Photo: Jonny Warrington

Report by Daryn McCleave

Sorrento got their PS4 National Premier League WA campaign off to a blistering start with a 4-0 win over Armadale that was harder than the scoreline suggested at Alfred Skeet Reserve.

But in the end the Gulls cruised home with three of their four goals arriving in the last 20 minutes, and Army were thankful to goalkeeper Luke Radonich for pulling off a string of fine saves to restrict the visitors' tally.

Sorrento Assistant Coach Steve Neville took charge in place of the absent Jamie Harnwell and was delighted with an excellent start for his side.

"We started the game very well and got the (early) goal, but second half we didn't get going and they caused us a few problems. But once we got the second goal the result was never in doubt," he said.

"The way the game was going it was a little bit ragged, I threw Sean (Canham) up there to compete with the big lads. They (Armadale) stopped us playing out so we had to go a little bit route one.

"We've got a good squad here and we're quietly confident we're going to have a half-decent season."

Armadale coach Lee Bamber cut a frustrated figure at times in the home dug-out as his side never really got going in the first half. And they found themselves trailing as early as the seventh minute with Gulls full back Niccolo Sabatini darting forward before unleashing a low drive beyond Radonich from outside the box.

Bamber sent his players out after the break looking for a response and they duly obliged. A low drive from Ravesh Kuppusamy was held at the second attempt by Gulls keeper James Morgan, and a superb goal-line clearance by Brad McDonald denied Darren Francis' header as Army piled on the pressure.

Substitute Thomas Covell came close to levelling the contest, but his well struck effort whistled across goal and agonisingly wide of Morgan's right hand post.

But it was not Armadale's day as Sorrento regained control of the game with their second on 73 minutes, a penalty won and converted by Canham after Mitch Castrilli upended him inside the box.

Five minutes later it was three. A clever free-kicked dinked into the danger area found Todd Harnwell, who helped it home with his back to goal.

Sorrento were carving open Armadale at will, but Radonich managed to keep them at bay, until Jack Salter added the gloss with a powerful header from Canham's pinpoint cross deep into stoppage time.
 
ARMADALE 0
SORRENTO 4 (Sabatini 7' Canham 73' pen, Harnwell 77' Salter 90+3)
3pm, Saturday 28th March, 2015
Alfred Skeet Reserve
Referee: Shuo Chen

ARMADALE: 1. Luke RADONICH, 2. Beau Abdul RAHIM, 3. Sam COLE (10. Nick CRERAND 64'), 4. Jake SARDELIC (6. Thomas COVELL 64'), 7. Faustin MACHOCHI, 8. Caleb DIXON, 9. Raveshlan KUPPUSAMY (13. Jackson BEALEY 57'), 11. Richard HURLIN, 14. Mitxh CASTRILLI, 15. Darren FRANCIS, 19. Reece DAVIES.
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: 5. Jamal YUSOF, 20. Jordan HOWELL.
YELLOW CARDS: Sardelic 63' Rahim 77'

SORRENTO: 1. James MORGAN, 2. Danny CAIN, 4. Shaun KILKELLY, 9. Todd HARNWELL, 10. Jason MIRCO (5. Adam LUCA 77'), 11. Thomas BOSS, 12. Jack EADES, 16. Niccolo SABATINI, 19. Jack SALTER, 20. Brad McDONALD, 21. Jordan DODD (18. Sean CANHAM 64').
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: 14. Zack EDWARDS, 15. Razack GELOO, 60. Neil YOUNG
YELLOW CARDS: Salter 90+3