Report by Peter Simcox

Sorrento skipper Steven McDonald headed home two second half goals to give the Gulls a come from behind 2-1 win against Armadale at Percy Doyle Reserve in week 12 of the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA.

The win gave the hosts their first home win in the league this season, but it was Armadale who dominated the first half.

Danny Hodgson gave them the lead at the break from the penalty spot, with former Sorrento Coach Paul Price looking to upset his former club. 

But two towering headers from the big striker turned the game around after the break.

“We just didn’t start today and to be fair Armadale worked hard, got their goal and then got everything behind the ball,” McDonald said.

“We got at them after the break and it was nice to score a couple of headers, I don’t score many with my feet. But a couple of good crosses (came in), and I was lucky enough to get on the end of them.”

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell said the euphoria of reaching the Westfield FFA Cup round of 32 seemed to affect his players early, but after a chat at the break they turn it around.

“We were a little flat early, and I think we made some poor errors,” he said. 

“But we changed it up at half time, and we were marginally better, scored two goals and that was just enough for us to get the points,” he said. 

Harnwell added that their service from the flanks wasn’t the best.  

“We scored two goals from the only decent crosses of the game, and we were disappointed we didn’t make more of that in the second half, but we’ll take it and it’s our first home league win of the season,” he said.

“We worked hard in the second half but lacked a little quality in the final third which is something we will have to work on. But it’s three points.”

It was a tight opening and the visitors, who had won for the first time this season last week at Balcatta, looked up for the challenge, with new signings Jesse Fuller and Alex Castiello in their side. 

It was Armadale who opened the scoring on 20 minutes. Raveshlan  Kuppusamy’s shot from the edge of the penalty area struck the arm of Jack Eades, and referee Tim Mihevc  pointed straight to the spot. Hodgson stepped up and coolly finished low to the right of James Morgan. 

The visitors were winning all the second balls and kept Sorrento at bay, but the home side came into the game late in the half. 

Armadale keeper Dylan Wilson misjudged Adam Luca’s corner and the ball was only inches away from Danny Cain at the back post. Then, Wilson saved Brad McDonald’s long-range shot.

The visitors opened brightly in the second half, and Morgan had to be alert to push away Hodgson’s powerful shot from the edge of the area five minutes in.

But sixty seconds later Sorrento leveled as McDonald powerfully headed home Tom Boss’ cross from the right.

The visitors didn’t learn their lesson and five minutes later Sorrento hit the front. Luca’s corner from the left picked out McDonald, who again headed home from 5m.

Armadale looked to hit back and Kuppusamy fired over when well placed, before Sam Cole’s shot flashed inches past the far post, after good work from Nick Crerand. 

Morgan then produced a stunning save to deny Kuppusamy after Sorrento gave the ball away cheaply on the edge of the area. 

Both sides pressed late but that was the end of the scoring and Price said they switched off at two set pieces and where punished.  

“He (McDonald) is always going to be dangerous at set-pieces, he’s a big lad and we lost him twice and got punished,” he said. 

“We restricted them for most of the game, and they only created three chances, but unfortunately for us they scored from two of them. 

“But we pushed the game to them after they had scored and had a number of opportunities to equalise. 

“I told the players after the game we are improving each week and in all the games we’ve played since I’ve been at the club we have been competitive and been a little unlucky in most of them.”
 

Sorrento 2 (McDonald 51 mins, 56’)
Armadale 1 (Hodgson 20 mins)
Saturday 27 June 2015
Venue: Percy Doyle Reserve, Duncraig
Referee: Tim Mihevc
Assistants: Sorousha MOAYER and Oliver ALLEN

Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 2 Danny CAIN, 4 Shaun KILKELLY, 5 Adam LUCA, 11 Tom BOSS, 12 Jack EADES (9 Todd HARNWELL 59’), 13 Steve MCDONALD, 18 Sean CANHAM, 19 Jack SALTER (15 Scott BULLOCH 71’), 20 Brad MCDONALD, 22 Lewis HALL
Subs not used: RGK Jordan BLANK, 21 Jordan DODD, 24 Scott HOYLE
Yellow Cards: Nil 

Armadale: GK Dylan WILSON, 2 Nick CRERAND, 3 Sam COLE (13 Jamal YUSOF 79’), 4 Alex CASTIELLO, 6 Jake SARDELIC, 7 Faustino MACHOCHI, 9 Darren FRANCIS, 10 Raveshlan KUPPUSAMY, 12 Danny HODGSON, 14 Mitch CASTRILLI (5 Matthew ALLEN 83’), 17 Jesse FULLER
Subs not used: GK Alex RODONICH, 11 Sam KHANKALILI
Yellow Cards: Nil