Inglewood United collected their third win in four games by defeating third-placed Stirling Lions 2-0 at Inglewood Stadium. Goals late in each half by David Micevski and Tim Gould were the difference on the scoreboard but the end result owed just as much to a strong defensive unit led by Jovo Pavlovic.
“To beat one of top teams – one that has been in good form – is arguably the best result of our season so far,” Pavlovic enthused. “The back line did a wonderful job, we were very disciplined and kept their chances (on goal) to a minimum. You can’t ask for more than a clean sheet.”
An open start to proceeding saw the ball move swiftly from end-to-end as both teams sought to stamp their authority. Stirling’s Teeboy Kamara carved out a golden opportunity for himself in the 10th minute but, with the goal seemingly at his mercy, the attacker dragged wide from 8-metres.
Another blow came the visitors’ way soon after when a hand injury brought goalkeeper Connor Campbell’s afternoon to a premature end. A minute later Keogh rifled Inglewood’s first chance of the day into the side-netting, and Robert Petkov returned fire with a low shot that stretched Aleks Vrteski.
The tide was slowly turning in Inglewood’s favour and 36 minutes they got the goal they were after, an unmarked Micevski heading in Keogh’s cross that floated over replacement ‘keeper Luke Radonich. Keogh and Sesay each went close to adding a second but neither were able to make proper contact with Ryan Clarke’s looping centre.
It was with great promise that Stirling commenced the second half, however, a heavy touch robbed Kamara of a shot and Petkov nodded over the crossbar. Pavlovic’s response to these let-offs was immediate, the Inglewood captain stifling the visitors creative outlets by locking down the final third.
There was no such shortage of opportunities at the opposite end, the best of which had Keogh rattle the woodwork with a powerful header. Gould eventually put the result beyond doubt with a crisp volley which snuck inside far post after the visitors failed to sufficiently deal with Micevski’s corner.
A demoralised Stirling were opened up time and time again across the closing stages. A slight deflection was enough to send Micevski’s shot into Radonich’s arms, and substitute Abdul Sesay drove over the target. Clarke slipped in Micevski for the game’s final chance but Radonich managed to foil his opponent.
Match stats:
Inglewood United 2 (Micevski 36, Gould 78)
Stirling Lions 0
Inglewood United: Aleks Vrteski, Jason Colli, Jovo Pavlovic, Rikki Smith, Milan Ognjenovic (Jarrad McNally 67), Ryan Clarke, Andrija Jukic (Abdul Sesay 59), Tim Gould, David Micevski, David Sesay, Kenny Keogh (Davide Panaia 73)
Stirling Lions: Connor Campbell (Luke Radonich 16), Anthony Bafobusha, Nathan Bowden-Hasse, Tim Hill, Steve Purton, Teeboy Kamara (Robert Mariano 82), Brian Woodell, Miki Vujacic, Boas Mtwale, Daniel Micevski, Robert Petkov
Bookings: Vujacic (31)
Dismissals: Nil
