Sorrento coach Paul Price felt his side deserved their 3-1 win against Armadale at Alfred Skeet Reserve despite a nervy start.

The defending champions came from behind to grab all three points thanks to a Gavin Knight hat-trick.

“We conceded a goal after 20 seconds, which was very disappointing, and for 10 minutes they were on top of us,” he said.

“But we created a few chances then Gavin Knight scored a wonderful free kick to get us back to one all.

“I thought we dominated the play for the second 20 minutes of the first half. I told the boys at half time we need to start the second half the way we finished the first and we did.

“I thought we totally dominated the second half.”

The game couldn’t have started any better for Armadale after a ball over the top of the Sorrento defence allowed ex-Stirling striker Jack Salter to ghost in and slot in a goal that has to be contender for fastest this season.

Sorrento didn’t create a chance until the 23rd minute, when they had the ball in the back of the net after a scrap in the six yard box, only for a free kick to be given to Armadale in the chaos.

Knight scored his first goal from 20 yards with a superb free kick, bending the ball away from Cyril Sharrock, who had made a few decent saves to keep the visitors out, into the top corner.

Sorrento then outplayed the home side almost through sheer will, but dismantled Armadale’s passing game very well.

Armadale assistant coach Kevin Brophy felt his side weren’t up to the standard they have been this season, but felt the Reds weren’t as bad as the score line suggested.

“We’ve been done by three set pieces so can’t be too hard on the guys because we’ve not been outplayed which is a good thing, part of our development,” he said.

“Because they rose their intensity our passing was a more hurried and a little bit off, so was our touch.”

“We’ve got to recognise and learn from that when you’re in a battle you have to stay in the battle and we didn’t do that.”

Knight’s second dead ball goal came in the 75th minute from right on the edge of the penalty area, placing the ball just out of reach for Sharrock.

It only took three minutes for Knight to score again, this time from a more improbable distance and angle.

Right on the touchline, possibly 35 to 40 yards out, Knight swung the ball in only for everyone to miss it with the bounce deceiving Sharrock and sneaking in to the back post.

Price recognises the difference in this Armadale squad to last year’s and isn’t ready to write them off yet.

“Armadale are a decent side, they’re going to beat a lot of teams this season.”

Armadale SC 1 (Jack SALTER 1’)
Sorrento FC 3 (Gavin KNIGHT 41’, 75’, 78’)
Saturday March 30, 2013
Alfred Skeet Reserve, Armadale
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Hugh Best

Armadale SC: 1. Cyril SHARROCK, 3. Jackson BEALEY, 4. Andy TODD, 6. Nathan COSTELLO, 7. Rav KUPPUSAMY (15. Billy QUINCROFT 68’), 8. Louie BAKE (Daniel RICHMAN 45’), 9. Darren FRANCIS, 10. Lance LOUVIE (16. Sean NICHOLLS 83’), 11. Mark PEERS, 14. Mitch CASTRILLI, 19. Jack SALTER

Substitutes not used: RGK. Tom ALLAN, 13. Sam LOVELESS
Yellow cards: Francis 48’, Castrilli 82’
Red cards: Nil

Sorrento FC: 1. Curtis ASPDEN, 4. Craig ROBSON, 7. James MORGAN, 8. Brodie MARTIN, 9. Todd HARNWELL, 11. Gavin KNIGHT, 13. Steve McDONALD, 14. Anthony SKORICH, 18. David PRICE (5. Jamie HARNWELL 76’), 20. Jesse FULLER, 22. Ryan PEARSON

Substitutes not used: 2. Danny CAIN, 6. Daryl PLATTEN, 60. James MORGAN
Yellow cards: Morgan 60’, Pearson 63’
Red cards: Nil