Inglewood United’s miserable run has continued with a 4-1 loss to Perth SC at Intiga Stadium. The early signs were encouraging for the home team with Ryan Clarke posting the games’ opening goal, however, Perth responded with three goals from Mark Doninger and another by Matt Milenkovic to take out all the points.
The afternoon began on a sombre note with players and supporters observing a minutes’ silence in recognition of the late Siggy Kramer’s contribution to the local game. The first incident of note in a free-flowing start came after 12 minutes when referee Tim Mihevc dismissed claims for a home penalty after Ryan Francis went down under Clark Keltie’s challenge.
Inglewood got the goal they deserved after 22 minutes, Francis clipping the ball forward for Clarke to get in behind the defence and deftly lob advancing goalkeeper Francis Soale. But Perth drew level almost immediately through Doninger, who turned in at close-range from Luka Njegich’s low delivery.
Luke Martino did well to prevent Jason Barrera’s dipping shot from sneaking into his net as Perth went looking for another goal. It arrived seven minutes from the break when Doninger ignored Greg Sharland’s presence to angle into the net after a tidy exchange with Aiden Da Luz.
A couple of positional changes at the break by Graham Normanton looked to have had the desired effect on Inglewood. Sean Browne stung Soale’s gloves in the 51st minute and soon after the Perth custodian denied Clarke then Browne in the same passage of play.
Perth heeded those warnings by channelling the ball straight to the other end where Doninger was allowed space to volley in from 10-metres. The home side were still in recovery mode when Milenkovic’s got enough of a touch on Mark Pritchard’s free-kick to catch out Martino, with the ball dropping into an unguarded net.
Martino made amends by smothering Da Luz’s low attempt after which Andrija Jukic lifted high on the end of a Clarke-inspired counterattack. Inglewood appeared certain to gain a spot kick with eleven minutes remaining after Soale clattered into substitute Abdul Sesay, however, the referee once again saw nothing wrong with the challenge.
Match stats
Inglewood United 1 (Ryan Clarke 22)
Perth SC 4 (Mark Doninger 23, 37, 58, Matt Milenkovic 60)
Inglewood United: Luke Martino, Shane Pickering, Greg Sharland, Scott Blackmore, David Sesay, David Perich, Sean Browne (Teeboy Kamara 62), Andrija Jukic, Jason Colli (Abdul Sesay 62), Ryan Clarke, Ryan Francis (Dario Pavic 84)
Perth SC: Francis Soale (Domenic Savoldelli 83), Luka Njegich, Clark Keltie, Alex Castiello, Josh Wilkins, Aiden Da Luz, Mark Pritchard, Andreas Theodosiadis, Jason Barrera (Adrian Caceres 72), Matt Milenkovic (Friday Zico 67), Mark Doninger
Bookings: Njegich (49), Blackmore (70), Kamara (81)
Dismissals: Nil
