Report by Peter Simcox

Pictured: Sorrento's Daryl Platten gets ahead of Josh Booysen. Photo: Peter Simcox

Sorrento opened their PS4 National Premier League WA season with a 2-0 win against ECU Joondalup in the northern derby at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday.

Second half goals to Alex Morgan and Sean Canham gave the Gulls bragging rights over their near neighbours.
 
It was a perfect start for Jamie Harnwell’s side.

“(It’s a) very pleasing result,” he said. “I thought we controlled the whole game, although I would have liked us to create a few more chances, but I thought we were solid the whole time.”
 
The depth of the Gulls squad has pleased Harnwell, who was glad to have some experience coming off the bench with Todd Harnwell coming out of retirement for the season opener.
 
“We have a little more depth than last season and I thought Tim Hill made a good start for us, while having Todd and Sean Canham coming off the bench shows the depth we have here this season,” he said.
 
“We still have a few players to come back in but to have a winning team and to keep a clean sheet, it asks a few questions to the other players wanting to get back in the team.”
 
Gulls skipper Daryl Platten was pleased with the win over Sorrento’s local rivals.
“(It was) a great first up win for us, especially against Joondalup,” he said. “You can’t do any better than that. We’re usually slow starters, so to win and keep a clean sheet… happy days.”
 
“We’ve worked hard on our defence in pre-season and I thought we looked solid today, restricted them to very few chances. I thought Shaun Kilkelly and Steven McDonald were outstanding for us today.”
 
The visitors had the first opportunity after only two minutes. Harley Orr sent Tommy Amphlett into the area, and his cross from the right was only inches away from Steven McGarry at the back post.
 
After a slow start, Sorrento hit back and Brad McDonald’s in-swinging corner was heading in but the alert Coire McGuigan headed the ball off the line.  
 
Both sides had chances late in the first half with McDonald’s flick saved by David Keenan, before ECU defender Joseph Jones headed inches wide.
 
Amphlett was a constant threat to the Sorrento back line and the striker went close six minutes into the second half. He raced past his marker to go one-on-one with James Morgan but the Sorrento custodian stood tall to make the save.
 
That save was vital because on 58 minutes Sorrento scored the opener. A corner from Niccolo Sabatini was dropped by Keenan and Alex Morgan was on hand to fire home.  
 
It was the reward Sorrento deserved and they began to take control. Alex Morgan’s glancing header flashed just wide, before Canham’s shot was saved low by Keenan.
 
The icing was put on the cake for the home side in the final minute, when they doubled their advantage. Canham’s free kick from the edge of the penalty area went over the wall and into the corner of the net to make it a flying start for the Gulls.
 
Sorrento 2 (Alex Morgan 58 mins, Canham 89)
ECU Joondalup 0
Ground: Percy Doyle Reserve, Duncraig
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistants: Hayden Frost and Eamon McDonnell

Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 4 Shaun KILKELLY, 5 Billy QUINNCROFT (9 Sean CANHAM 73), 6 Daryl PLATTEN, 8 Ryan PEARSON, 11 Tim HILL, 13 Steven MCDONALD, 15 Alex MORGAN (25 Todd HARNWELL 82), 16 Niccolo SABATINI, 20 Brad MCDONALD, 21 Jordan DODD
Substitutes not used: RGK Sam HERBISON, 14 Alen PATAROV, 24 Scott HOYLE
Yellow cards: Pearson 13, Alex Morgan 46

ECU Joondalup: GK David KEENAN, 2 Ryan LOWRY, 3 Joseph JONES, 4 Coire MCGUIGAN, 7 Harley ORR (6 Jay MARSDEN 70), 8 Steven WALMSLEY, 10 Ollie ANNIS (12 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY 59), 11 Josh BOOYSEN (19 Paddy DOYLE 82), 13 Tommy AMPHLETT, 14 Steven MCGARRY, 18 Henry DURR
Substitutes not used: RGK Scott WALLIS, 15 Jack OLDHAM
Yellow cards: Orr 50, Jones 54, Brown-Montgomery 68, McGarry 82