A second half hat-trick by Kenny Keogh has inspired Inglewood United to a 5-2 come-from-behind victory over Joondalup United on a warm afternoon at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium. Keogh’s second half haul complemented an Alex Salmon double to jump Inglewood into fifth spot on the National Premier Leagues ladder.
“We had to work hard for the points, they are a physical team, but I thought we overran them in the second half and I thought our fitness shone through,” Keogh comented. “It’s starting to click now, and playing up front with the quality we have up there is good, so there is always going to be chances and luckily I managed to bag a few today.”
Keogh ensured Inglewood’s day got off on right foot by delivering the ball to the far post where Salmon stooped to head in from a seemingly impossible angle. Not content with a single goal lead, the hosts quickly returned to the attack where Adam Tong, Brian Farrell and Scott Blackmore each had chances to widen the gap.
Joondalup drew level on the half hour with their first meaningly attack, Richard Howles finishing low last Alex Dunn. Brian Woodall should have restored his teams lead shortly after but lifted over the crossbar at close-range. That missed was further punished when Howles bundled the ball over the line just before the break.
The second half opened with Inglewood again on the attack. Keogh fired narrowly wide and before a defender hooked away Woodall’s goalbound header. Inglewood got their reward on 68 minutes when crisp movement between Woodall, Matthew Ntoumenopoulos and Colli was finished into the net by Keogh.
Dunn exemplified his teams’ determination by smothering at the feet of Howles as Joondalup attempted to regain the upper hand. A few minutes later Chok Dau delivered the ball into the heart of the 18-yard box where Keogh rammed in his second goal, putting Inglewood back in the lead.
The momentum was now with the hosts and Salmon grabbed his second by converting a penalty award for Greg Pellow’s foul on Woodall. And with three minutes to go Woodall exchanged passes with Salmon and lured the goalkeeper off his line before unselfishly squaring for Keogh, who completed his hat-trick with a simple tap-in.
Match stats
Inglewood United 5 (Alex Salmon 5, 82, Kenny Keogh 68, 80, 87)
Joondalup United 2 (Richard Howles 30, 36)
Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, John Migas, Scott Blackmore, Adam Tong (Connor Besci 91), Jason Colli, Brian Farrell (Matthew Ntoumenopoulos 41), Jason Barrera, Mark Pritchard (Chok Dau 66), Brian Woodall, Kenny Keogh, Alex Salmon
Joondalup United: James Bosdet, Joe Stocker, Luke Serra, Greg Pellow, Robert Bain, Rowdy Yates (Anthony Taylor 46), Joel Ledsham, Guy MacDonald, Matthew Sparrow (Jess Compton 85), Alex Wild, Richard Howles (David Jay 83)
Bookings: Sparrow (9), MacDonald (18), Bain (45), Wild (54)
Dismissals: Nil
