there is a bit more confidence now moving forward.”

 

Perth SC 1 (Orr 15min)

Inglewood United 2 (Salmon 59min, Woodall 88)

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Dorrien Gardens

Kick-off: 3:00pm

Referee: David Bruce

Assistant Referees: Josh Nixon, Andre Ferreira

 

Perth: GK Francis SOALE, 3. Andreas THEODOSIADES, 4. Adrian MADASCHI (c), 7. Aleks JOVIC (10. Nicholas AMBROGIO 30), 8. Tom KING, 9. Gustavo CATARCIONE (14. Cameron TEECE 76), 11. Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12. Jordan DE LEO, 13. Rocco PIZZATA, 15. Harley ORR 16. Kieran COLWELL

Substitutes not used: RGK Daniel PASSARELLI, 2. Alex SILLA, 21. Paul ZIMARINO

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: nil

 

Inglewood: GK Alex DUNN, 4. Scott BLACKMORE (c), 5. Adam TONG, 7. Kenny KEOGH, 8. Jason BARRERA, 9. Alex SALMON, 11. John MIGAS (10. Ash ROSINDALE 81), 14. Mark PRITCHARD (19. Chok DAU 71), 16. Matthew NTOUMENOPOULOS, 18. Jason COLLI (2. Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS 63), 23. Brian WOODALL

Substitutes not used: RGK Riley STEPHENSON, 3. David CYRUS

Yellow cards: Ntoumenopoulos 32’, Keogh 85’

Red cards: nil