Coach Andy Keogh praised his players character after Inglewood United hung on for a 2-1 win over Forrestfield United on a cold evening at Wildlife Safari Stadium. A goal apiece from Brian Woodall and Alex Salmon gave the visiting team the three points which move them to third on the National Premier Leagues standings.
Keogh singled out goal scorers Salmon and Woodall for setting the tone for his team’s performance. “Both of them worked really hard and were excellent tonight, they set the standard for work rate,” Keogh said. “Salmon particularly in his hold-up play and Woodall particularly with his dazzling footwork.”
“We didn’t control the ball as well as we should have in the second half but when your backs are against the wall you find out a lot about your team. We found out today we’ve got some good characters who are willing to put everything on the line to secure three points.”
Salmon dinked the first chance of the game across the face of goal after meeting Jamie Murphy’s low centre. An exquisite exchange of passes a minute later gave Inglewood the desired result, Woodall finishing at close-range after the ball was channelled through Ash Rosindale, Jason Barrera and Alex Salmon.
That lead lasted only ten minutes, however, Hasani Sinclair equalising from the penalty spot after dubiously being impeded by goalkeeper Alex Dunn. Jamie Murphy spurned a great opportunity to restore the visitors lead by lifting over the crossbar after forcing an error from the Forrestfield defence.
Woodall teed-up Inglewood’s second goal on the hour, the big attacker sliding the ball from inside his own half into the path of Salmon who raced clear to tuck into the net at the second attempt. Home custodian Luke Martino prevented the margin from being greater by pushing wide Salmon’s fierce effort a few minutes later.
Forrestfield immediately set about finding a second goal of their own but found it hard to break down a solid defensive line under the command of Scott Blackmore and Connor Becsi. And on the rare occasions that the hosts did find a way through, an alert Dunn snuffed out the danger.
Match stats
Forrestfield United 1 (Hasani Sinclair 23)
Inglewood United 2 (Brian Woodall 13, Alex Salmon 60)
Forrestfield United: Luke Martino, Jamie Duncan, Wilbert Tshubangu, Jamie Street (Ben Rogers 81), Tom Southgate, Liam Merrigan, Jordan Hart (Callum Dobbs 66), Josh Kotio (Kristian Despotovski 86), Mitchell Crocker, Rhys Loxley, Hasani Sinclair
Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Alex Ishida-Livings, Connor Becsi, Scott Blackmore, Rikki Smith, Feisal Zaw (Ellis Healing 70), Jason Barrera, Ash Rosindale (Miki Vujacic 86), Jamie Murphy, Brian Woodall, Alex Salmon
Bookings: Becsi (20), Sinclair, Salmon, Smith (74)
Dismissals: Nil
