Report by Peter Simcox

Photo courtesy of Fotoenzo

Bayswater City stayed on track to defend their QBE Night Series title after a hard-fought 3-1 semi-final win over Sorrento at the Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium on Sunday.

Borbor Sam had given Bayswater the lead mid-way through the first half, but Sorrento hit back on the hour, with Devon Gibson scoring an own goal. Both sides had chances in a frantic second half, but it was former Sorrento winger Jason Mirco who regained the lead for Bayswater, and David Heagney made sure of the victory scoring a third in stoppage time.

Mirco, who joined the club after last seasons’ success, said he hopes to help Bayswater retain the trophy next week when they take on Mandurah City, who beat Armadale 3-1 on penalties after it had ended 1-1 after full time.

“I missed the Night Series success last season, but I’m determined to push the club to more success this year,” he said.

“Sorrento have been a bogey side for us the last couple of years so we knew it would be a tough game, but we’ve worked hard in pre-season and I thought our fitness prevailed tonight. We now move on to Mandurah next week as we look to retain our Night Series crown.”

Bayswater Coach Chris Coyne said the game should have been over at half time but they didn’t take their chances. “It’s never an easy game against Sorrento - you know you’re going to have a fight, and it proved that way,” he said.

“I thought we controlled most of the game and just like last week we could have had three or four more in the first half if we had been a bit more clinical. They are a great team with a great team ethic and we knew they were going to come back at us but it was a good result in the end.”

Bayswater made the early running, with Sam a really handful down the flanks. His cross on 20 minutes picked out Mirco, whose shot was cleared off the line by Sorrento skipper Steven McDonald.

But on 26 minutes Bayswater’s dominance was rewarded with the lead. Sam made space down the left, cut inside his marker and curled home superbly past James Morgan.

Sorrento almost hit back immediately, Billy Quinncroft’s shot was cleared off the line by Gibson and the rebound went into the grateful arms of Bayswater keeper Devon Spence.

After the break it was more of the same and Morgan had to be alert to push Sam’s shot around the post, before Sam had his goal bound shot blocked by Shaun Kilkelly. Trent Kay’s follow up shot flashed over the top.

Sorrento began to get back into the game and Reece Vittiglia’s lob dropped just over the top, before Scott Bulloch burst into the box, but Spence stood tall to save and Quinncroft’s follow up shot was cleared off the line by Andrija Jukic.

It was the best period of the match for Jamie Harnwell’s side and on the hour they were level. Brodie Martin picked out Scott Witschge on the right and his low cross was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Gibson.  

Bayswater were now on the back foot, as Sorrento bossed the game and when Bulloch’s corner wasn’t dealt with the rebound fell back to the former Perth Glory winger, who saw his low shot well saved by Spence at his near post. Then from the resulting corner McDonald’s header was cleared off the line by Kay.

The game was up for grabs, but it was Bayswater who retained their lead on 74 minutes.  A quick break sent second half substitute Jamie Murphy down the right and his pin point cross picked out Mirco, who powered his header past Morgan.

Heagney then saw his shot crash off the upright, but in stoppage time the former Huddersfield Town striker wrapped up the tie.

Sorrento were pushing players forward looking for the equaliser, but Heagney was sent clear, he held off his marker and finished low past Morgan to send Bayswater into next week’s Final against Mandurah City.

Bayswater City 3 (Sam 26 mins, Mirco 74, Heagney 90+1)
Sorrento 1 (O’G – Gibson 61 mins)
Sunday February 5, 2017
Venue: Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium
Kick-off: 7:30pm
Referee: David Bruce
Assistants: Michel Jasinski and Simon Hicks
Fourth Official: Tom Glavovic

Bayswater City – GK Devon SPENCE, 6 Todd HOWARTH, 10 Jason MIRCO (16 Ayden DRAGUN 94’), 11 Devon GIBSON, 12 David STOKOE, 13 Trent KAY (C), 17 Borbor SAM (22 Jamie MURPHY 66’), 19 Luka NINKOVIC, 20 Sam MITCHINSON, 21 David HEAGNEY (8 Giordano COLLI 94’), 23 Andrija JUKIC
Substitutes not used: RGK Michael COHEN, 7 Tristan COLLI
Yellow Cards: Ninkovic 69’
Red Cards: nil

Sorrento – GK James MORGAN, 4 Shaun KILKELLY, 5 Billy QUINNCROFT (20 Brad MCDONALD 80’), 8 Ryan PEARSON, 10 Scott BULLOCH, 11 Tim HILL (22 Danny JONES 80’), 13 Steve MCDONALD, 14 Scott WITSCHGE, 15 Brodie MARTIN, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA, 18 Jordan BROWN
Substitutes not used: RGK Michael WOOLCOTT, 16 Jackson DONGRAY, 21 Spiro DIMITRIOU
Yellow Cards: Quinncroft 55’, McDonald 73’
Red Cards: nil