Report by Dennis Gedling

Armadale survived almost the entire second half playing with 10 men to grab a draw against Inglewood United at Alfred Skeet Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Chris Jackson, who had scored his side’s equaliser, was the player sent off when he received a straight red card on 49 minutes following a flashpoint which left an Inglewood player on the ground.

But the home side dug in to end a two-game losing run in the NPL WA.

The game was fiery from the start as Inglewood looked to make full use of their wingers Ellis Healing and Jamie Murphy.

And that combination paid dividends on 22 minutes when Inglewood took the lead. An excellent run by Healing down the left resulted in a pass to Murphy, whose looping shot crashed off the crossbar. Thankfully for United the loose ball fell to Brian Farrell, who made no mistake.

After going ahead Inglewood grew in confidence while frustration grew in the home ranks and they had captain Nathan Costello booked for a foul. Armadale almost paid further for Costello’s misdemeanour but three Inglewood players all just failed to get a toe on the free-kick with the goal gaping.

Armadale seemed roused by their let-off and Beau Rahim sent a header wide after being set up by Michael Razidis. But the equaliser arrived right on half-time. Armadale won a free-kick just outside the area and the hard-working Jackson brilliantly curled home the set-piece. 

The second half was only four minutes old when Jackson was dismissed, much to the anger of his teammates and the home fans. However, Armadale coach John O’Reilly later conceded that his half-time team-talk demanding his players fight for the ball may have been taken too literally.

Initially after Jackson’s departure it was all hands to the pumps for Armadale, as Inglewood pressed to make their numerical advantage count.

However by the end it was Armadale who looked the more likely to steal the win as substitute James Atkins saw his header hit the crossbar while Billy Quinncroft had an effort cleared off the line.

Inglewood captain David Cyrus had to leave the field following a sickening head clash as Armadale grabbed a well-deserved point.

Armadale 1 (Jackson 43 mins)
Inglewood United 1 (Farrell 22)
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Alfred Skeet Oval
Kick-off: 3pm

Armadale: 1. Sam HUTCHINGS 15. Ali GHOLAMI 21. Beau RAHIM 9. Billy QUINNCROFT 7. Charlie KENNA 10. Chris JACKSON 5. David ANNALL 2. Joshua KUSER 8. Michael LAWSON 11. Michael RIZIDIS (17. James ATKINS 72) 4. Nathan COSTELLO
Substitutes not used: 34. Duncan LENNON-BLACK 6. Kevin CASTLE 13. Brad GRIEPL
Yellow cards: Costello 37 Kenna 83
Red cards: Jackson 49

Inglewood United: 1. Alex DUNN 15. Brian FARRELL 23. Brian WOODALL 3. David CYRUS (13. Kristian DESPOTOVSKI 84) 11. Ellis HEALING 14. Hanafi GHAZALI 8. Jason BARRERA 6. Milorad VUJACIC (17. Rikki SMITH 68) 4. Scott BLACKMORE 5. Scott ROBERTSON 16. Jamie MURPHY
Substitutes not used: 20. Michael COHEN 12. GRIFFON BESCI
Yellow cards: Healing 11, Murphy 27
Red cards: Nil