Inglewood United claimed outright leadership of the National Premier Leagues with this afternoon’s 2-1 win over neighbouring Bayswater City at Inglewood Stadium. Brian Woodall and Mark Pritchard were on-target within minutes of each other midway through the first half to move Inglewood three points clear at the top of the standings.
Coach Taki Nicolaidis dismissed suggestions he holds the secret formula to defeating Bayswater after guiding Inglewood to victory over their neighbours for the third time this year. “It is just perseverance I guess,” Nicolaidis told nplwa.com.au “And I think just belief in our playing group that you go out there with a plan and execute it well.”
Bayswater came out firing only to be met by a strong rear-guard action from the home team. The all-important first goal arrived on 19 minutes via Woodall, who strode forward to drill low into the net after Kenny Keogh’s surging run through the middle was unceremoniously halted just outside the penalty box.
That margin was doubled five minutes later when Pritchard converted from the spot following Sam Mitchinson’s foul on Ashley Rosindale. The game would have been over by the break had it not been for Devon Spence, who somehow turned wide a powerful shot from Woodall and was at full-length to keep out Josh Pereira’s long-range thunderbolt.
The start of the second half was Alex Dunn’s turn to take centre stage, the Inglewood custodian twice thwarting substitute David Heagney as Bayswater sought a way back in. Keogh’s pace was causing the visiting defence no end of problems and his crisp shot on the run was tipped wide by Spence.
A long ball from the back by David Cyrus sent Keogh in the clear but Trent Kay did enough to prevent his opponent from getting off a clean shot. Bayswater finally got the goal they were after when Andy Reale headed in a Todd Howarth corner in the final minute of regulation time.
Match stats
Inglewood United 2 (Brian Woodall 19, Mark Pritchard 24)
Bayswater City (Andy Reale 90)
Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Scott Blackmore, Adam Tong, David Cyrus, Jason Coli, Josh Pereira (Jason Barrera 78), Mark Pritchard, John Migas, Kenny Keogh, Ashley Rosindale (Scott Witschge 66), Brian Woodall (Calum O’Connell 84)
Bayswater City: Devon Spence, Jamie Coyne, Trent Kay, Sam Mitchinson, Jason Mirco (David Stokoe 75), Andy Reale, Todd Howarth, Nathan Costello (David Heagney 46), Lawrence Shuruma, Brian Farrell (Jack Jones 82), Callum Salmon
Bookings: Keogh (7), Mitchinson (27), Coyne (29), Migas (85)
Dismissals: Nil
