Report by Peter Simcox

Sorrento all but booked their National Premier Leagues WA top-four finals spot with a 2-0 win against Floreat Athena at E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday. 

A first-half Brodie Martin strike gave them the lead at the break before Reece Vittiglia scored from the penalty spot to give them victory.

Pictured: Steve McDonald heads towards Floreat's goal. Photo: Peter Simcox.

Skipper Daryl Platten said it was a hard-fought game that they had deserved to win.

“It was hard out there today but overall I thought we dominated the game and deserved the three points,” he said.

“We’re happy to get a clean sheet today. They have been hard to come by for us recently. The lads in the middle of the park were great. We knew they had dangerous players in there, so Brodie (Martin) and Chris (Reid) were great for us today.”

It was a lively opening with both sides going close early. Vittiglia’s long-range shot after only two minutes was saved low by Tom Dixon, while moments later Jack Allen’s shot whistled over the top for the home side.

A win would have also put Floreat in the running for a finals spot and Curtis Aspden had to be alert to tip over Lewis McMahon’s overhead kick on nine minutes.

But four minutes later the visitors hit the front. A good run down the left by Niccolo Sabatini ended with a cut back to Martin on the edge of the penalty area. His shot deflected off Kye Douglas, wrong footing Floreat keeper Dixon and the ball went into the net.

The home side lifted and on the half hour McMahon eased his way past his marker on the left, before delivering a low cross to the back post - but Blair Govan could not find the target from a tight angle.

On the stroke of half time, Floreat had a strong penalty claim when Shaun Kilkelly brought down Ludovic Boi. They were convinced it was inside the penalty area but referee Adam Fielding awarded a free-kick right on the edge. Boi took the resultant set piece but Cameron Yorke fired over.

The visitors brought on former Perth Glory midfielder Scott Bulloch at the break to replace Razack Geloo and they doubled their advantage ten minutes in.

Todd Harnwell burst in to the right hand side of the penalty area and was brought down by Govan. Fielding pointed straight to the spot and Vittiglia stepped up and fired low past Dixon.

Sorrento went close to a third on 74 minutes. Vittiglia’s corner was headed goalwards by Steve McDonald but Aryn Williams cleared the ball off the line.

Floreat were struggling to break down a tight defence, well led by Platten and Kilkelly, but Sorrento continued to create chances. Bulloch sent McDonald down the left and his cross in the penalty area was fired just wide by Harnwell at the back post.

Floreat needed a lift and they went close to pulling one back on 86 minutes. Second half substitute Christopher Rizidis wasn’t closed down by Sorrento and his low shot flashed inches past the post.

With Floreat pushing men forward late they nearly conceded a third in the last minute. A great ball from Kilkelly sent Bulloch racing down the left and his ball in the penalty area found Martin but his shot was cleared off the line by Mark Walsh.

The win takes fourth-placed Sorrento five points clear of Stirling Lions with two games remaining.

Coach Jamie Harnwell was pleased with the defending with the finals on the horizon.

“It was a good win and it was one of our better defensive performances,” Harnwell said. “We’ve been leaking goals this season so to keep a clean sheet is pleasing.

“It was a little scrappy at times but the lads dug in and we could have scored a couple more but for some last ditch defending from them.”

Floreat Athena 0
Sorrento 2 (Martin 13’, Vittiglia pen 56’)
Sunday 10th August 2014
E&D Litis Stadium, Mt Hawthorn
Attendance: 150
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistants: Colin Duncan and Hayden Frost

Floreat Athena: GK Tom DIXON, 2 Blair GOVAN (16 Nicholas PSANOUDAKIS 75’), 3 Jack ALLEN, 8 Bobby WILSON, 10 Aryn WILLIAMS, 11 Cameron YORKE, 14 Ludovic BOI, 15 Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 18 Kye DOUGLAS (9 Christopher RIZIDIS 60’), 20 Lewis MCMAHON, 33 Mark WALSH,
Subs not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 6 John CHIVELL, 13 Matthew RIZIDIS
Yellow cards: Allen 78’, Walsh 80’

Sorrento: GK Curtis ASPDEN, 4 Shaun KILKELLY, 6 Daryl PLATTEN, 8 Brodie MARTIN (44 Zack EDWARDS 90’), 9 Todd HARNWELL, 13 Steve McDONALD, 14 Chris REID, 15 Razack GELOO (11 Scott BULLOCH 46’), 16 Niccolo SABATINI, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA, 22 Ryan PEARSON
Subs not used: RGK Jesse WAGENER, 23 Wesley PADLEY, 28 Scott HOYLE
Yellow cards: Reid 8’, Kilkelly 44’, Platten 56’