Report by Al Martin

On a day that Todd Harnwell marked an incredible 400 first-team appearances with the Gulls, 10-made Cockburn City tore up the script and defeated Sorrento 3-2 at Percy Doyle Reserve.

After Cockburn defender Euen Grant was sent off in the 77th minute, Cockburn weathered a furious Sorrento onslaught that culminated in a Harnwell volley being cleared off the line in the dying minutes of the match.

Cockburn certainly started the stronger of the two sides with Feizel Zaw continuing his run of good form and created some early scares before teammate Alan Carrol converted the pressure into a goal with a header off a fine Conor Kavanagh cross.

Towering Sorrento centre back Steve McDonald restored parity shortly after with a neat finish at the top of the box after latching onto Harnwell’s pass.

The tempo of the game increased with plenty of half opportunities at either end before Kavanagh somehow managed to receive the ball behind the Sorrento back four and after scrambling to avert danger, Kavanagh went down with referee Steve Lucas awarding a penalty.

Kavanagh duly stepped up and converted in the top-left corner.

The anticipation of celebrating a win along with Harnwell’s milestone appearance appeared to dwindle further when Devon Gibson connected with Ross Diamond who finished with aplomb.

With Sorrento making a double substitution later and making McDonald their target man, the home side began to threaten Cockburn custodian Dejan Aleksic with increasing regularity.

Once Grant received his marching orders it was one-way traffic and Shaun Kilkelly scored, pulling the deficit back to only one goal.

A frenetic finish failed to deliver the equaliser as Cockburn valiantly held on to claim three precious away points.

Sorrento co-coach Jamie Harnwell was disappointed his side didn’t start well at all.

On his brother’s landmark achievement, Jamie said “it’s fantastic for the club, he’s always been a hard-working, honest professional and a pleasure to work with, it’s a shame we’re not celebrating a win with him today.”

Cockburn coach Marc Anthony was delighted in his side’s steely resolve to withstand immense pressure with only 10 men against a difficult Sorrento side.

On the man of the moment, Anthony said: “400 games is a hell of an achievement, it’s terrific for Sorrento and Todd who’s a top lad and a top player.”

Sorrento 2 (McDonald 20, Kilkelly 81)
Cockburn 3 (Carrol 13, Kavanagh pen 37, Diamond 56)
Saturday, 26th April 2014
Percy Doyle Reserve
Crowd: 289
Match time: 3pm
Referee: Steve Lucas
Assistant referees: Tim Mihevc and Tom Doyle

Sorrento: 1. Curtis ASPDEN, 6. Daryl PLATTEN (c), 4. Shaun KILKELLY, 13. Steve McDONALD, 2. Danny CAIN (20. Jesse FULLER 85’), 21. Mike McGINLEY (10. Jason MIRCO 64’), 5. Adam LUCA (8. Brodie MARTIN 64’), 14. Chris REID, 22. Ryan PEARSON, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA, 9. Todd HARNWELL

Substitutes not used: 60. James MORGAN
Yellow cards: McDonald 30, Aspden 69, Platten 88
Red cards: Nil

Cockburn City: 23. Dejan ALEKSIC, 12. Paul NATALE (16. Julian TELES 90’), 4. Euen GRANT, 5. Alan CARROL, 10. Ross DIAMOND, 9. Eamon McNELIS, 3. Blake ADAMS, 14. Conor KAVANAGH, 11. Devon GIBSON, 18. Liam MURRAY (19. Jonty TURNER 74’), 12. Feizel ZAW (7. Ryan HASLETT 74’)

Substitutes not used: RGK Eric CUTRI, 8. David ARAYA
Yellow cards: Grant 45, 77, Diamond 66
Red Cards: Grant 77 (second yellow card)