Brian Woodall’s final minute header salvaged a 2-2 draw from this afternoon’s National Premier Leagues fixture with Mandurah City. Woodall’s second goal of the game earned Inglewood United a valuable point after Mandurah had earlier twice claimed the lead at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium.
“In terms of depth, experience and quality, we’ve got that, but at the moment we’re not even getting close to a pass mark and that’s not acceptable,” coach Taki Nicolaidis said of the performance. “Every game we’ve been in positions to win, but we haven’t come away with the results. At this level it is all about results, and I am far from impressed.”
Inglewood may have had the lions’ share of first half possession but for visiting goalkeeper Cyril Sharrock there were very few moments of real concern. Then, with half-time on the horizon, Adam Tong was ruled to have impeded Ryan Francis inside the 18-yard box and from the sport Oscar Thompson fired Mandurah into the lead.
The second half opened with Inglewood back on the attack. Alex Salmon unleashed a couple of powerful shots but Sharrock had all the answers on each occasion. The goal Inglewood sought arrived on the hour when Woodall reacted quickly to tuck away the loose ball after Sharrock parried another shot from Salmon.
It took just six minutes for Mandurah to respond, Jeff Bright blasting in via the crossbar after being afforded space inside the area. Inglewood refused to let this setback get to them and quickly resumed the attack. A couple of chances to equalise came the way of Woodall but the big attacker was unable to make the most of either.
The game was almost at an end when Scott Blackmore’s pinpoint delivery from the right was met by Woodall, who nodded in much to the delight of the Inglewood faithful. Substitute Mark Pritchard went agonisingly close to stealing all three points for the hosts when he flashed a dead ball narrowly wide in stoppage time.
Match stats
Inglewood United 2 (Brian Woodall 60, 90)
Mandurah City 2 (Oscar Thompson 41, Jeff Bright 66)
Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, David Cyrus, Scott Blackmore, Adam Tong, Jason Colli (Kenny Keogh 64), Jason Barrera, Brian Farrell (Luke Randazzo 84), Ashley Rosindale (Mark Pritchard 75, John Migas, Brian Woodall, Alex Salmon
Mandurah City: Cyril Sharrock, Mitchell Firth, Oliver McGee, Oscar Thompson (Craig Tone 78), Daniel Dyson, Jeff Bright, Matt Stares, Sean Troup (Joseph O’Brien 70), Mark McLaughlin, Ryan Francis, Andy Brown
Bookings: Nil
Dismissals: Nil
