New recruit Alex Salmon struck late in each half to steal Inglewood United a 2-2 draw with Sorrento on a cool evening at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium. Salmon’s double took his personal tally to three goals in two games as Inglewood gained their second successive National Premier Leagues draw.
Speaking post-game, Taki Nicolaidis said Inglewood would have taken more than the single point had it not been for Gulls custodian James Morgan. “Their goalkeeper has had an absolute worldy” Nicolaidis said. “He’s pulled off the best save I’ve seen in my whole career at this level – outstanding! At the end of the day, he’s got them their point.”
“I’m disappointed that we’ve conceded as we have, but there’s always goals in us. We just have to make sure we do a bit better on the defence phase, but the attitude amongst the group is phenomenal. While it’s disappointing, I expect Sorrento to be in the mix at the end of the season. We take one point and we move on to next week.”
After enjoying the better of early possession, Sorrento took the lead on 17 minutes when Billy side-footed in at close-range from Scott Bulloch’s cross to the far post. Inglewood responded by launching a series of attacking raids, the first of which had Brian Farrell sting the gloves of Morgan with an angled drive.
Morgan came to his teams’ rescue again on 34 minutes, the ‘keeper using his legs to thwart John Migas on the end of a tidy echange between Brian Woodall and Salmon. Salmon brought Inglewood level shortly after by sending his post kick into the roof of the net after a handball decision went against Jordan Brown.
Inglewood resumed the attack after the interval. Scott Blackmore looked destined to put the hosts ahead with a powerful header before a full-stretch Morgan spectacularly tipped the ball away from the top corner. Sean Canham entered the action soon after and within minutes the striker headed in Sorrento’s second goal, Bulloch again the provider.
Farrell and substitute Matt Ntoumenopoulos both sent shots past the target as the home side sought to salvage their evening. With the game about to tick into stoppage time, Woodall swiftly found the feet of Salmon who tucked low into the bottom corner to secure a well-deserved point.
Match stats
Inglewood United 2 (Alex Salmon 41, 90)
Sorrento 2 (Billy Quinncroft 16, Sean Canham 69)
Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Tim Robertson, Scott Blackmore, Adam Tong, Alex Ishida-Livings, Jason Barrera, Mark Pritchard (Matt Ntoumenopoulos 75), Brian Farrell (Jason Colli 80), John Migas (Ashley Rosidale 57), Brian Woodall, Alex Salmon
Sorrento: James Morgan, Jordan Brown, Steve MacDonald, Shaun Kilkelly, Ryan Pearson, Scott Witschge (Timothy Hill 82), Brad MacDonald, Brodie Martin, Reece Vittiglia, Scott Bulloch (Jack Salter 69), Billy Quinncroft (Sean Canham 63)
Bookings: Salmon (57), Blackmore (65), B.MacDonald (74)
Dismissals: Nil
