Inglewood United registered their first win of the Night Series by defeating Rockingham City 3-2 on a warm evening at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium.   The result rules a line under a turbulent week for the club and narrows the gap to a single point between Inglewood and the Pool 1 leadership.

Inglewood came out firing with early efforts by Jason Barrera and Adriano Jelenovic passing the wrong side of the goal.   But it was Rockingham who broke the deadlock on the quarter hour, Lydon Hodgkiss heading in James Harmers’ deep cross following a well-rehearsed short corner move.

Parity was restored soon enough though with Sammie Riak playing through for Barrera to fend off his marker before firing low past goalkeeper Alfie Brincat.   Eight minutes later Hamza Hina’s cross from the right found Barrera who laid the ball back for Jelenovic to rifle the hosts into the lead.

Inglewood extended that advantage six minutes after the interval through Chok Dau, who expertly curled in a dead ball from the edge of the 18-yard box.   Harmer grabbed his team a late consolation by converting from the penalty spot after referee Michal Jasinski whistled fort handball against Mark Barnett.

Match stats

Inglewood United 3 (Jason Barrera 19, Adriano Jelenovic 27, Chok Dau 51)
Rockingham City 2 (Lydon Hodgkiss 15, James Harmer 80)

Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Kevin Castle, Scott Blackmore, Mark Barnett, Jamie Murphy, Sammie Riak, Brian Farrell, Jason Barrera (Miki Vujacic 84), Hamza Hina (John Lamai 64), Chok Dau, Adriano Jelenovic (Sam Dweh 78)

Rockingham City: Alfie Brincat, Jason Constable (Jarred Mort 73), Mitch Firth, Harry Collins, Blake Sokolowski, James Millard, Jason Pottier (Luke Hobson 73), James Harmer, Riley Van Dieken, Lydon Hodgkiss, Michael Farmer (Jonathan Araya 73)

Bookings: Dau (72), Sokolowski (72), Riak (88)

Dismissals: Nil