Report by Ryan Borrett

Sorrento put in a sensational performance to beat Cockburn City 5-1 at Percy Doyle Reserve in Round 22 of the National Premier Leagues WA on Saturday.

The Gulls came out of the blocks firing and their intensity was too much for the high-flying Cockerels, who looked off the pace for large periods of the match.

Sorrento’s attacking pressure saw them take a 2-0 lead inside the opening 25 minutes thanks to Jack Salter and Chris Balazs, before Cockburn showed some fight and grabbed a goal back through Daniel Robinson just before half-time.

The home side continued their impressive play in the second half and two goals from striker Cameron Teece and one from Jordan Roberts saw them claim an important three points to aid their survival chances.

With Inglewood winning at Forrestfield later in the evening, this heavy loss meant Cockburn dropped to fourth with four games remaining.

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell was delighted with his side’s performance against strong opposition.

“It was our best performance of the season,” he said.

“We started well, scored goals and got one right on half-time that could have hurt us but the players were fantastic.

“We’ve still got to win one or two more to make sure that we’re not in trouble, but to come up against a good side in Cockburn and win so dominantly gives us a lot of confidence.”

Salter opened the scoring for the Gulls in the 20th minute. Roberts’ cross wasn’t cleared and Salter pounced on the loose ball and drove his shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

And Sorrento doubled their lead five minutes later when Balazs outjumped his marker and headed in from Roberts’ excellent corner.

Cockburn looked rattled by the home side’s fast start and struggled to impose themselves in the match.

However they did grab a goal back on the verge of half-time after Robinson played a neat one-two with Harry O’Brien on the edge of the box before unleashing a great left-foot finish into the top corner.

In the 49th minute Sorrento got some luck to go along with their impressive performance after they were awarded a penalty following Cameron Edwards’ handball in the box.

Teece sent Luke Radonich the wrong way with the spot-kick to make it 3-1 as things got worse for the Cockerels.

Roberts put Sorreno into an even strongrer position on 65 minutes after winning the ball on the edge of the box and placing a low shot to the bottom right past Radonich.

This match featured the two keepers who are in the Gold Fields State squad to face Perth Glory at Inglewood on Wednesday and Radonich was far busier than Sorrento's James Morgan.

Sadly for the Cockerels stopper he was picking the ball out of his goal again when Teece met Roberts’ corner with a well-timed run and finish to make it 5-1 and seal a huge three points for Harnwell’s side.

Roberts finished with three assists to go with his goal and Harnwell said: “Robbo has come back in and showed what he was capable of today, so hopefully we see that a few more times before the end of the season.”

The win for Sorrento meant they climbed to ninth place in the table and five points clear of the bottom three. They will have a great chance to boost their survival chances further next week against already-relegated Joondalup United.

Cockburn will need to turn things around against Balcatta next week if their faltering title chances are to be revived.

Sorrento 5 (Salter 20min, Balazs 25, Teece 49, 78, Roberts 65)
Cockburn City 1 (Robinson 45+1)
Saturday, July 28
Percy Doyle Reserve
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistant referees: Adrien Liechti, Gabriele Merlacco

Sorrento: 1. James MORGAN, 8. Scott WITCHGE (13. Steve MCDONALD 80), 10. Jordan ROBERTS, 11. Timothy HILL, 16. Chris BALAZS, 17. Reece VITTIGLIA, 18. Jordan BROWN, 19. Jack SALTER (7. Alex MORGAN 65), 21. Godwin Darkwa (3. Jaxon TEMATA 75), 22. Danny JONES, 23. Cameron TEECE
Unused substitutes: 6. Daryl PLATTEN, 60. Anastasis FARSALEAS
Yellow cards: Hill 55
Red cards: Nil

Cockburn City: 1. Luke RADONICH, 6. Reuben TRISTAO, 7. Luccas MELLO, 8. Cameron EDWARDS, 9. Julian TELES, 11. Harry O’BRIEN, 12. Ryan PRATT, 13. Blake ADAMS (20. Harry COLLINS 70), 15. Daniel SANTICH, 16. Daniel ROBINSON, 17. Jesse LAZZARO (10. David ARAYA 70), 19. Anthony SKORICH
Substitutes not used: 14. Josip VUJICA, 23. Ryan BARKER
Yellow cards: Robinson 48
Red cards: Nil