Report by Aidan Shaw

Sorrento kept their Top Four Cup aspirations alive with a 2-1 win over Inglewood United in Round 18 of the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues WA at Inglewood Stadium on Saturday.

A brace by Sean Canham highlighted a dominant first-half performance by the visitors before Inglewood asserted their position in the second period.

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell said his side were excellent in the first half and praised their resilience in the second.

“Inglewood turned it into a physical battle and threw long balls into the box and I thought we coped with it really well,” he said.

With a game in hand, Harnwell said his side will continue battling for a spot in the Top Four Cup.

“It is mathematically possible and with performances like today there is no reason why we can’t,” he said.

“We’ve just got to make sure we roll that out every time we step on the pitch from now until the end of the season.”

Sorrento were quick out of the blocks with Canham opening his side’s account in the fifth minute with an emphatic header from close range after a Ryan Pearson cross.

The visitors dominated the 50-50 challenges and restricted Inglewood to a few half-chances.

Matthew Sparrow nearly doubled the lead in the 16th minute when his powerful shot from a tight angle rattled the woodwork.

Sorrento were awarded a penalty in the 26th minute when Jason Colli was deemed to have fouled Canham in the area. Canham stepped up and fired into the bottom right as Alex Dunn dived the other way.

It was nearly 3-0 on the stroke of half-time when Tim Hill and Alex Morgan caught Inglewood on the counter but the home defence got back just in time to clear.

Inglewood came out far more determined in the second half and began fighting their way back into the game.

Scott Blackmore gave the hosts the lifeline they needed in the 55th minute when he headed home a Mark Pritchard cross from the right.

Inglewood continued to impose themselves and were physical in their search of an equaliser.

In the 87th minute a Jason Barrera free-kick appeared to strike the arm of Steve McDonald and Inglewood were left dumbfounded as their appeals for a penalty were waved away.

Adam Tong’s header deep into stoppage time was the last convincing chance for an equaliser, but James Morgan produced a spectacular save to ensure his side ran away with the points.

Inglewood’s Taki Nicolaidis said his side were well short of their best but credited their second half performance.

“Second half we came out and played and got back to somewhere around where our expectations are,” he said.

“But still, (we were) well short today, especially with what is at stake.”

With the chasing pack closing in, Nicolaidis said his side will continue fighting to maintain top spot.

“We’re still in front and we’ve just got to make sure that we get back on the winning circle next week against Armadale,” he said.

Inglewood United 1 (Blackmore 55)
Sorrento 2 (Canham 5, 27 pen)
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Inglewood Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Stuart Muldoon
Assistant referees: Jatin Lodhia, Daniel Cole

Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 3. David CYRUS, 4. Scott BLACKMORE, 5. Adam TONG, 6. Callum O’CONNELL, 7. Kenny KEOGH, 12. Scott WITSCHGE (9. Brian WOODALL 75), 11. John MIGAS, 13. Josh PEREIRA (17. Tim ROBERTSON 46), 14. Mark PRITCHARD, 18. Jason COLLI (8. Jason BARRERA 46)
Substitutes not used: RGK Scott WALLIS, 15. Matthew SPURLING
Yellow cards: Pritchard 41’, Robertson 57’, Cyrus 88’
Red cards: nil

Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 6. Daryl PLATTEN (c), 7. Alex MORGAN (17. Reece VITTIGLIA 72), 8. Ryan PEARSON (18. Jordan BROWN 90+4), 9. Sean CANHAM (5. Billy QUINNCROFT 90+1), 11. Tim HILL, 13. Steven MCDONALD, 14. Matthew SPARROW, 16. Niccolo SABATINI, 20. Brad MCDONALD, 25. Josh TUCKER.
Substitutes not used: RGK Sam HERBISON
Yellow cards: Platten 33’, Sparrow 75’, 88’, Quinn 90+2
Red cards: Sparrow 88’