Report by Dennis Gedling

An injury-time wonder strike has earned Subiaco AFC their first home win of the NPLWA season, defeating Sorrento 3-2.

The amazing finish was one of two goals for Steve Purton in an exciting game that would have left the visiting Gulls cursing their lack of finesse in front of goal.

Subiaco went out with a defensive formation and a shot from Reece Vittiglia was tipped over by the Subiaco keeper before the home side went ahead on 17 minutes. 

Lively winger Manase Abandelwa beat the offside trap and scored from close range leaving the Sorrento players incensed believing it was offside.

After discussions between the referee, linesman and Sorrento players the goal was awarded.

Sorrento came back though, and had it 1-1 on 28 minutes when Shaun Kilkelly finished at the far post unmarked after a wonderful cross from Timothy Hill that caught out the Subiaco defence.

Both sides traded chances before a minute from half time when Subiaco had the lead again and once again it was a controversial call.

A mistake at the back led Subiaco’s David Perich to steal the ball and pass off to Rory Feely who somehow shot wide.

Luckily for Feely, Sorrento keeper James Morgan took him out with the follow through trying to save the shot and the penalty was given.

After more protests from the Sorrento players the penalty was converted by Purton with some power.

In the second half Sorrento took more control of the game and had their second goal on 57 minutes when Kilkelly scored his second from close range after a goal mouth scramble.

Sorrento seemed like the team most likely to score and made positive substitutions but a lack of finishing cost them, with two chances going begging for Vittiglia and another shot from close range being saved and held by the keeper right on the goal line.

The missed chances would come back to haunt Sorrento of course with Subiaco winning it two minutes in to added time.

Thanks to some good work by pacy substitute Robert Harding, Subiaco won a corner that was cleared after a goal mouth scramble.

The ball came back to Purton who took one touch to control the ball and then sent the ball curling past the keeper from outside the area leading to jubilant scenes.

Post-game a relieved Subiaco coach Ian McMurray was very happy with the result.

"They set up well and deserved the win," he said.

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell wasn’t impressed with the result, but said there wasn’t much his team could do about it.

Subiaco will be hoping to make it two in a row at home when they host Stirling next Saturday while Sorrento travel to Ashfield to take on Perth Glory.

Subiaco AFC 3 (Abandelwa 5min, Purton 44, 90+2)

Sorrento (Kilkelly 28min, 57)

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Rosalie Park

Kick-off: 3:00pm

Referee: N/A

Assistant referees: N/A

Subiaco: 1 Ryan MONTGOMERY 17. Alex CASTIELLO 4. Jack ANDREWS (7. Jonas DORLING 71) 18. David PERISH 15. Dean APELGREN 6. Jackson DONGRAY 12. Nathan SMITH 5. Manase ABANDELWA (11. Robert HARDING 83) 16. Steve PURTON 9. Rory FEELY (Ian McMURRAY 71) 10. Asher NELSON

Substitutes not used: 21. Teophile BROWN 13. Fanuel DAWIT 21.

Yellow cards: NIL

Red cards: NIL

Sorrento:

1. James MORGAN 13. Steve MCDONALD 7. Alex MORGAN 20. Brad MACDONALD 4. Shaun KILKELLY  (21. Godwin DARKWA 74) 10. Jordan ROBERTS 8. Ryan PEARSON 17. Reece VITTIGLIA 11. Timothy HILL 23. Cameron TEECE (19. Jack SALTER 60)

Substitutes not used: 60. Anastasis Farsaleas 18. Jordan BROWN 12. Joel PROUT

Yellow cards: J MORGAN 44 McDONALD 90

Red cards: nil