Report by Matthew Corvi

Photo by Sabata Creatives

Sorrento have continued their unbeaten start to the season after snatching a point in the 96th minute against Bayswater in a 4-4 thriller at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday.

With both sides coming into the season challenging for the title, the fans expected a tight encounter, and that’s how the game would play out.

Sorrento opened the scoring with an early goal from Sean Canham. After Scott Bulloch beat his man out wide, Canham latched onto the end of the cross, putting the home side ahead in the 19th minute.

Just before half-time, Sorrento doubled their lead. After a precise through ball, Jack Salter would take on his man, and fire his shot into the bottom corner for a fantastic solo goal.

Bayswater started the brighter of the two teams in the second half, with Borbor Sam getting a goal back for his side after a quick counter attack.

Sorrento soon restored their two goal buffer, with Reece Vittiglia placing the ball into the corner of goal after a good piece of attacking play.

Nine minutes later Bayswater began their comeback. With a routine corner hit into the box, Jason Mirco managed to get to the ball first and bundle it over the line.

Things only got worse for Sorrento, with Ryan Pearson receiving his second yellow for a raised elbow when challenging for the ball.

Bayswater then pegged another goal back when the ball was crossed into the box, hitting the trailing hand of Jordan Brown, giving the referee no choice but to give a penalty as Gustavo Giron Marulanda gave Bayswater their third goal of the game.

With only minutes of injury time remaining, Luka Ninkovic would finish the comeback for Bayswater, scoring in the 93rd minute to give them the lead. His goal celebration though, ended with him receiving a second yellow and being sent off.

Down to ten men and only seconds remaining, Bayswater gave a penalty with Griffiths receiving his second yellow card in the aftermath.

Scott Bulloch stepped up and gave Sorrento their fourth goal of the match, snatching a point for his side with the last kick of the game.

Despite his side throwing away a two goal lead, Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell was happy with his team’s late effort.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose that game, we were in control for most of it” he said.

“The character the team showed going down 4-3 and coming back to draw, not many other teams can do that.”

Bayswater City coach Chris Coyne was happy with his team’s performance, despite losing two points in the last minute.

“Happy with the intensity of the boys, they can all hold their heads high” he said.

“We can do better from a technical aspect, but it was a good game from two teams trying to win the NPL”.

Sorrento 4 (Canham 19min, Salter 42, Vittiglia 61, Bulloch 90+6)
Bayswater City 4 (Sam 57, Micro 72, Marulanda 82, Ninkovic 90+3)
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Percy Doyle Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Matthew Southern        
Assistant Referees: Arvin Shanmuganathan, Andre Ferreira            

Bayswater City:  1. Devon SPENCE, 2. Declan HARGREAVES (19. Luka NINKOVIC 67), 9. Gustavo Giron MARULANDA,10. Jason MICRO, 11. Devon GIBSON, 12. David STOKOE, 13. Trent KAY (c) (23. Andrija JUKIC 67),17. Bor Bor SAM, 18. Brent GRIFFITHS,20. Sam MITCHINSON,21. David HEAGNEY (8. Paul McCARTHY 53)
Substitutes not used: 22. Jamie MURPHY, 25. Michael COHEN (gk)
Yellow Cards: Hargreaves 37, Griffiths 74, Jukic 80, Ninkovic 87, McCarthy 90+4
Red Cards: Ninkovic 90+3, Griffiths 90+5     

Sorrento: 1. James MORGAN, 8. Ryan PEARSON, 9. Sean CANHAM (5. Billy QUINNCROFT 58), 10. Scott BULLOCH, 11. Timothy HILL 13. Steve MCDONALD, 14. Scott WITSCHGE, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA (21. Sam BYLES 83), 18. Jordan BROWN, 19. Jack SALTER (2. Jacob SHORE 77), 20. Brad MCDONALD
Substitutes not used: 7. Alex MORGAN, 60. Anthony SALPIETRO
Yellow cards: Pearson 40, Witschge 52, Quinncroft 79, McDonald 87
Red Cards: Pearson 77