Report by Tommy Doleman

Photo by Fotoenzo

Sorrento scored in each half to boost their title aspirations as they defeated Joondalup United 2-1 in their PS4 NPLWA fixture at Percy Doyle Reserve.

Sean Canham finished neatly for the Gulls on the half hour before Scott Witschge looked to have put the game beyond doubt midway through the second half.

Ross Edwards replied quickly as Joondalup United rallied late on, but they couldn’t find a way through a stubborn Sorrento defence.

The win puts Jamie Harnwell’s side back into the top four following Floreat’s draw with Mandurah and the coach was happy to have things back in their control.

“It’s good to have it in our hands,” he said.

“We’d like to look a little higher but another Inglewood win today makes that tough.

“It’s all about momentum now and we just want to keep going on with that until the end of the season.”

Harnwell admitted it was a tough work out against a committed Joondalup United, but praised the resolve of his players.

“They bullied us last time and got the result, so we knew we had to match them for effort and intensity,” he said.

“We did that and had two pieces of real quality which told.

“We made it a little bit harder for ourselves than we should have but the boys really stood up and were counted.”

It was a first half of few chances with both sides separated at the break by a moment of quality from Canham.

The former Notts County striker turned his marker sharply before curling with precision into the far corner to give the Gulls the lead.

The scratchy football continued in the second half as Canham headed a rare chance over, before Sorrento added a second on the break.

Ryan Pearson drove through the opposition defence and laid the ball out to Witschge, who crisply finished into the far corner with a first time shot.

To their credit, though, Joondalup United hit back swifty as Edwards finished at the back post to breathe life back into the contest.

Richard Howles and Sparrow were both denied by Morgan as United pressed for an equaliser in the final 15 minutes.

Canham nearly sealed the game with a towering header late on, but James Bosdet made a stunning reaction save to keep his side in it.

There was still a late chance for Joondalup United to level, but Morgan scrambled brilliantly to palm away Luke Serra toe-poke as the Gulls held firm.

Joondalup United 1 (Edwards 71min)
Sorrento 2 (Canham 30, Witschge 68)
Saturday 5 August, 2017
Percy Doyle Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm

Joondalup United: GK. James BOSDET, 3. Rowdy YATES, 4. Arran MAPLESTONE, 6. Guy MCDONALD (22. Robert TARPEY 88’), 7. Matthew SPARROW, 8. Josh WHITMORE, 9. Richard HOWLES, 11. Josh BOOYSEN (17. Luke SERRA 65’), 13. Chris PUGH, 16. Ross EDWARDS, 18. Anthony TAYLOR (5. Joe STOCKER 72’)
Substitutes not used: RGK. Jack NUNN, 15. Sam WYNNE
Yellow Cards: Taylor 20’, McDonald 43’, Yates 90+3’
Red Cards: nil

Sorrento: GK. James MORGAN, 4. Shaun KILKELLY, 6. Darryl PLATTEN, 8. Ryan PEARSON (7. Alex MORGAN 69’), 9. Sean CANHAM (3. George HUNTER 87’), 11. Tim HILL, 13. Steve MCDONALD, 14. Scott WITSCHGE, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA, 20. Brad MCDONALD, 21. Sam BYLES
Substitutes not used: RGK. Anthony SALPIETRO, 2. Jacob SHORE, 16. Jackson DONGRAY
Yellow Cards: Pearson 54’, Platten 88’
Red Cards: nil