Report by Navrin Secker

Sorrento broke their six-game winless streak with a 1-0 defeat of Balcatta at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

A header from substitute Cameron Teece in the 78th minute secured all three points for the Gulls, and their second win over Balcatta this season.

While both sides remain in the bottom three, the win sees Sorrento leapfrog their opponents on the ladder, moving up to 12th after 17 rounds of the NPL WA.

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell was thrilled with the result, highlighting how important it is for his side moving forward.

“You look at the table and we’re at the wrong end of it, this gets us a little bit closer to the rest of the teams and hopefully gives us a bit of confidence moving forward,” he said.

“You can see the relief in the changeroom, when you’re on a bad run you don’t know when the next win is going to come, but we have got that now.

“It’s Stirling next week so we need to believe we can go on a good run of games and get ourselves safe.”

Both sides started the match slowly, struggling to create meaningful chances.

Sorrento’s Jack Salter had the first real chance of the game when he got on the end of a corner routine, but goalkeeper Kyle McDonald saved his attempt at goal. Balcatta were then able to counterattack and had a chance of their own, but Asher Nelson’s shot was saved.

The two sides came out after the break looking to open the scoring and Balcatta had the first opportunity when they were awarded a penalty after Steve McDonald blocked Alex Wild's shot with his arm.

Hayden Stevens stepped up to take the penalty but his effort was saved by James Morgan and the scores remained level.

The Gulls soon had a chance of their own, with Vittiglia going through on goal, but his shot slid wide of the target.
The two sides pushed to open the scoring and it was Sorrento who found the breakthrough. Balcatta failed to deal with a Sorrento attack and their attempted clearance whent straight up in the air, bounced over the goalkeeper and was headed home by Teece.

Balcatta struggled to get back into the game and Sorrento were able to see out the result.

Sorrento 1 (Teece 78min)
Balcatta 0             
Saturday, June 16
Percy Doyle Reserve
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Michael Divers
Assistant referees: John Taran, Joseph Belfiore

Sorronto: 1. James MORGAN, 3. Jaxon TEMATA, 6. Darryl PLATTEN, 8. Scott WITSCHGE, 11. Timothy HILL, 13. Steve MCDONALD, 16. Chris BALAZS, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA (23. Cameron TEECE 77), 19. Jack SALTER, 21. Godwin DARKWA (10. Jordan ROBERTS 81), 22. Danny JONES (7. Alex MORGAN 75)
Unused substitutes: 18. Jordan BROWN, 60. Anastasis FARSALEAS
Yellow cards: McDONALD 56
Red cards: Nil

Balcatta: 3. Hayden STEVENS, 4. Calum O’CONNELL, 7. Asher NELSON (11. Nicholas CHALLOT 77), 8. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 9. Alex WILD (15. Adriano JELENOVIC 74), 10. Jonathan CORNESS, 12. Anton DE FRANCESCH (14. Lawrence SHURAMA 56), 18. Robert DEL BORELLO, 20. Shubha MOKALA, 21. Tom LOGAN, 25. Kyle McDONALD
Unused substitutes: 1. Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 5. Tom PELLIZZARI
Yellow cards: Stevens 58’
Red cards: Nil