Ashley Rosindale played the role of super-sub as Inglewood United maintained their place at the top of the National Premier Leagues with a 2-1 home triumph over Balcatta. The visitors were on the scoreboard first but Kenny Keogh brought the teams level before the break after which Rosindale found the decisive goal.
Victory away at Floreat Athena next weekend will bring the league trophy to Inglewood for only the second time since the Club’s first outing in 1953. “It’s all in the lad’s hands now,” coach Andy Keogh said. “They’ve worked incredibly hard to get in this position and hopefully they enjoy the moment when they step out on the pitch next weekend.”
A largely uneventful opening period was punctuated on 18 minutes when Dejan Andric pounced at close range to give the visitors a surprise lead. Hamza Hina was disappointed not to restore parity on the half hour when he steered Matthew Ntoumenopoulos inviting free-kick straight at goalkeeper Domenic Savoldelli.
Hina made amends a few minutes later by latching onto Alex Dunn’s booming clearance and squaring into the path of Keogh who gleefully put away the equalising goal. Keogh was unlucky not to finish the half with another goal but Savoldelli recovered to save his opponents shot after miscuing a clearance.
Rosindale gave Inglewood the lead early in the second half by sweeping the ball in from a few metres after Keogh got to Ntoumenopoulos’ corner just ahead of Savoldelli. The hosts should have had a third goal soon after but Rosindale crashed into the right post and Ntoumenopoulos into the left within seconds of eachother.
Ismael Bangura twice went close to putting Balcatta back in the game before Chok Dau and Ntoumenopoulos were denied by Savoldelli in quick succession. Retiring great Jason Colli received a standing ovation as he exited his final home game for Inglewood just minutes from the final whistle.
Match stats
Inglewood United 1 (Kenny Keogh 33, Ashley Ronsindale 57)
Balcatta 1 (Dejan Andric 18)
Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Jason Colli (Brian Farrell 90), David Cyrus, Scott Blackmore, Alex Ishida-Livings, Matthew Ntoumenopoulos, Jason Barrera, Kenny Keogh, Brian Woodall (Ashley Rosindale 45), Hamza Hina, Alex Salmon (Chok Dau 79)
Balcatta: Domenic Savoldelli, Brody Kennedy, Tom Pellizari, Justin Onek, Rudnei Nogueira (Brennan Borzecki 69), Marco Chadinha (Ismael Bangura 92), Jonathan Corness, Calum O’Connell, Anton De Francesh, Luccas Mello, Dejan Andric (Endalk Achamyleh 57)
Bookings: Andric (21), Keogh (61), Blackmore (64), Borzecki (82)
Dismissals: Nil
