National Premier League leading goalscorer Alex Salmon struck his tenth goal of the season to earn Inglewood United a 1-1 draw with Perth Glory this afternoon at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium. It was looking as though the hosts would go empty handed when Salmon converted from the spot just minutes from the end of regulation time.
Taki Nicolaidis felt his players created the better chances only to be let down by poor finishing. “I thought over 90 minutes we had enough chances to win the game,” said Nicolaidis, whose team found it difficult beat goalkeeper Jordan Thurtell. “But if you don’t hit the target you’re never going to be in with a chance.”
“Thurtell pulled off two magnificent saves in the first half, and in the second half we had those two one-on-ones but we wavered in front of goal and that’s probably the difference between one point and three points. We will regroup and prepare for Monday’s FFA Cup game against Perth SC, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Inglewood were quick to get on the front foot, launching a series of attacking raids which the visiting defence did well to repel. Brian Woodall’s fine delivery from the left picked out Alex Salmon but the striker’s crisp half-volley was spectacularly tipped over the top by the full-stretch ‘keeper.
Home custodian Alex Dunn pushed Daniel Stynes’ effort onto the post before Thurtell denied Jason Barrera at the opposite end. Glory edged ahead in the shadows of half-time when Kosta Petratos netted a penalty after Dunn was deemed to have impeded Stynes.
Inglewood returned from the break fired up. Victor Brauner placed too close to the ‘keeper and Woodall headed the wrong side of the upright. Salmon finished disappointingly over the crossbar before getting his angles right with another shot only for it to be blocked by the defence.
Their reward finally arrived on 85 minutes, Luca Bodnar fouling substitute Ash Rosindale with Salmon making no mistake from the spot. The game was dep in stoppage time when the final drama unfolded, Kenny Keogh squaring for Rosindale whose vicious strike rattled the bar.
Match stats
Inglewood United 1 (Alex Salmon 87)
Perth Glory (Kosta Petratos 45)
Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, John Migas, Scott Blackmore, David Cyrus (Adam Tong 80), Alex Ishida-Livings, Matthew Ntoumenopoulos, Jason Barrera (Chock Dau 76), Victor Brauner (Ashley Rosindale 81), Brian Woodall, Kenny Keogh, Alex Salmon
Perth Glory: Jordan Thurtell, Riley Warland, Luca Bodnar, Jack Iredale, Cam Murray, Jack Leech, Jamal Reiners (Michael McDougall 46), Sam Riak, Joseph Knowles, David Stynes, Kosta Petratos
Bookings: Cyrus (50), Riak (74), Iredale (90)
Dismissals: Nil
