Inglewood United were undone to the tune of 3-1 by an in-form Sorrento outfit this afternoon at Inglewood Stadium. Not even the heroics of Aleks Vrteski, who made a string of fine saves, and a stunning long-range goal by Kenny Keogh could inspire the home side to their first win of the National Premier Leagues season.
The tone of the opening half was established early with Vrteski diving full-stretch to keep out a Thomas Leabourn-Boss strike, with Rikki Smith denying Jack Salter at the follow-up. Vrteski twice frustrated Salter before Andrija Jukic crafted Inglewood’s first chance but Keogh was unable to steer goalward his 25th minute header.
Keogh was the target again nine minutes later when Ryan Clarke’s centre was scooped off his teammates toe by goalkeeper James Morgan. Nicco Sabatini got the goal Sorrento were after soon after by driving a dead ball through the defensive wall. And when Adam Luca powered the ball in three minutes later, Inglewood were reeling.
Fired up by Michael Garcia’s half-time address, the home team returned to the field with renewed determination. Their reward came on 56 minutes, Scott Witschge turning the ball over to tee-up Keogh whose sublime strike from 30-metres drifted over an out-stretched ‘keeper before dropping into the top corner.
The momentum was now firmly with Inglewood, however, they were held at bay by a stubborn defence. Sorrento eventually made the game safe via Salter, who poked in at close-range after Vrteski parried a Sabatini shot. Clarke was unfortunate not to add to Inglewood’s tally when his header, from substitute Jason Colli’s delivery, was deflected away by Morgan.
Match stats
Inglewood United 1 (Keogh 56)
Sorrento 3 (Sabatini 38, Luca 40, Salter 77)
Inglewood United: Aleks Vrteski, Rikki Smith (Jason Colli 74), Jovo Pavlovic, Scott Blackmore, Jarrod McNally, Ryan Clarke, Shane Pickering (David Sesay 46), Matt Izzo (Tim Gould 54), Andrija Jukic, Scott Witschge, Kenny Keogh
Sorrento: James Morgan, Ryan Pearson, Steve McDonald, Lewis Hall, Nicco Sabatini (Shaun Kilkelly 82), Jason Mirco (Jordan Dodd 82), Jack Eades, Thomas Leabourn-Boss (Brad McDonald 74), Adam Luca, Todd Harnwell, Jack Salter
Bookings: Pavlovic (36), Pearson (54), Sabatini (65)
Dismissals: Nil
