Inglewood United has lifted the inaugural Kramer Memorial Cup by out-shooting Perth Glory 4-3 from the penalty spot. Ryan Clarke had the hosts ahead early only for Andy Keogh to send the teams into the break on level terms, and with neither side able to add to their tally both camps agreed to decide the outcome from the spot.
Goalkeeper Jake Luik, who came off the bench in the second half, covered himself in glory by saving twice in the shoot-out as Dario Pavic, Hayden Dodgson, Teeboy Kamara and Jaedon Ewen converted to earn Inglewood the trophy. It also marked the first time in eleven attempts that Inglewood have beaten Glory.
“It’s good to honour the great man, Siggy Kramer, with winning this trophy for him and the club,” said Inglewood captain Andrija Jukic. “It was a real team performance tonight. We all work very hard for each other and held our own against a quality opposition, so credit to all the boys involved in the game, it was great to be part of it.”
Glory looked the goods early on through some swift movement and utilisation of the full width the Intiga Stadium surface. The home side were content to soak up the pressure and hit on the counterattack, and it was through such a play that Abdul Sesay got off the first shot which flashed wide of Jack Duncan’s net.
With 11 minutes on the clock Clarke got the go-ahead goal with a precision finish into the bottom corner from 16-metres after a neat exchange of passes with Greg Sharland. Glory immediately stepped up the tempo but it took until just before the break for Keogh equalise from Michael Thwaite’s low pass across the area.
Glory coach Kenny Lowe made wholesale changes at the break and within five minutes of the restart Jamie Maclaren twice threatened to put the visitors ahead. Several of Inglewood’s rising stars were given valuable game time by boss Graham Normanton, whose team competed strongly against a very young opponent.
Match stats
Inglewood United (Clarke 11)
Perth Glory (Keogh 28)
Inglewood United (squad): Luke Martino, David Sesay, David Perich, Scott Blackmore, Jason Colli, Ryan Clarke, Greg Sharland, Andrija Jukic, Abdul Sesay, Ryan Francis, Teeboy Kamara, Jake Luik, Sean Browne, Daio Pavic, Jaedon Ewen, Josh Demarte, Hayden Dodgson
Perth Glory (squad): Jack Duncan, Scott Jamieson, Michael Thwaite, Dino Djulbic, Josh Risdon, Sidnei Sciola, Diogo Ferreira, Richard Garcia, Brandon O’Neill, Nebojsa Marinkovic, Andy Keogh, Fraser Greenwood, Joshua Tucker, Rocco Pizzatta, Jack Clisby, Hanafi Gazhali, Slobodan Vulin, Blamo Quaqua, Matthew Ntoumenopoulos, Jacob Collard, Joe Knowles, Chris Harold, Jamie Maclaren
Bookings: Nil
Dismissals: Nil
