Inglewood United are happy to embrace the underdog tag as they prepare for this evening’s Preliminary Final blockbuster with ECU Joondalup.   National Premier Leagues leaders for much of the season, Inglewood enters this week’s game in the unfamiliar position of claiming victory from just two of their last eight games.

Joondalup, by contrast, are on a thirteen-game unbeaten streak that takes in last month’s 1-0 defeat of Inglewood and a last-gasp 5-4 win over Floreat Athena five days ago.   Brian Woodall acknowledges the northern suburbs outfit have momentum on their side, however, that’s not to say they cannot be beaten.

“There’s no doubt Joondalup is the form side coming into the finals,” Woodall said.   “But I don’t feel they are a particularly difficult team to play against.   When we met last month we dominated the game and created a lot of chances, we just didn’t make the most of them.”

It was a similar story on Saturday when Woodall’s late strike against Perth SC sent the Major Semi-Final to extra-time.   And although Azzurri went on to prevail in a tense penalty shoot-out Woodall was from downhearted, saying there was plenty in the performance for Inglewood to be proud about.

“Saturday was probably one of our best performances football-wise of the year, we were pretty unlucky not get the win,” Woodall commented.   “As a team we have been playing well for the last month or thereabouts with everyone doing their individual job on the day but results haven’t been going our way.”

“After the way we played on the weekend, we are all feeling pretty confident going into Wednesday’s game.   We know that if we play with that same intensity again and carry out the game plan the coaches put in place then we will put ourselves in a good position to beat Joondalup.”

Top Four Cup Preliminary Final

Inglewood United vs ECU Joondalup
Wednesday 7 September @ Inglewood Stadium
Kick-off 8.30pm