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League leaders Sorrento continued their unbeaten start to the season after a 5-3 home victory against Western Knights at Percy Doyle Reserve. The Football West Match of the Week highlights - Swan IC v Mandurah City are also available.
League leaders Sorrento continued their unbeaten start to the season after a 5-3 home victory against Western Knights at Percy Doyle Reserve. Scott Bulloch gave the Gulls the lead early, before Rory Grant leveled things on 35 minutes. Todd Harnwell then gave the home side the lead three minutes later, before Grant made it 2-2 before half time. Further goals in the second half from Harnwell, Scott Neville and James Morgan made it a comprehensive win for Steve Neville's side, while Grant completed his hat trick for the Knights with a late consolation goal.
In other games Bobby Despotovski earned Inglewood United a 1-1 draw against Cockburn City at the Clipsal Stadium; Mileta Mileta had given the visitors the lead on the hour. Stirling Lions beat their traditional rivals Floreat Athena 2-0 at Macedonia Park. An own goal from Jovo Pavlovic and a Steve Porter goal in the first half was enough for Michael Lyons side to take the points.
Swan IC and Mandurah City played out a 2-2 draw at Francis Street, Damian Scali and Aaron Cole were on the score sheet for the Swans with 16-year-old Michael Currie and Shane Crampton on target for City.
ECU Joondalup good start to the season continued with a 5-0 victory away to Fremantle Spirit at Dalmatinac Park. Goals from Craig Young 2, Jon Higgins, Ian McMurray and Tom Jones moved Willie McNally’s side into second spot on the table.
First Team
Fremantle Spirit 0 ECU Joondalup 5( Young44,74, Higgins52, McMurray57, Jones77,); Swan IC 2 (Scali6, Cole30,) Mandurah City 2 (Currie30, Crampton75); Inglewood United 1 (Despotovski70,)Cockburn City 1 (Miletic61,); Sorrento FC 5 (Bulloch10, Harnwell38,65, Neville59, Morgan62,) Western Knights 3 (Grant35,52,81,); Stirling Lions 2 (OG13, Porter26,)Floreat Athena 0
Round Five Match Reports.
Sorrento 5 Western Knights 3
Sorrento cemented their position at the top of the league for at least another week after edging out a gallant Western Knights 5-3 at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday.
For the record the game produced eight goals, two penalties, two red cards and some controversial refereeing decisions. But for such an exciting game, it still took ten minutes to get going as both teams jostled for possession in the middle of the park.
In the 11th minute the game finally came to life, albeit slightly against the run of play. A Todd Harnwell half-chance was well saved by Western Knights’ Kevin Miller in goal, but Scott Bulloch was on hand to slide the rebound home and give the Gulls a 1-0 advantage.
Despite going behind the Knights seemed well on top in the midfield with the trio of Daniel Micevski, Barry Devlin and captain Luka Jukic causing all sorts of problems for the Sorrento back four. In the 36th minute they were eventually rewarded with a Rory Grant equaliser.
Controversy surrounded the goal however with Sorrento custodian Neil Young given his marching orders by referee Tolmie for taking out young striker Anthony Fearon. Despite being the last man it seemed Young fouled Fearon after the youngster had shot well wide.
Grant stepped up and made no mistake from the spot against substitute goalkeeper Anthony Cochrane. However, Sorrento’s reply was immediate.
Five minutes from the break and with the ball bobbling high in the Knights’ penalty area, the opportunistic Harnwell acrobatically poked the ball past Miller to give the home side the unlikely 2-1 advantage at the break.
Even leading at the interval, Sorrento were very slow to get into the game in the second half. They were made to pay on 53 minutes when Michael Ord was adjudged to have fouled Anthony Skorich in the penalty area.
Much to his and the home crowd’s disapproval, Ord was booked for remonstrating with the referee and could only watch as Rory Grant struck home his second of the afternoon from the penalty spot to make it 2-2.
The controversial incident appeared to bring Sorrento to life and the 59th minute dismissal of Western Knights’ Keith Butler aided their cause. He was given a second booking for a poor tackle on Scott Neville.
Less than a minute later it was that man Neville who put his side 3-2 up. After spotting Kevin Miller stranded he was able to skillfully chip the ball over the advancing goalkeeper who could only get a hand to it and watch it roll into the net.
Sorrento went further ahead in the 63rd minute following a neat move involving Stuart Montgomery and James Morgan. The latter stroking the ball into the net from 18 yards after a tidy one-two with his teammate for a 4-2 lead. The game was effectively over as a contest in the 67th minute when Harnwell tapped in his second after Bulloch’s cross on the left to make it 5-2. Some indecision by Miller in the Knights’ goal played a part as the visitors’ defence was torn to shreds.
Grant completed his hat-trick for Western Knights sliding home a consolation goal at the near-post after being set up by Skorich in the 83rd minute to pull it back to 5-3.
It merely added respectability to a scoreline which could have been greater if Montgomery hadn’t shot wide in a one-on-one with Miller. It would have been his first competitive goal against the club he left in the summer, but it didn’t seem to worry the veteran who celebrated with his new side at the final whistle as the Gulls’ unblemished start to 2008 continued.
Teams
Sorrento: Young, Ord (O’Connell 77), McDonald, Kilkelly (Cain 62), Banks (Cochran 35), Morgan, Thomas, Bulloch, Neville, Montgomery, Harnwell.
Subs not used: Martin, Flatt. Bookings: Morgan 8, Montgomery 51, Ord 54.
Dismissed: Young 35.
Western Knights: Miller, Allen, Dawson, Jukic (Shackleton 84), Ferguson, Butler, Micevski (De Souza 84), Devlin, Fearon, Grant, Skorich.
Subs not used: Chudy, Peran, Gavranich. Bookings: Butler 3,59, Ferguson 38, Jukic 74, Shackleton 86.
Dismissed: Butler 59
Referee: M. Tolmie.
Football West Match Reporter - Ilija Mihalj
Armadale 0 Perth SC 2
A goal in each half from Andrija Jukic and former Armadale midfielder Peter Lord was enough for Perth SC to beat Armadale 2-0 in Saturday evening’s round five Football West Premier Division clash at Alfred Skeet Oval.
The home side began brightly and from Scott Devine’s free kick on five minutes Ryan Pearson’s header at the back post was tipped over by the alert Gareth Deeg. Perth were being made to work for every ball by a tenacious Armadale side but they gradually got on top, and Jukic fired straight at Cyril Sharrock when well placed on 12 minutes and moments later Antonio Naglieri was found clear down the right by Andreas Oliviera but again Sharrock was equal to the task.
But it was the home side that went closest to opening the scoring; Devine’s free kick rebounded off the wall to Stefan Smiljanic, his first time shot from five-yards hit the bar. The wood work came to Perth’s rescue again on 20 minutes; Devine’s free kick from 20-yards crashed off the bar bounced down on the line and was cleared, much to the relief of Deeg.
With the home supporters still wondering how the ball didn’t go in, Perth went up the pitch and scored sixty seconds later. Naglieri played an intelligent ball out to David Onoforo wide on the right he cut inside Craig Anderson and his shot was parried by Sharrock but Jukic forced the ball home from close-range, despite Matt Bennion’s attempt to clear.
It was bitter blow for the home side but they kept pressing and Joesph Bruneto curled a shot inches past the post on the half-hour, while Jukic and Onoforo had chances saved by Sharrock as Perth went into half time with a 1-0 lead. Perth began well in the second half and Jukic’s shot from the edge of the box flew high and from Greg Sharland’s cross 55 minutes Trent Kay’s header at the back post was pushed on to the bar by Sharrock, and the keeper reacted superbly to block Oliviera’s follow up shot.
The home side had a penalty appeal turned by referee Mathew Cheeseman when Smiljanic fell under Gianfranco Circati challenge on 67 minutes, much to the annoyance of the Reds faithful. It was still anyone’s game and their were chances at both ends, after good approach work from David Price on 77 minutes the ball fell to Onoforo, the Perth’s striker’s first time shot crashed off the bar. Then Smiljanic curled a free kick from 20-yards around the wall only for Deeg to deny him with a great save at his near post.
With Armadale pushing men forward in search of the equaliser Perth should have wrapped the points up. First Jukic fired inches past the post went sent clear by Oliviera on 82 minutes, and the midfielder missed a great chance sixty seconds later when he miss hit his shot from four-yards out.
But Perth’s pressure paid off with the second in the 86th minute, Lord, who had been given a hostile reception from the Reds supporters on his return to the club, fired home from10-yards to give them the three points.
Perth Coach Graham Normanton was happy with the victory. “It was a hard win, it always is down here. “At Armadale you always know what you’re going to get, they work their backsides off and make it hard for you, and they did tonight and it took till the 86th minute to put them away, but I thought we deserved the points on the night,” said Normanton.
Teams
Armadale – GK Sharrock, Bowyer, Bennion, Ramirez, Platten, Smiljanic, Devine (Plaatjies 75), Pearson, Madeley, Bruneto, Anderson
Subs not used: Preece, Walters, Atturo
Perth SC – GK Deeg, Kay, Circait, Jukic, Danskin, Onoforo, Oliveira, Price, Lord, Naglieri, Sharland
Subs not used: Madaschi, Hett, Polak, Willson, Human
Referee: Mathew Cheeseman
Football West Reporter - Peter Simcox
Swan IC 2 Mandurah City 2
Swan IC fought out a 2-2 draw with Mandurah City in the round five Football West Premier Division clash at Francis Street.
The home side had twice taken the lead through Damian Scali and Aaron Cole, but Mandurah replied with a stunning strike from Michael Currie and a second half goal from substitute Shane Crampton.
The visitors opened the brighter in wet conditions and forced two early corners but they came to nothing. On their first foray forward the Swans hit the front, David Perich’s corner was headed back by Cole and Michael Tronchin’s shot fell to Scali and the veteran striker fired home his fifth goal of the season after only six minutes.
Mandurah settled after the early goal and when G. Attrill sent Jeff Bright in on goal on 19 minutes Cory Hugo was out quick to clear the danger. Bright was in again on 27 minutes, sent through by a Phil O’Callaghan pass but he fired straight at Cory Hugo.
But two minutes later the visitors leveled, and what a goal it was. Andy Brown’s cross from the right went wide to Michael Currie, the 16-year-old’s first time volley flew past Cory Hugo and into the top corner of the net.
With the Mandurah supporters still celebrating Swans hit back sixty seconds later. A free kick 20-yards from goal was given away needlessly by Mandurah and Cole made them pay firing home via a deflection off the wall to wrong foot keeper Michael Green and give the Swans back the lead. It was nearly three for the home side Perich’s cross into the box was punched clear by Green but only to Brendan Knox, the midfielder’s header back towards the empty goal went inches wide. The rain became torrential at times as the supporters clambered for cover and Mandurah had two late chances to level. First Andy Brown’s shot on the turn on 43 minutes went wide and Keith Brown’s cross was only inches away from Michael Currie at he back post. In first half injury time the Swans should have made it three, Scali played in Knox whose shot was inches past the post.
With Coach Stuart Currie’s half time address still ringing in their ears the visitors dominated early. On two minutes O’Callaghan shot from the edge of the box was pushed around the post by Cory Hugo at full stretch. The Swans were hitting on the counter attack and they should have scored on 64 minutes. Good work on the left by 17-year-old Alex Cocking sent Knox in on goal, he cut inside Ryan Townsend but with only Green to beat he blazed over.
Mandurah continued to set the pace with the Swans defending deep, Andy Brown headed over from close-range from a Chris Wylie cross and Crampton was in on goal after a poor Cory Hugo kick, but Cole’s last ditch tackle blocked his shot.
Cole was injured after the tackle and had to receive lengthy treatment from the club’s physio and with the big defender off the pitch Mandurah leveled. The Swans failed to clear a corner on 79 minutes and the ball fell to Crampton, who waltzed past three defenders and finished clinically past Cory Hugo from five-yards.
There was almost another instant reply from the home side, Mandurah keeper Green dropped a Knox cross from the right, and Scali crossed the ball to the back post to Tronchin whose shot was deflected wide. The home side ended the game the better and in stoppage time they could have nicked all three points. Perich’s free kick was punched clear by Green, it fell to second half substitute Shane Webb, whose shot fell to Cocking clear on goal but the youngsters first touch let him down and the chance was gone.
Both Coaches were pleased with the point. Mandurah Coach Stuart Currie said: “I’m happy with a point today, although we didn’t play well in the first half. I was disappointed to lose two goals to set pieces.
“I’m not one, who rants and raves at the players, but I did at half time, and we came out the second half and we went at Swan and gave it everything they had and I think we deserved the point.”
Swans Coach Paul Lincoln said: “We’re happy with the point, we’re still unbeaten at home which is pleasing, but Mandurah are a quality side, and I think Stuart would be more disappointed not to take the three points today. “We played a number of kids today, but we could have nicked all three points near the end so I’ve got too pleased with the guy’s effort today.”
Teams
Swan IC – GK Cory Hugo, Justin Hugo, Cole, Ando, McNally, Knox, Perich, Scali, Tronchin (Webb 88), Mason (Monterosso 81), Cocking
Subs Not Used: Agudelo, Mahady
Mandurah City – GK Green, Chris Currie, Bright, Michael Currie (Crampton 53), Keith Brown, Andy Brown, O’Callaghan, Townsend, Attrill (Young 62), Wylie, Dyson (Matthews 45)
Subs not Used: Bloor, McCulloch
Referee: Michael Nuges
Football West Reporter - Peter Simcox
Stirling Lions 2 Floreat Athena 0
Two first half goals were enough to see Stirling Lions claim all three points in their clash with Floreat Athena at Macedonia Park on Saturday.
Athena’s Jovo Pavlovic turned a Phil Arnold centre into his own net on twelve minutes and there was more egg on the Athena faces 15 minutes later when a quickly taken Steve Porter free kick bounced into the unguarded net. Stirling keeper Phil Straker was a virtual bystander in the first 45 minutes with a Paul Vatistas effort on the stroke of half time that went well wide their only effort of note.
A long throw by the Lions almost caught the Floreat defence napping just eight minutes in, but Porter’s low shot was blocked in the six yard area with the follow up forced wide. The breakthrough came only minutes later however, Ante Kovacevic backed off Arnold who coasted into the left side of the area and crossed low were Pavlovic who was running back towards his own goal could only divert it into the net with Athena keeper Vas Vujacic about to pounce.
Some brilliant close control by new Lions import Mark Redshaw moments later could have seen the Lions two up, however after he skipped by Julian Madaschi, Vujacic blocked with his legs from close range and dived gratefully on the rebound as it looked like the ball would roll over the line.
The Lions did grab the extra goal on 25 minutes after Athena conceded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Steve Porter and Marc Anthony were loitering around the ball, and after asking the referee if they could take it early, it was Porter who curled the ball over and into the net with Vujacic still organizing his wall.
On 41 minutes, Redshaw wasted his best chance of the day after taking a delightful through pass from Anthony, he opened his body to curl it into the far post but missed the lot as the chance went begging. The visitors came out a much better side in the second period but the luck they needed to get back into the game had deserted them completely.
Raphael Insuralde was guilty of squandering a gilt edged chance after a Brad Scott switch found Garin Collins on the left, his early ball into the centre found the onrushing Insuralde who completely sliced the ball with only the keeper to beat in a sign it was not to be the Champions day.
Straker made a smart stop from a Scott strike on 66 minutes after a long Bachiller throw was flicked onto the back post by Mikulic as Athena probed for a way back into the game.
Stirling were strong enough to see out the rest of the match and claim all three points whilst for Athena it looks as though their glory days of last season will be hard to replicate this time around.
Football West Reporter - Ben Fitzpatrick
Inglewood United 1 Cockburn City 1
The 1-1 draw between Inglewood United and Cockburn City on Saturday had it all – big chances, high tempo, attacking play and aggressiveness. Inglewood were closer to the three points in the dying stages of the match, but had to settle with the one point.
A good crowd at Clipsal stadium got to see a high tempo start to the game. Both teams looked fired up, but the passing quality didn’t match the attacking mentality.
Still, the first big chance fell to United after seven minutes. Good build-up play from Matt Wardle and Bobby Despotovski gave striker Michael Baczynski the opportunity to give the home side an early lead. But his shot went fractionally outside the post.
Cockburn’s first real chance came after Aaron De Santos raided down the right flank. His pass found Giovanni De Bartolo, who missed the chance with only the keeper to beat.
Both teams had big chances before half time. A 20-metre free kick from Inglewood’s Despotovski hit the crossbar after 28 minutes, with goalie Dejan Aleskic outplayed.
Five minutes later United goalie Oliver Taseski made an error when he charged out of his box to dispossess Dos Santos. The striker dribbled his way out of the situation and put the ball into the net. But referee John Taran didn’t allow the goal, to much protest from the Cockburn players. Aleskic made a crucial save from Inglewood’s Kevin Griffiths just before half time, after nice attacking play from the home side.
Inglewood came out of the dressing rooms looking very aggressive for the first 10 minutes of the second half, creating a couple of big chances.
But on 61 minutes, Cockburn took the lead. Substitute Mileta Miletic only needed to slot the ball in from two metres after good work from Johnny Mirco and Daniel Palermo on the left wing.
Exactly ten minutes later, Inglewood’s John Davite charged down his left wing. Griffiths flicked his cross on to Despotovski who tapped the ball in with a header. It was a well deserved goal for the in-form striker, who brought his season tally to four league goals. Before the goal, he had been a constant threat for the Cockburn defence, creating chances with intelligent play, nice passes and endless running.
The home crowd really got their money’s worth towards the end of the match. Inglewood continued to press for another goal after the equaliser. The team came agonizingly close a number of times, forcing Aleskic to bring out some of his best saves. Cockburn were dangerous on the counter attack, but didn’t manage to score on their chances.
On 86 minutes, Despotovski sliced open the Cockburn defence with a beautiful through pass to Aguirre. The substitute showed composure to dribble past the keeper, but his finish hit the post.
The drama was all too much for Cockburn’s coach Mirko Jelicic, who was sent to the stands after airing his frustration at the assistant referee.
In the 87th minute, Inglewood’s substitute Jamie Mitsopoulos had a golden opportunity to put the game beyond doubt. He managed to get the ball off goalie Aleksic and fired a shot at goal. But Cockburn’s central defender Jason Godfrey cleared the ball of the line.
Cockburn Coach Mirko Jelicic reflected on the draw. “We would have liked the three points, that’s what we came here for. We’re not overly happy with the one. “But that’s been the story of our season so far. We’ve had a lot of opportunities, but we’ve given away scrappy goals and not taken the good chances at the other end”, he said.
Inglewood coach Lee Bamber wasn’t too happy with his players’ ability to convert chances into goals. “We’ve got one cleared off the line, we’ve hit the bar and we had a couple of near misses. The quality in the final third just let us down a little bit today.
“We look at it is two points lost, really. I thought we defended reasonably well, but we’re disappointed to concede the goal”, Bamber said.
The draw means Inglewood are placed fourth from bottom, pushed down one place to ninth spot. Cockburn moved down one position to sixth spot in the State Premier League ladder.
Football West Reporter - By Peder Qvale
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