Report by Peter Simcox

 

Sorrento moved to the top of the PS4 NPLWA table after 3-2 win against ECU Joondalup in the Northern Derby at the ECU Football Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It was a typical derby game with both sides looking for bragging rights in their first meeting of the season, and the home side were ahead early through Daryl Nicol.

Sorrento hit back with Billy Quinncroft heading home, and the visitors then had to hold on as the home side created a number of chances.

Against the run of play, a stunning long-range shot from Sorrento substitute Alex Morgan gave them the lead and moments later Jack Salter wrapped up the points for his side. Sam Pollard scored a late consolation goal for the home team.

Sorrento assistant coach Michael Johnson said his team had to earn the points in what was a resolute performance from the opposition.  

“We always knew we would be in for a tough game when we came to ECU,” he said.

“It’s a local derby, league positions count for nothing, and fortunately we did enough to get the three points today.

“We had to defend well and our back five have been the foundation for us all season. It took us a while to get going the other way and once we got the second goal I didn’t think we were going to lose it from there.”

Johnson was particularly impressed by Morgan’s contribution.

“Really pleased with the win and the goal from Alex was terrific, he’s had to bide his time on the bench for the last couple of weeks but to come on score a goal like that is fantastic.”

Sorrento skipper Steven McDonald said it was a tough game but they stood firm and got the right result.

“It’s always tough up here, it wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take the three points, ‘smash and grab’ as they say,” he said.

“They pressed us early in the second half, but once we scored the second we took control -and what a strike from Alex! I think we’ll nickname him Pirlo from now on.”

The home side made the best possible start and were ahead after only five minutes. Sorrento gave the ball away and Nicol pounced.

He played in Gordon Smith, whose shot was well saved by James Morgan, his follow up shot hit the bar, but Nicol was on hand to bundle the ball over the line.

Moments later Smith was in a one-on-one with the Sorrento keeper, who produced a great save to deny the Scottish striker.   

But on 12 minutes the visitors levelled. Scott Witschge raced down the left and whipped in a dangerous cross that Quinncroft headed powerfully into the corner of the net.

Sorrento suffered a blow on 19 minutes with Reece Vittiglia suffering a hamstring injury and he was replaced by Alex Morgan.

ECU winger Tommy Amphlett was causing havoc down the right, and he continually beat his marker, but the final ball was missing from the former Perth Glory winger.

It was an entertaining game and both sides had late chances to take the lead into the break.

Witschge’s cross into the box caused problems, and with Quinncroft ready to pounce, Fraser Greenwood saved well. Then Smith lost his marker on the edge of the box and his shot on the run was tipped around the post by James Morgan.

After the break, Smith headed inches past the post, before Jon Higgins’ in-swinging corner crashed off the crossbar.

Jack Jones then headed over the top, before James Morgan produced a great save to deny Smith on 55 minutes.

It was one-way traffic and Higgins hit the woodwork again on 66 minutes, his stunning long-range free kick beat the keeper but smacked off the crossbar and away to safety.

Sorrento somehow kept the home side at bay, with the defence marshalled superbly by McDonald, and against the run of play they hit the front on 74 minutes, with one of the goals of the season.

There looked little danger when Alex Morgan received the ball 20 meters from goal but his shot flew past Greenwood and into the top corner of the net.

Then two minutes later the visitors added a third. Alex Morgan slipped the ball into the path of Slater, before the Kiwi raced clear and finished clinically past Greenwood.

They almost added a fourth with Salter again finding space, but his shot on the run flashed wide of the target.

The home side scored a consolation goal in the last minute of stoppage time with Pollard firing home from close-range, but it was too little too late and the Gulls fly home with all three points.

  

ECU Joondalup 2 (Nicol 6min, Pollard 95)
Sorrento 3 (Quinncroft 12min, A. Morgan 74, Salter 76)
Saturday, March 25, 2017
ECU Football Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tom Glavovic
Assistant Referees: Julian Serra, Jatin Lodhia 

 

ECU Joondalup: GK Fraser GREENWOOD, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Shane PICKERING (8 Jayden DRUMMOND 78), 6 Jon HIGGINS, 8 Kevin MOON, 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH, 13 Tommy AMPHLETT (11 Sam POLLARD 66), 14 Steven MCGARRY, 17 Jack JONES, 16 Cian HIRRELL
Substitutes not used: RGK Todd HOYLE, 5 Nathan DIAZ, 15 Declan HUGHES

Yellow Cards: Pickering 10

 

Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 2 Jacob SHORE, 5 Billy QUINNCROFT (4 Shaun KILKELLY 81), 10 Scott BULLOCH (21 Sam BYLES 61), 11 Tim HILL 13 Steve MCDONALD, 14 Scott WITSCHGE, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA (7 Alex MORGAN 19), 18 Jordan BROWN, 19 Jack SALTER, 20 Brad MCDONALD
Substitutes not used: RGK Anthony SALPIETRO, 15 Spiro DIMITRIOU

Yellow Cards: Brown 66