Report by Navrin Secker

Photo courtesy Brett Klucznik, Inglewood United

A quality finish from Ellis Healing three minutes from time earned Inglewood a 1-1 draw at home to Subiaco on Friday night.

United trailed to David Perich’s 49th-minute opener, before Healing produced an outrageous scissor-kick to ensure the points were shared.

Despite the late goal, Inglewood coach Andy Keogh cut a frustrated figure after his side’s second successive draw to start the new National Premier Leagues WA campaign.

“Our performance was under-par to be honest. We had the chances but fair play to Subiaco, they battled well and held on to their lead at the end,” Keogh said.

“We need to listen to the game plan and implement what we work on all week.

“We worked on wingers staying wide and creative players getting into pockets, but it just didn’t happen today.”

Subiaco were the more dominant side in the first half at the Perth Plaster Centre Stadium and went close through Perich, whose shot was kept out by Inglewood goalkeeper Alex Dunn.

At the other end Brian Woodall, who had earlier been denied by Subiaco keeper Ryan Montgomery, had an effort cleared off the line.

But the match burst into life early in the second half when Perich coolly finished off a great passing move to put Subiaco into the lead.

The visitors suddenly looked dominant, passing through the Inglewood midfield and pressing high up the pitch.

But they were unable to find the killer second goal and Inglewood went close to an equaliser after Montgomery spilled a corner, but substitute Steve Burton fired the loose ball over the bar.

However, Inglewood’s late pressure paid off in the 87th minute when Healing scored an amazing acrobatic volley via the crossbar to equalise.

Both sides pushed for a winner in the final minutes but neither could break the deadlock.

It was a first point of the season for Subiaco following last week’s loss to Cockburn City and player-coach Ian McMurray was pleased with his team’s improvement.

“I thought we were outstanding. We played extremely well considering last week, where we were very disappointing,” McMurray said.

“Last week we never kept the ball, we never kept possession and we were very lazy defensively, so we worked on that and the boys carried it out to a tee today.”

Inglewood United 1 (Healing 87min)
Subiaco AFC 1 (Perich 49min)
Friday, March 2, 2018
Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium
Referee: Stuart Muldoon
Assistant Referees: Tom Robinson, Brendan Skinner
 
Inglewood United: 1. Alex DUNN, 2. Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS (6. Milorad VUJACIC 56’), 3. David CYRUS, 7. Kenny KEOGH, 8. Jason BARRERA, 10. Ash ROSINDALE (19. Steve BURTON 53’), 11. Ellis HEALING, 14. Hanafi GHAZALI, 15. Brian FARRELL, 17. Rikki SMITH (12. Feisal ZAW 82’), 23. Brian WOODALL
Substitutes not used: 16. Jamie MURRAY, 21. Michael COHEN
Yellow Cards: Cyrus 73’, Ghazali 80’

Subiaco AFC: 1. Ryan MONTGOMERY, 4. Alexander RANDELL, 6. Jackson DONGRAY, 8. Joshua BOOYSEN(15. Albert LUWI 68’), 9. Daniel PEARCE (13. FanuelDAWIT 90’), 10. Asher NELSON, 12. Nathan SMITH, 14. Ross JARMAN, 16. Steve PURTON, 17. Alex CASTIELLO, 18. David PERICH
Substitutes not used: 3. Cherno BAM, 19. Ian MCMURRAY, 21. Teophile BROWN
Yellow Cards: Booysen 61’, Randell 69’