Coach Taki Nicolaidis was left to ponder what might have been following this afternoon’s 2-0 defeat at ECU Joondalup.   For the second successive week Inglewood United had nothing to show for their efforts after conceding late in each half, the loss slipping Nicolaidis’ team from the top of the National Premier Leagues.

“We were quite good in the first half and got ourselves into some good positions in the final third but the final ball let us down,” Nicolaidis commented.   “I felt we should have had a penalty in the second half, when we were one-nil down, which possibly could have changed the game.”

“I’m obviously disappointed with the missed opportunity but I’m not overly concerned about today’s loss.   We have been very good all season and a couple of losses doesn’t change our outlook regarding the rest of the season.   We just need to stay positive and work hard to turn it around.”

Inglewood made their intentions clear from the outset by launching a series of attacking raids only to be turned away on each occasion.   It was looking as through the half would finish scoreless when the hosts struck, Tommy Amphlett and Ollie Annis combining to set up Gordon Smith.

Alex Dunn kept his team in the game after the break by pushing wide shots from Smith and Andy Higgins in the space of a few minutes.   With fifteen minutes to go referee Stuart Muldoon denied Inglewood a spot kick by ruling Steve McGarry’s foul on John Migas to have taken place outside the area.

The visitors were still smarting from that when Annis sealed the win by nodding in from an Amphlett cross.   Even so, Inglewood kept coming at their opponents and Calum O’Connell came within inches of halving the deficit when his late strike crashed into the upright.

Match stats

ECU Joondalup 2 (Gordon Smith 44, Ollie Annis 78)
Inglewood United 0

Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Jason Colli (Ryan Sardi 88), David Cyrus, John Migas, Calum O’Connell, Scott Witschge (Tim Robertson 68), Jason Barrera, Mark Pritchard, Slobodan Vulin, Kenny Keogh, Ashley Rosindale

ECU Joondalup: Lewis Italiano, Joseph Jones, Ryan Lowry, Shane Pickering, Cian Hirrell, Andy Higgins, Steve McGarry, Henry Durr, Oliver Annis, Tommy Amphlett, Gordon Smith (Paddy Doyle 88)

Bookings: Jones (82)

Dismissals: Nil