Report by Peter Simcox

A first half like few of their previous performances this season lifted Sorrento to a crucial 2-1 win over Perth SC at Dorrien Gardens yesterday.

The victory brought the Gulls level on points with third-placed Perth, who missed an opportunity to close the gap on leaders Bayswater City, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Inglewood United on Saturday.

Pictured: Sorrento’s Jason Mirco takes on Alex Castiello. Photo: Peter Simcox.

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell felt his team had shown two sides to their character in notching an important victory.

“I thought the first half was some of the best football we’ve played this season and we got the reward on the scoreboard,” he said.

“They but us under pressure in the second half and we conceded the goal and that gave them confidence. But the boys dug in and worked really hard and we defended really well as a team today, which is pleasing.”

The visitors had raced to a two-goal lead in the first half with goals from Brodie Martin and Chris Reid before Perth had an opportunity to reduce the margin in first-half stoppage time but Mark Pritchard sent his penalty wide of the target.

Perth midfielder Mark Doninger pulled a goal back in the second half but despite pressing late in the game they could not find an equaliser.

Scottish midfielder Reid was excellent in the midfield for the Gulls and the former Hamilton Academicals player capped off a good performance with a goal.

“We’ve had to work hard today,” Reid said. “We knew coming away to Perth would be a difficult job and to be fair the whole second half they came at us

“We’ve worked hard on our defence shape at training and today we were excellent.”

Sorrento dominated the early exchanges with skipper Todd Harnwell’s glancing header flashing wide and Reece Vittiglia’s shot from the edge of the penalty area well saved by Francis Soale.

Their domination was rewarded with the lead on 31 minutes. Harnwell played the ball into Martin, who cut inside his marker on the edge of the penalty area before firing low past Soale.

Perth was struggling in the final third but Sorrento continued to dictate terms and doubled their advantage on 41 minutes. Vittiglia ran at the Perth defence and slid a great ball into the path of Reid on the left, who steadied and fired high into the net, beating Soale at his near post.

The home side had not created a clear-cut chance in the first half but in stoppage time they received what could have been a lifeline. Referee David Bruce spotted a handball from Steve McDonald and awarded a penalty that was sent wide by Pritchard.

After the break, Sorrento continued to boss the game and Soale had to be alert again to save Vittiglia’s shot five minutes in.

Perth then brought on Andreas Theodosiades and the lively midfielder began to take hold of the midfield.

Skipper Clark Keltie’s low shot was saved by Curtis Aspden and Shaun Kilkelly had to be alert to head away a Josh Wilkins deep cross with Nick Ambrogio ready to pounce at the back post.

Perth was back in the game on 63 minutes. Wilkins was sent down the right, and he raced past Ryan Pearson, before cutting the ball back to Doninger who fired home from 10m.

Wilkins was a constant threat down the right and it was his cross again eight minutes later that picked out Friday Zico but the striker’s shot hit the side netting.

Both sides had chances as the game opened up. First Doninger’s sweetly struck free kick was beaten away by the alert Aspden before McDonald’s powerful header was tipped over by Soale at full stretch.

Perth pushed for an equaliser but with McDonald and Kilkelly outstanding at the heart of the back four, the Gulls hung on for the points.

Perth SC 1 (Doninger 62’)
Sorrento 2 (Martin 31’, Reid 41’)
Sunday 22nd June 2014
Venue: Dorrien Gardens, West Perth
Attendance: 200 (Approx)
Referee: David Bruce
Assistants: Oliver Allen and Aamir Timour

Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE, 2 Josh WILKINS, 5 Laurence GAUGHAN, 6 Clark KELTIE, 9 Friday ZICO (21 Harley ORR 87’), 13 Alex CASTIELLO, 14 Mark PRITCHARD, 15 Mark DONINGER, 16 Nick AMBROGIO (12 Matt MILENKOVIC 74’), 18 Marco SANTALUCIA (19 Andreas THEODOSIADES 56’), 20 James MAROCCHI
Subs not used: RGK Dom SAVOLDELLI, 8. Aden DA LUZ
Yellow cards: Marocchi 9’, Keltie 68’

Sorrento: GK Curtis ASPDEN, 4 Shaun KILKELLY, 6 Daryl PLATTEN, 7 James MORGAN, 8 Brodie MARTIN, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA (21 Mike McGINLEY 87’), 9 Todd HARNWELL, 10 Jason MIRCO (18 Sean CANHAM 68’), 13 Steve McDONALD, 14 Chris REID (11 Scott BULLOCH 72’), 22 Ryan PEARSON.
Subs not used: RGK Jesse WAGNER, 2 Danny CAIN
Yellow cards: Martin 35’