Report by Colin Outhwaite

Sean Canham's 83rd minute goal kept Sorrento's league hopes up as they drew 1-1 with Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park.

David Micevski scored from the spot in the 22nd minute but the Lions couldn't retain their lead for the remainder of the game.

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell said they worked hard for the point.

"Stirling dominated for large portions of the first half but I thought we were fantastic in the second," he said.

“That’s now four games unbeaten but we just haven’t been sticking the ball in the net.”

Sorrento's defence was impenetrable in the first half but slipped up when they brought down Jack Salter in the box and Micevski smashed in the resulting penalty.

Salter could have doubled their lead in the 53rd minute when he latched onto a Micevski flick-on but keeper Curtis Aspden was unchallenged.

Sorrento gained composure and hassled the Lions in the air with long balls towards the front men.

In the 76th minute Todd Harnwell almost got the breakthrough as he beat keeper Aleks Vrteski in an aerial challenge forcing Rikki Smith to make his second goal-line clearance.

As the Gulls pressed for the equaliser they became exposed at the back and substitute Moses Kalau came close with Stirling’s only shot on target in the second half hitting the inside of the post.

Sorrento's pressure paid off when stand-in captain Daryl Platten headed a corner towards goal for Canham to finish.

Sorrento were reduced to 10 men in the dying moments when Brodie Martin received a second yellow card but it didn't leave enough time for the Lions to capitalise.

Stirling coach Gary Williams thought his side were the better team overall.

"I'm not saying we played the best football but I thought our first-half performance in terms of team work and effort was exceptional," he said.

"We needed a win to keep the pressure on Sorrento so to concede a goal so late feels like a defeat."

Stirling head into a match against league leaders Bayswater City but Williams is confident.

"On our day we can beat any team in the league,” he said. “It's just getting that mental strength and believing we can.”

Stirling Lions 1 (David Micevski 22’)
Sorrento 1 (Sean Canham 83')
Saturday July 5th 2014
Macedonia Park
Attendance: 250
Referee: Josh Manella
Assistant: Daniel Cole, Andrew Giorgi

Stirling Lions: 1. Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 2. Rikki SMITH, 5. Dean EVANS, 6. Hayden DOYLE, 8. Andrew BROWN (c),  9. Daniel MICEVSKI (15 Moses KALAU 70’), 10. David MICEVSKI, 11. Phil ARNOLD (3. Ali GHOULAMI 84’), 13. Jack SALTER, 14. Clayton ARNEZ 16. Jovo PAVLOVIC
Substitutes not used: 24. Connor CAMPBELL (rgk), 7. Miki VUJACIC, 12. Daniel DOLS
Yellow cards: 14. Clayton ARN.EZ 36', 11. Phil ARNOLD 62', 5. Dean EVANS 66'
Red cards: nil

Sorrento: 1. Curtis ASPDEN(gk), 4. Shaun KILKELLY (11. Scott BULLOCH 67’, 6. Daryl PLATTEN (c), 8. Brodie MARTIN, 9. Todd HARNWELL, 10. Jason MIRCO (21. Mike McGINLEY 82’), 13. Steve McDONALD, 14. Chris REID, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA, 18. Sean CANHAM, 22. Ryan PEARSON.
Substitutes not used: 61. Jesse WAGENER (rgk), 15. Razack GELOO, 37. Scott HOYLE
Yellow Cards: 6. Daryl PLATTEN 34', 8. Brodie MARTIN 31' 90+4'
Red Cards: 8. Brodie MARTIN 90+4'