Report by Alasdair Beer

Two Sorrento own goals gave Bayswater City a 2-1 win as they continued their unfaltering march to the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA title in blustery conditions at Percy Doyle Reserve. 

Bayswater assistant coach Stewart Moses said his side showed grit in what was an open and attacking game despite the unfavourable weather.

“You take any goal, own goal or otherwise, and I think we’ll look back at this game as one that might win the championship for us,” he said.

“Every time we play Sorrento our style of game goes out the window and you roll up your sleeves and go into a battle with them – they’re a very hard team to break down.

“I thought the boys did very well, and I’m very pleased with them.”

The game was goalless as half time after both sides applied good pressure without creating many solid chances.

It came alive in the 34^th minute when players had to be separated after Sorrento’s Lewis Hall took exception to a Gustavo Giron Marulanda challenge.

The prolific Marulanda was then denied by a last-ditch Steve McDonald tackle when through on goal five minutes later.

Bayswater switched to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation after the break, and were rewarded six minutes in, as a strong David Heagney volley hit the post before going in off a Sorrento player.

Heagney nearly scored again eight minutes later when his low effort from the left rolled across the face of goal.

Sorrento hit back in the 72^nd minute, as Ryan Pearson pounced in the box to hit a right-foot finish past Devon Spence, following Thomas Boss’ unsuccessful appeal for a penalty.

Heagney again created a chance for the visitors from the left a minute later, when his powerful shot hit the far post, before Todd Howarth’s volley from the rebound went high.

The impasse was broken ten minutes from time when Gulls captain McDonald deflected a Bayswater free kick from the right into his own net.

James Morgan kept the hosts in the contest with a diving save to deny Sam Mitchinson in the 82^nd minute, but Bayswater closed out the match to maintain their eight point lead at the top of the table.

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell felt his side deserved a better result from the match.

“I thought we should have won the game to be fair – we had the better opportunities and we had more of the ball,” he said.

“It’s pretty tough to take, but I’m proud of them after the performance on Wednesday (against Sydney FC in the FFA Cup), so you suck it up and you move on.”

Sorrento 1 (Pearson 72 mins)
Bayswater City 2 (OG 52 mins, 82)
Percy Doyle Reserve
Kick off: 3:00pm 

Sorrento:  GK James MORGAN, 2 Danny CAIN (21 Jordan DODD 85’), 8 Ryan PEARSON, 11 Thomas BOSS, 12 Jack EADES (9 Todd HARNWELL 79’), 13 Steven MCDONALD (C), 15 Scott BULLOCH (6 Daryl PLATTEN 72’), 18 Sean CANHAM, 19 Jack SALTER, 20 Brad MCDONALD, 22 Lewis HALL
Substitutes not used: 24 Scott HOYLE, 61 Jordan BLANK
Yellow cards: Pearson 90+3 

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 2 Declan HARGREAVES, 6 Todd HOWARTH, 8 Paul MCCARTHY, 9 Gustavo Giron MARULANDA, 12 Adam TONG, 13 Trent KAY, 14 Danny DIXON (19 Jamie MURPHY 80’), 15 Brian FARRELL, 20 Sam MITCHINSON, 21 David HEAGNEY
Substitutes not used: 4 Anthony DELANEY, 11 Herman HABTEGERGISH, 17 Ayden DRAGUN, 25 Pasquale GIOFFRE
Yellow cards: Nil