Defender David Cyrus salvaged Inglewood United a share of the spoils by scoring a late equaliser in this afternoon’s National Premier Leagues clash at Cockburn City. The home team looked set to collect the win when, with 83 minutes gone, Cyrus nabbed Inglewood a 1-1 draw and a much-deserved point.
“The boys played well,” assistant coach Saul Contera said post-game. “We’re not dissatisfied with a point but we felt that we should have got the three points in the end.” The split points means Inglewood slips down one to fifth on the ladder, level on points with Perth SC but trailing on goal difference.
The windy conditions at Dalmatinac Park made life difficult for both sets of players in a first half of few genuine goalscoring opportunities. The first of these came the way of the visiting side, Kenny Keogh’s back post header flashing wide of the target after being found by Ellis Healing.
Cockburn replied with a tidy passing move on the end of which Anthony Skorich slid his shot the wrong side of the upright. Keogh carved out the best opening of the period by beating his marker and delivering an inviting cross which Cyrus half-volleyed over the crossbar.
Alex Salmon was left frustrated soon after the interval when Luke Radonich’s reflex save denied him the breakthrough goal. Luccas Mello twice went close to putting Cockburn in front before his centre allowed Ryan Pratt to chip oncoming goalkeeper over Alex Dunn, making it one-nil.
It took only eight minutes for Inglewood to get back on level terms with Cyrus tapping in from close-range after Salmon’s shot was parried by Radonich. Dunn made sure there would be no further addition to the scoreline when he brilliantly tipped Daniel Robinson’s late strike onto the bar.
Match stats
Cockburn City 1 (Ryan Pratt 71)
Inglewood United 1 (David Cyrus 83)
Cockburn City: Luke Radonich, Ryan Pratt, Euen Grant, Daniel Santich, Harry O’Brien, Reuben Tristao, Luccas Mello, Cameron Edwards, Daniel Robinson, Julian Teles, Anthony Skorich
Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Alex Ishida-Livings, Connor Becsi, David Cyrus, Brian Farrell, Jamie Murphy (Brian Woodall 46), Jason Barrera, Ellis Healing, Kenny Keogh (Hanafi Ghazali 81), Ash Rosindale (Miki Vujacic 62), Alex Salmon
Bookings: Grant (63), Teles (67), Ghazali (83), Skorich (91)
Dismissals: Nil
