Report by Ryan Borrett

Sorrento put together an impressive performance to defeat Rockingham City 3-0 at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday.

Shaun Kilkelly netted an early goal for the Seagulls, and after club top scorer Cameron Teece (above) doubled his side’s lead just before half-time it always looked like the three points would be heading to Sorrento.

Rockingham came into the match on the back of a fabulous 3-2 win last week to end Perth SC’s 26-game unbeaten run but struggled to follow it up against Sorrento.  

The win for the Gulls was their first since Round 10 and lifted them a place to eighth in the table. They are now just five points outside the top four.

Kilkelly grabbed the opening goa in the 12th minute after playing a neat one-two with Jack Salter in the box before firing in a powerful shot that left City keeper Cyril Sharrock no chance.

Rockingham’s best passage of play followed and they managed to carve out a few chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. The best was when Lydon Hodgkiss' close range header rattled the crossbar.

But Sorrento continued to push on in the first half and they found a second goal in the 44th minute.

Gulls left back Jaxon Temata made a good run forward before delivering a cross to Teece in the box. He chested the ball down before turning and finishing into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0.

Teece’s goal was the highlight of a particularly strong performance from the Sorrento striker who worked hard for the full 90 minutes and was involved in most of the Gulls' attacking play.

The second half had fewer chances than the first as Sorrento controlled possession and defended their two-goal lead and Rockingham struggled to find a way back into the match.

Substitute Jordan Roberts sealed the result by adding a third goal in stoppage time after cutting inside past his marking defender and striking a low shot into the net at the far post.

Sorrento will hope the win can signal a turnaround in form and they are only five points off third.

The loss for Rocky sees them sit five points clear of last-placed Stirling and they will hope for a better performance next week when they host third-bottom ECU Joondalup.

Star player: Cameron Teece (Sorrento)

Sorrento 3 (Kilkelly 12min, Teece 44, Roberts 90+3)
Rockingham City 0

Saturday, July 6, 2019
Percy Doyle Reserve
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Joshua Nixon
Assistant referees: Adrien Liechti, Jamie West

Sorrento: 1. James MORGAN, 2. David STOKOE, 3. Jakub PRAJZA (14. Daniel PEARCE 90+4), 4. Shaun KILKELLY, 5. Scott ROBERTSON, 7. Alex MORGAN, 18. Jordan BROWN, 19. Jack SALTER (32. Tristan STEVENS 90+1), 20. Jaxon TEMATA, 23. Cameron TEECE, 30. Jesse OWUOUR (10. Jordan ROBERTS 58)
Substitutes not used: 11. Timothy HILL, 60. Matthew GIUDICATTI
Yellow cards: Brown 32, Prajza 82
Red cards: Nil

Rockingham City: 1. Cyril SHARROCK, 3. Justis BRADLEY (17. Luke HOBSON 70), 7. James MILLARD, 8. Jason POTTER (5. Harry COLLINS, 61), 9. Sam McKEARNEN, 10. James HARMER, 11. Riley VAN DIEKEN (6. Rob GALVIN 61), 12. Lydon HODGKISS, 13. Jarrad MORT, 18. Michael FARMER, 20. Mitchell FIRTH
Substitutes not used: 61. Lochlan MORRISON
Yellow cards: Sharrock 27, Hodgkiss 43, McKearnen 86
Red cards: Nil