Inglewood United were beaten for the first time in the league this season as Stirling Lions came away from Inglewood Stadium with a 3-0 win. It was evident from the outset that it was going to be a long day with Taki Nicolaidis’ side failing to convert a penalty and reduced to ten men inside the opening five minutes.
“Without a doubt the penalty miss plus the send-off were definitely a game changer for us,” coach Taki Nicolaidis said. “We were still very competitive and had a few good opportunities but just weren’t able to capitalise, we need to do better than that. If you can’t score goals – with ten men or not – then you can’t win games.”
The tone of the afternoon was set early, Brian Woodall driving against the base of the upright after referee Adam Fielding whistle for handball inside the penalty area. That miss was compounded a few minutes later when Jason Colli was harshly issued a straight red card after lashing out at Teeboy Kamara.
Even so, Inglewood were unlucky not to go ahead through Calum O’Connell, whose powerful close-range strike was blocked by a desperate Brodie Martin. Stirling evenly made the most of their extra player, David Micevski converting a penalty awarded for handball against O’Connell midway through the half.
The margin would have been doubled soon after if not for Alex Dunn, who brilliantly stole the ball off Kamara’s boot after the striker broke clear of the defence. Inglewood continued to work for an equaliser but neither Mark Pritchard nor O’Connell were able to capitalise after getting into good positions leading into the break.
Kamara doubled the visitors early in the second half with a vicious strike from distance that ricocheted in via the underside of the crossbar. Pritchard and Jason Barrera were working overtime in the creativity department as Inglewood continued to probe and probe in search of a way back in.
Kenny Keogh went agonisingly close to cutting the deficit by connecting with a Pritchard cross but his angled header flashed across the face of goal. Kamara delivered the knock-out blow with just a few minute remaining, the teenager delivering a deft chip into the far top corner of the net following a quick switch of play to the left.
Match stats
Inglewood United 0
Stirling Lions 3 (David Micevski 25, Teeboy Kamara 58, 87)
Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Jason Colli, Adam Tong, David Cyrus, Calum O’Connell, John Migas, Mark Pritchard, Jason Barrera, Kenny Keogh (Scott Blackmore 79), Ashley Rosindale (Tim Robertson 61), Brian Woodall
Stirling Lions: John Perkins, Michael Pugliese (Abdul Sesay 67), Graham Doran, Shane Cassidy, David Sesay, Daniel Micevski, Blamo Quaqua, Brodie Martin (Miki Vujacic 72), David Micevski, Teeboy Kamara (Jason Rubridge 89), Robert Petkov
Bookings: Keogh (29), Martin (45), A.Sesay (82), Cyrus (88), Robertson (89)
Dismissals: Colli (4)
