Report by Daryn McCleave

Reece Vittiglia’s fourteenth strike of the season in stoppage time cemented Sorrento’s place in the top four as they fought off a spirited Armadale side 2-1 at Alfred Skeet Reserve on Saturday.

But the hosts felt hard done by as coach Lee Bamber and his players protested in vain for a foul on goalkeeper Matt Gould in the immediate build up to the Gulls winner.

“It’s a foul on the keeper. He’s trying to punch it and he’s been held and the referee’s not give it. It’s a shocking decision,” Bamber said.

A game rather lacking in chances suddenly sprang to life in the last ten minutes with Scott Bulloch’s pile-driver putting Sorrento ahead. But a superb response by the National Premier League's bottom side saw them force an equalizer minutes later through Ben Wantee’s header to seemingly earn them a deserved point before Vittiglia had the final say.

“The boys were magnificent. They’ve carried out the game plan. We conceded a soft goal; we didn’t close it down quick enough despite working on it in training. But to come back from that was a great effort. We’ve been working on making the young lads mentally tougher,” Bamber said.

The game began with Sorrento forcing the early pressure, looking to exploit Armadale’s reputation as slow-starters but the home side showed character to hang in there as they saw off a succession of corners with Steve McDonald getting closest, looping his header just over.

Vittiglia really should have found the target from Bulloch’s cross but the prolific forward headed just wide.

Both keepers showed excellent reflexes when called upon, first Gulls stopper Curtis Aspden blocking Josh Kuser’s close-range shot, before Gould reacted quickly to thwart Vittiglia.

Chances were again at a premium for most of the second half, Vittiglia looping a shot over on the turn before Jason Mirco, with his first touch after being introduced from the bench, headed over with the goal at his mercy.

It was not all the visitors though, Aspden had to be alert to beat away Jackson Bealey’s low free-kick at his right-hand post.

The goal the game had been screaming out for arrived in the 80^th minute when Armadale only partially cleared a corner and the ball fell invitingly for Bulloch who rifled home from the edge of the box to give Sorrento the lead.

But the home side, roared on by a vociferous crowd, responded superbly. First Aspden had to be brave to deny Dannie Richman before Billy Quinncroft thought he had levelled, only for his looping header to be cleared underneath the bar.

Army were not to be denied though, as from the resultant corner Wantee met the ball with a powerful header that gave Aspden no chance.

Although a point was all Sorrento needed to seal their Finals berth, they pushed on again, Mirco seeing Gould brilliantly push away his snap shot.

The winner arrived in the first minute of stoppage time, Gould unable to get distance on his punch under pressure, with a back-to-goal Vittiglia aware that a hook over his shoulder might just be enough. And it was.

There was still time for Armadale to threaten but Kuser’s despairing lunge was not enough as Quinncroft’s pacy low-cross evaded him.

Sorrento joint coach Jamie Harnwell admitted his side snatched the win but was pleased with the performance on the whole.

“We knew Armadale would make it difficult but we got the goals at the right time. Towards the end of the game we put some really good balls in the box and caused them a few problems. I was happier as the game wore on,” Harnwell said. 

Armadale 1 (Wantee 86’)
Sorrento 2 (Bulloch 80’ Vittiglia 90’)
Saturday 16 August, 2014             
Alfred Skeet Reserve
Referee: M. Jasinski
Crowd: 150 approx

Armadale: 20. (gk) Mathew GOULD, 12. Alec SOLOMONS, 4. Billy QUINNCROFT, 5. Nathan COSTELLO, 3. Dylan EASTOUGH, 2. Jackson BEALEY, 7. Faustinho MACHOCHI, 9. Raveshan KUPPUSHAMY (18. Ben WANTEE 41’), 13. Sam LOVELESS (11. Dannie RICHMAN 68’), 6. Lyon VARNEY (10. James ATKINS 81’), 8. Josh KUSER
Substitutes not used: 14. Jett SHAW, 1. Jordan HOWELL
Yellow cards:  Costello 67’
 

Sorrento: 1. Curtis ASPDEN, 4. Shaun KILKELLY, 6. Daryl PLATTEN, 8. Brodie MARTIN, 9. Todd HARNWELL, 13. Steve McDONALD (10. Jason MIRCO 65’), 14. Chris REID, 11. Scott BULLOCH, 16. Niccolo SABATINI (7. James MORGAN 73’), 17. Reece VITTIGLIA, 22. Ryan PEARSON
Substitutes not used: 61. Jesse WAGENER, 15. Razack GELOO, 5. Adam LUCA
Yellow cards: Harnwell 31’ McDonald 62’