Jason Barrera has kept alive Inglewood United’s top four hopes by scoring the solitary goal of this afternoon’s 1-0 defeat of top-of-the-table Bayswater City at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium.   The hard-fought win keeps Inglewood in fifth on the competition ladder and on level points with fourth-placed Perth SC.

“Great strike with the help of a deflection and a little bit of luck when we needed one,” coach Andy Keogh said of Barrera’s goal.   “It (the win) was thoroughly deserved.   They gave us a little bit of pressure but we were by far the better team and we could have won by a lot more.”

Gian Albano went close to give Baywater an early lead with an overhead kick that finished wide of the upright.   The hosts’ first chance came via a dead ball which Ellis Healing put just over the crossbar.   Shortly after Inglewood custodian Alex Dunn was quick off his line to smother at the feet of Luka Ninkovic.

Healing did well to evade several challenges on his way inside the box only to put his shot too close to goalkeeper Devon Spence.   The deadlock was broken just after the half hour when Barrera’s deflected shot from 17-metres snuck under the bar, following an exquisite lead-up that featured Kenny Keogh and Healing.

The free-flowing nature of the game continued into the second half, however, some solid defending at both ends of the park meant genuine chances on goal came at a premium.   Albano got free of his marker before releasing a fierce low strike which was brilliantly saved by the diving Dunn.

Brian Farrell should have sealed the win on 89 minutes but blazed high from close-range after being found unmarked by Brian Woodall.   The game was deep in stoppage time when Bayswater’s misery was made complete, last defender Brent Griffiths sent off for hauling down Ash Rosindale.

Match stats

Inglewood United 1 (Jason Barrera 33)
Bayswater City 0

Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Alex Ishida-Livings, Connor Becsi, David Cyrus, Jamie Murphy, Brian Farrell, Jason Barrera, Ellis Healing (Scott Blackmore 86), Kenny Keogh (Ash Rosindale 75), Brian Woodall, Alex Salmon (Feisal Zaw 92)

Bayswater City: Devon Spence, Adam Harris, David Stokoe, Trent Kay, Ryan Pearson, Paul McCarthy (Andrija Jukic 74), Paul Lloyd, Arran Maplestone (Brent Griffiths 85), Gian Albano, Moses Kalau, Luka Ninkovic (Jason Mirco 61)

Bookings: Cyrus (1), Kay (35), Healing (63)

Dismissals: Griffiths (94)