Report by Daryn McCleave 
 
Marc Anthony's resurgent Cockburn City recorded their fourth win in succession, seeing off Sorrento 3-1 at Dalmatinac Park as the battle for fourth place - the last finals spot - heats up with just four rounds of the home and away season remaining.

In a must-win game for the home side, Matt Barlow gave the Cockerels the lead on 34 minutes but the Gulls could perhaps count themselves fortunate to be level at the break thanks to Todd Harnwell's strike in the only minute of added time.

Pictured: Sorrento's James Morgan challenges Jesse Fuller. Photo: Football West News

An entertaining and hard-fought contest, though, was settled with two late goals - Devon Gibson restoring the advantage in the 76th minute before substitute Julien Teles ended any hopes of a second Sorrento comeback with 85 minutes on the clock.

Cockburn coach Anthony was well aware a draw would be insufficient, stating the result was more important than the performance. However he was delighted with the way his players sealed the points and completed "the double" over Sorrento.

"We got the ball down and passed the ball really well,” he said. “The lads showed great character to respond from the sucker punch right on half-time and I thought we deserved the three points in the end.”

"The lads, in the last four or five weeks, have kept responding to what we're asking of them. We keep getting results and they've got the belief in themselves. We're up there on merit."

City started the game like a team full of confidence, at times penning Sorrento back as they searched for an early goal, with visiting keeper Curtis Aspden on his toes to deny David Arraya and Barlow in the opening 15 minutes.

The Gulls worked their way into the game and almost went ahead when Sean Canham crashed a shot against a post from 25m.

But it was to be the Cockerels who struck first, Barlow continuing his purple patch in front of goal with an excellent run and an equally good strike from the edge of the box into Aspden's bottom left corner of the net.

Having looked fairly solid, the home defence were carved open at the end of the half, with Canham nodding a deep cross perfectly into the path of Todd Harnwell, who made no mistake from around 15m.

The second half began the way the first had, City seeking to regain the lead only for Aspden to thwart Arraya, again after good work from Barlow.

The visitors seemed content to invite Cockburn to attack, looking to expose them on the counter, and it almost paid dividends as Jason Mirco made his way into the box but home stopper Dejan Aleksic pushed away his effort.

But as the game wore on Cockburn's pressure increased, Arraya failing to make the most of a superb chance with just Aspden to beat, and Teles squandering a couple of promising opportunities.

However the pressure told in the 76th minute as Jesse Fuller burst into the box from the left, hitting a low shot across goal which Aspden did well to get down to, only for his parry to fall invitingly for Gibson at the far post to apply the finish.

And before Sorrento could mount any kind of pressure in search of rescuing a point, City capitalised on Aspden's partial clearance, Barlow running towards goal and unselfishly laying the ball off for Teles who planted the ball past Aspden.

The visiting coaching staff could not hide their disappointment with the Gulls performance.

Assistant coach Steve Neville lamented the defensive side of Sorrento's game - not only in this match but for much of the season.

"We've conceded nearly 40 goals this year, so that's obviously a weak point,” Neville said. “In all fairness, Matt Barlow's goal was a good finish but we've still been caught out of position. We've four games to go and we need to pick ourselves up for next week."

With fifth-placed Stirling Lions beating third-placed Balcatta, only six points separate third from sixth place.

COCKBURN CITY 3 (Barlow 34' Gibson 76' Teles 85')
SORRENTO 1 (Harnwell 45')
Saturday 26 July, 2014
Dalmatinac Park
Referee: Trent FLESKENS
Crowd: Approx. 200

COCKBURN CITY: 23. Dejan ALEKSIC, 17. Paul NATALE (13. Blake ADAMS 61'), 5. Alan CARROLL, 4. Euen GRANT, 11. Devon GIBSON, 14. Conor KAVANAGH, 8. David ARRAYA, 20. Ross DIAMOND (16. Julien TELES 66'), 10. Matt BARLOW, 7. Jesse FULLER, 12. Feisal ZAW (2. Chazalee RAMLEE 69').
SUBSTITUTES NOT USED: 1. Struan HERD, 21. Monty GRIGO
YELLOW CARD: Diamond 54'

SORRENTO: 1. Curtis ASPDEN, 15. Razak GELOO, 22. Ryan PEARSON, 8.Brodie MARTIN (26. Niccolo SABATINI 82'), 14. Chris REID, 11. Scott BULLOCH (4. Shaun KILKELLY 82'), 9. Todd HARNWELL, 18. Sean CANHAM, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA, 13. Steve McDONALD, 10. Jason MIRCO (7. James MORGAN 70').
SUBSTITUTES NOT USED: 61. Jesse WAGNER, 6. Daryl PLATTEN
YELLOW CARDS: Harnwell 41' Canham 58' Reid 81'