Inglewood United extended their unbeaten National Premier Leagues run to four games by grinding out a 2-0 win over Armadale this afternoon at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium.   Goals at either end of the second half by Alex Salmon secured all three points to move Inglewood into fifth on the ladder, just five points off top spot.

Caretaker coach Andres Oliveira was pleased with the overall team performance.   “It’s been a difficult week, the boys responded fantastically,” Oliveira said, referencing the mid-week departure of Taki Nicolaidis.   “We wanted to move on, we prepared well this week and got the result.”

A largely uneventful first half was punctuated by the occasion half-chance on goal.   It took until the 16th minute for the first of these to arrive, Salmon’s looping header bouncing off the top of the crossbar.   Ashley Rosindale nodded a difficult chance just wide before Jason Barrera blasted over from the top of the 18-yard box.

Sam Loveless fashioned the visitors first opening by driving down the right with his finish drifting not too far beyond the top corner.   The half finish with another opening coming the way of Salmon but his shot lacked the power and direction required to beat goalkeeper Michael Craggs.

The second half was just minutes old when a shove on Salmon prompted referee Matthew Southern to point to the penalty spot, from where the Inglewood striker made no mistake.   Going a goal down had a galvanising effect on Armadale and Papa Kpatar should have done better than scoop over the bar when unmarked.

Alex Dunn was in no mood to concede and on 76 minutes he was at full-stretch to tip Milan Ognjenovic’s free-kick around the upright.   The result was put beyond doubt in stoppage time with Salmon slotting across the ‘keeper on the end of a tidy exchange that featured substitute Chok Dau and Barrera.

Match stats

Inglewood United 2 (Alex Salmon 47, 91)
Armadale 0

Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, John MIgas, Scott Blackmore, David Cyrus, Jason Colli, Matthew Ntoumenopoulos, Jason Barrera, Ashley Rosindale (Mark Pritchard 72), Brian Woodall (Adam Tong 78), Kenny Keogh (Chok Dau 64), Alex Salmon

Armadale: Michael Craggs, Jake Sardelic, David Annall, Nathan Costello, Sam Loveless (Beau Rahmi 62), Jordan Pavett, Charlie Kenna, Dannie Richman (Milan Ognjenovic 75), Kyle King (Jackson Bealey 69), Papa Kpatar, James Atkins

Bookings: Keogh (45), Kenna (76), Bealey (78), Kpatar (83), Colli (93)

Dismissals: Nil