Inglewood United young gun Jarrod McNally is pulling out all the stops to convince coach Graham Normanton he is ready for first team football. McNally, 20, was used mostly off the bench last year but with a strong pre-season under his belt the talented striker appears set for a big year. “Things have been going really well,” said McNally, who put away his sixth goal of the Night Series in last weekend’s quarter-final win over Ashfield. “Just being a part of the squad last year was great, learning from quality experienced players was a good learning curve for me. Everyone has worked hard this pre-season, a couple of injuries gave me my chance and I’ve managed to score a few goals.”
There may have been considerable change to Inglewood’s squad over the summer but McNally has no doubt they’ll be one of the inaugural National Premier Leagues’ teams to beat. “The quality that left the club has been replaced,” commented McNally, whose new team mates include Rory Grant, Ryan Francis, David Sesay and Jon Stripe. “We’ve signed some quality players and together with the experience already at the club plus the blend of youth Normo (coach Graham Normanton) Graham has brought into the squad, we’ll be in the mix come the end of the season. Normo is very demanding. He has high expectations and expects his players to have the same. He is creating a positive, winning mentality that is generating right through the club.”
Inglewood’s Night Series campaign appeared to be on bumpy ground last weekend when they went a goal down to Ashfield in the round of eight. “We started a bit slow and Ashfield were really up for it, it gave us a real kick up the backside when we went one-nil down,” said McNally, who brought the teams level late in the first half. Inglewood then powered away from their Division One opponent, Francis scoring either side of the break after which Sesay and Stripe also found the net. “When we got the ball down and knocked it around the confidence grew and in the end we got our just rewards.”
Night Series trophy holders Bayswater City will present a new-look Inglewood with their biggest challenge of the year to date when they come face-to-face in this weekend’s Night Series semi-finals. “Bayswater are a quality side. They proved that last season by winning everything, and they’ve started this season in the same fashion,” commented McNally, who is eagerly anticipating the game. “It will be a very good test for us to see where we are at but I think on our day we are a match for anyone.” Macedonia Park is the place to be on Sunday with Inglewood and Bayswater locking horns from 5.00pm, followed by Floreat Athena against Division One side Bunbury Forum Force at 7.15pm.
Courtesy of www.footballwa.net
