Report by Colin Outhwaite

Sorrento SC continued their improved form by beating a spirited Stirling Lions side 4-2 at Macedonia Parkin their PS4 National Premier Leagues WA fixture.

Brad and Steve McDonald put the visitors 2-0 ahead in the first half before Steve Purton and Billy Quinncroft brought the Lions level.

But a second from Brad McDonald and an injury time goal from Adam Luca dashed Stirling’s hopes of a comeback. 

The win separates the two teams who were on equal points and puts Sorrento up in to fourth place.

Even after a 6-0 thrashing by Balcatta last week, Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell said there was no reason to underestimate Stirling.

"After the game they had last week you'd expect a reaction from them," he said.

"To be fair they showed that. They could have thrown the towel in at 2-0 down but they kept working.

"It wasn't the prettiest win from our point of view. They had a lot of the ball in the second half but we showed a lot of character to pick it back up again from 2-2."

Stirling started well, but Brad McDonald blasted in a loose ball in the area to put the visitors in front on 14 minutes.

In the 32^nd minute, Steven McDonald doubled the lead, having been gifted a second chance after a failed attempt with a header from a free kick.

The Lions proved to be no pushover and pulled one back to end their five-game goal drought with Purton’s shot skidding into the net five minutes before the break.

The home side gained momentum and drew level when Billy Quinncroft scored from a corner on 64 minutes.

Tom Boss's goal line clearance eight minutes later proved decisive, as Brad McDonald scored an unstoppable long-range effort into the top corner seconds later to put the Gulls back in front.

The Lions pressed hard to earn a point, but in doing so freed up space for substitute Adam Luca to seal the game in injury time.

After a poor run of form, Lions coach Rob Milevski said there was a lot of positives to come out of the loss.

"It was a better performance than previous weeks," he said.

"We worked hard and it was great to get a couple of goals, but it was lapses in concentration that cost us."

Milevski said that squad numbers have been an issue in recent weeks with Connor Campbell (hand) and Lance Alavakis (suspended) both out, though they managed to sign Bayswater reserve goalkeeper Joel Driscoll mid-week.

"It's been great to allow the young guys to gain some experience, but we've definitely been lacking the experience,” he said.

“We've got a few players back this week so hopefully we’ll be able to build our squad back up and work towards the game against Perth Glory Youth."

Stirling Lions 2  (Purton 40min, Quinncroft 64)
Sorrento  4 (B.McDonald 14min, 74, S.McDonald 32, Luca 90+2)

Saturday 4 July 2015

Macedonia Park
Local kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Matt Southern
Assistant Referees: Shane Skinner, Simon Hicks
4th Official: Guliano Cantonii 

Stirling Lions:1.Joel DRISCOLL (gk), 3. Steve PURTON, 4. Billy QUINNCROFT, 5. Anthony BAFOBUSHA (17. Teeboy KAMARA 62’), 7. Miki VUJACIC (c), 8. Tim HILL, 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 11. Moses KALAU (16. Alen PATAROV 83’), 14. Lawrence SHURUMA, 15. Robert PETKOV (9. Million BUTSHIIRE 87’),18. Nathan BOWDEN-HASSE.
Substitutes not used:20. Rhys MacFARLANE, 2. Boas MTWALE.
Yellow cards: Quinncorft 31’, Bafobusha 61’
Red Cards: Nil 

Sorrento: 1. James MORGAN (gk), 2. Danny CAIN, 4. Shaun KILKELLY (12. Jack EADES 49'), 6. Daryl PLATTEN (c), 9. Todd HARNWELL, 11. Tom BOSS, 13. Steve MCDONALD, 18. Sean CANHAM (21. Jordan DODD 77’), 19. Jack SALTER (5. Adam LUCA 83’), 20. Brad MCDONALD, 22. Lewis HALL.
Substitutes not used: 60. Jordan BLANK (rgk), 8. Ryan PEARSON.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil