Report by Navrin Secker

Sorrento secured three points for the second straight week with a fortunate 1-0 away win over Balcatta on Saturday afternoon.

The NPL WA fourth-round clash at Grindelford Reserve was an opportunity for Balcatta to secure their first victory of the season.

But despite his side being on the backfoot for most of the match, Gulls striker Alex Morgan scored the game’s only goal in the 41st minute with a sliding finish.

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell was naturally happy with the resuly but disappointed with how his side performed.

“We didn’t play anywhere near where we can but the positive is that we won and we got the clean sheet, so we’ll move on from there,” Harnwell said.

“They’ll probably feel a little bit hard done by but when we get our noses in front we are very difficult to break down.

“Pretty much every aspect of our game needs to be improved upon, we need to keep the ball better, move the ball better, and when we do that we are a good team.

The first half started with Balcatta looking the more dangerous side, as Sorrento struggled to keep the ball. Yet it was the Gulls who went close to scoring when Scott Witschge’s long-range effort was tipped onto the bar by Balcatta goalkeeper Domenico Savoldelli.

The game was more even as the half continued, with both keepers being forced into action.

However, Sorrento struck late in the half when Witschge played the ball into the box and Morgan managed to slide in to finish.

Balcatta players and coach Goran Stajic all appealed for offside against Morgan but the goal stood.

The home side, perhaps feeling a sense of injustice, came out firing in the second half and it needed two great saves in quick succession from James Morgan to deny them an equaliser.

The visitors were very defensive, relying on hopeful long balls rather than trying to keep possession. But it proved enough for the Gulls as they held on for victory.

Balcatta coach Stajic rued his team’s fourth straight match without a win but was delighted with how his side played.

“I thought we were the better team, I thought we were absolutely outstanding today and I think we beat them in everything except the scoreboard,” Stajic said.

“The boys are hurting, they know that was big. Obviously Sorrento were resilient at the back but we created so many chances.

“We’re not far away at all, we can mix it with anyone and it won’t be long.”

Balcatta 0
Sorrento 1 (Morgan 41 mins)
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Grindleford Reserve
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Julian Serra
Assistant referees: Mitchell Barrington, Stewart Beattie

Balcatta: 1. Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 2. Joseph MARINO, 3. Hayden STEVENS, 4. Calum O’CONNELL, 5. Tom PELLIZZARI, 8. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 10. Jonathan CORNESS, 12. Anton DE FRANCHESCH (9. Dejan ANDRIC 59 mins, 18. Scott NEWLAND 65), 15. Adriano JELENOVIC, 23. Lawrence SHURAMA (11. Renne ALBA 73)
Substitutes not used: 13. Daniel HEPWORTH, 25. Kyle MCDONALD
Yellow cards: Corness 71
Red cards: Nil

Sorrento: 1. James MORGAN, 4. Shaun KILKELLY, 6. Daryl PLATTEN, 7. Alex MORGAN, 10. Jordan ROBERTS, 14. Scott WITSCHGE, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA, 18. JORDAN BROWN, 19. Jack SALTER (11. Timothy HILL), 20. Brad MCDONALD, 21. Godwin DARKWA (23. Cameron TEECE 77)
Substitutes not used: 13. Steve MCDONALD, 22. Danny JONES, 60. Anastasis FARSALEAS
Yellow cards: Roberts 90+2
Red cards: Nil