Round 10  review
 
Sorrento moved to the top of the Football West Premier Division on goal difference after a convincing 5-1 victory against Mandurah City at the Hyundai Stadium. First half goals to Scott Bulloch and Todd Harnwell gave Steve Neville’s side the lead at the break, and the Bulloch made sure of the win with two more goals midway through the second half. Shane Crampton pulled a goal back for the home side on 68 minutes but Stuart Montgomery made it five for the Gulls on 81 minutes.

Leaders going into the round, Cockburn City were beaten convincingly 6-2 by ECU Joondalup at the ECU University Arena. Ian McMurray gave the home side the lead in the first minute, and his strike partner John Thornley added a second. Scott Bushby made it 3-0 before half time, and to make matters worse Cockburn had Jason Godfrey sent off. It was 4-0 just after the break when Tommy Amphlett scored but the visitors hit back with goals from Domenic de Felice and Josh Kamasz. Cockburn were reduced to nine men and skipper McMuuray scored two penalties late in the game to give Chris Nicholson his first league win as ECU Coach.

Inglewood United moved up to third after handing Swan IC their first defeat at Francis Street this season. The home side started well with David Perich opening the scoring on nine minutes, but Inglewood equalised on 38 minutes, Mladen Kovacevic firing home the rebound after his spot kick was saved by Daniel Agudelo. The visitors dominated the second half and two superb strikes from youngster James Sammut in the 62nd and 77th minute made sure of the victory for Lee Bamber’s side.

Stirling Lions ran out convincing 5-0 winners against bottom of the table Fremantle Spirit at Macedonia Park. The Lions were ahead in the first minute when Rory Feely scored, and Dean Evans made it 2-0 in the 17th minute. On the stroke of half time Feely made it 3-0. The points were wrapped up with second half goals from Evans and Phil Arnold. 

Armadale let slip a half time lead to lose 3-2 to Western Knights at Nash Field. New English import James Robinson opening the scoring for the Reds on five minutes, but the Knights were level sixty seconds later when David Micevski scored. Robinson was handful all afternoon and he gave Brad Hassell’s side the lead in the 30th minute to give the Reds the lead at the break. The Knights levelled with seven minutes to go and when it looked like the points would be shared up popped second half substitute Mario Marcinko to score a late winner for Ronnie Campbell’s side.

Perth SC climbed above Floreat Athena after a 2-1 victory in the late game at Dorrien Gardens. David Onoforo opened the scoring for the home team five minutes before the break, but Athena were level on the hour Branimir Mikulic scoring in a goal mouth scramble after Gareth Deeg had failed to deal with a free kick. But seven minutes later Perth scored the winner, Andreas Oliviera firing home from 20-yards to give John Coyne’s side, who is in charge while Graham Normanton is overseas, all three points. 

Interesting to note that three of the men’s state team returned from Indonesia with hat-tricks. Ian McMurray scored four for Joondalup, Scott Bulloch three for Sorrento and Paul Harvey three for Canning City, while Dean Evans scored a brace for Stirling Lions and Tommy Amphlett alos netted for Joondalup.
 
 
Sorrento stun Mandurah
By Kirk O’Connor
 
The weather at Mandurah's Hyundai Stadium was cold wet and windy resembling Sorrento's home ground at Percy Doyle Reserve known to locals as 'Windy Hill'.
 
Mandurah should have taken an early lead as some slick passing between Jeff Bright and Phil O'Callaghan put the latter through on goal. An excellent slide tackle on the edge of the six yard box from Sorrento defender, Steve McDonald, saved the day though as he took the ball cleanly off the toe of O'Callaghan.
 
Sorrento's Scott Bulloch is in a run of form of late and he was the first to threaten Mandurah keeper Mike Green's goal. A short free kick routine saw Bulloch round the Mandurah wall and place his shot on target. Green was aware of the danger and managed to deflect the ball wide of the upright.
 
Mandurah again should have taken the lead on 15 minutes as Andy Brown's cross was met with a volley from Jeff Bright from 8 metres out, but Sorrento ‘keeper Neil Young, another in fine form of late for the Gulls, made a superb reaction save to keep his side on level terms.
 
It was in fact Sorrento who took the lead on 25 minutes as Neville's accurate through pass found Bulloch in far too much space. Mandurah keeper Green got a touch, but was unable to stop Bulloch's lob from finding the top corner of the net.
 
Mandurah's Keith Brown had a chance to level the scores soon after as his accurately placed free kick was superbly tipped over the crossbar by Sorrento keeper Young.
 
Mandurah's defensive frailties came back to haunt them on 40 minutes as Sorrento striker Todd Harnwell was given far too much space. Harnwell's delightful lob over the advancing Green was enough to put the Gulls 2-0 up at half time.
 
Mandurah came out after the break determined to get back into the match and O'Callaghan nearly achieved that for the hosts as he found room to get a shot in, only for Young to save again, this time with his feet. Mandurah then threw caution to the wind introducing two more Strikers in Shane Crampton and Christian Paschkewitz to try and claw their way back into the game.
 
It was Crampton's introduction that had the desired effect scoring with a superb lob over Young from the edge of the penalty area. At this point Mandurah were back in the game and looked capable of equalizing.

Sorrento, however had other ideas, and within 5 minutes the game was effectively over as a contest. First Neville showed his class once again with an accurate cross for Bulloch who slid in at the back post to make the score 3-1. Shortly after the restart Mandurah's defence were guilty of another howler as Bulloch was gifted a run on goal that could only end in one outcome. 4-1 to Sorrento.
 
At the other end of the park Shane Crampton and Neil Young were having a one on one battle as Crampton created a number of chances only for Young to repel each one.
 
As the game neared the final whistle Bulloch turned provider for Sorrento with an accurate cross that found Stuart Montgomery in acres of space at the far post to tap the ball home for a final score of 5-1 to the visitors.

Smash and Grab at Nash Field.
By Ashley Morrison

A week in football is a long time, so the saying goes, and as good as the Western Knights were last week against Perth, they were equally as poor against Armadale who deserved to leave Nash Field with at least a point, if not all three.

It took a goal in the 89th minute to substitute Mario Macinko to give the Knights all three points, and what a goal it was. If it was deliberate, - which Macinko claims it was – then it was an audacious piece of skill, if it was not, to say it was fortunate would be an understatement.

Josip Peran crossed from the right and Macinko was running across the top of the box in the direction the ball was coming from, the ball was falling behind him, but he had the presence of mind to flick his foot at the ball. His heel connected on the volley and lifted the ball over the helpless Geerlings and into the net for the late winner to the Knights.

Armadale could deservedly feel robbed as from the start of the game they dominated the Knights in every position on the park. They ran harder, they tackled harder and worked as a team more cohesively than their league position would suggest.

It was only a last second header from David Annall that stopped Armadale opening the scoring in the 4th minute, but there was no one there to prevent a goal a minute later. James Robinson who caused problems to the Knights defence all afternoon was left unmarked at the back post and had time to pick his spot from a cross and put Armadale into the lead.

The Knights were stung into action and in their first move into the Armadale half won a corner. David Micevski received the ball at the edge of the box, with his back to goal, turned his defender and struck a sweet shot into Geerling’s top right hand corner, with the ‘keeper rooted to the spot. The Knights were back on level terms in less than a minute.

Armadale continued to be the stronger team, and in the eighth minute a great run by Lund through the middle saw him slip the ball back to Gary Faria, but his shot was beaten over the crossbar by Kevin Miller.

Armadale were running the midfield and the only chase the Knight’s had was when a David Micevski free kick went through the hands of Geerling, but safely over the crossbar.

In the 25th minute Madeley stole the ball off Annall and found Faria on the right who hit a beautiful cross into the Knights penalty area. Pearson rose to head the ball goal wards but was always stretching and his header sailed over the cross bar, when he may have been better leaving it for Robinson who was again unmarked behind him.

Armadale did take the lead again a minute later following a long kick from Geerlings. David Annall’s attempted back header to his keeper, saw Miller flat footed and Robinson ran through and as the ball bounced placed his shot in the back of the Knights net for his and Armadale’s second.

Armadale went into the break with their 2-1 lead in tact, however they were fortunate. From a half cleared corner Daniel Micevski volleyed a shot goal wards, but it was deflected high into the air by an Armadale player trying to block. Geerlings came out to claim it, but was beaten to the ball by Rory Grant who found the back of the net. The Knights headed for the half way line, as did Armadale, but the referee’s assistant Mr. Robinson ruled the goal out for offside. This was the second week in a row that the same official had ruled out what looked a legitimate goal to the Knights’ striker, and Grant showed great restraint in not confronting him.

The first minute of the second half Armadale were unlucky not to stretch their lead. Robinson made a great run and crossed for Faria, but Mathers for the Knights managed to nod the ball clear. Faria was the first to react and claimed the ball by the goal line. He jinked one way, and then the other before chipping an inviting cross into the six yard box. The wind took the ball and carried it to the unmarked back post and it grazed the cross bar as it went out for a goal kick.

It was all Armadale and Robinson should have done better in the 53rd minute when he ran onto a through ball and found himself one on one with Miller. The Knights keeper hesitated for a split second, but so too did Robinson and the ‘keeper did well to block with is legs. In the 59th minute Ferguson gave the ball away cheaply and Armadale launched a sweeping move, but former Knights player Scott Devine put his header wide from 4 metres out.

Halfway through the second half the Knights finally came to life, although in truth it was probably their fitness that won out over a tiring Armadale. It was then the Beau Geerlings show, as the 17 year old ‘keeper who left the Knights on Wednesday of this week thwarted his former team mates time and again. First he blocked a Rory Grant effort, and then he stood tall to stop a Macinko volley in the 75th minute. Sadly however he would have to be blamed for the Knights equalizer which he let squirm under his body and into the back of the net. Devlin had done well to turn his defender, and advance on goal but his soft shot should have been easily saved.

Macinko who had replaced young talent Anthony Fearon continued to cause problems. He lifted the ball over a defender and struck his shot as it fell, but was wide of the target, and then had a goal bound header superbly saved by Geerlings. It was therefore no surprise that he should pop up in the final minute and snatch a winner for the Knights. It was just the way in which he scored that stunned everyone.

“Its obviously great to win and have three points, but there are some times where you have to put your hand up and say we did not deserve to win. Armadale on the day were by far the better team, and deserved to leave with at least a point, but I have to give my players some credit, as badly as they played they stuck at it and ended up with a result.” Was Ronnie Campbell the Knight’s Coach’s honest assessment of the game.

Western Knights
K. Miller, J. Mathers, S. Ferguson, D. Annall, J. Peran, M. Allen, (M. De Souza 69) Daniel Micevski, David Micevski, B. Devlin, A. Fearon,(M. Micenko 69) R Grant.

Subs not used: I. Gavranic, J. Chudy.

Armadale.
B. Geerlings, A. Pomfret, (S. Dally 69) J. Lund, J. Robinson, G. Faria, (N. Oishi 83) K. Madeley, D. Platten, M. Bennion, M. Darby, S. Devine, (J. Goodwin 57) R. Pearson.

Subs not used: A. Preece.

Yellow Cards: Devine (Armadale) Pearson (Armadale) Robinson (Armadale) Devlin (Western Knights) Lund (Armadale).

Red Cards:

Refreee: J. Taran.
Assistants: P. Anderson & G. Birch.

Inglewood ends Swans unbeaten home record.
Peter Simcox

Inglewood United continued its good form by ending the unbeaten home record of Swan IC with a 3-1 win at Francis Street in round 10 of the Football West Premier League on Saturday.

It all started well for Paul Lincoln’s side with David Perich giving them the lead but Mladen Kovacevic levelled before half time and James Sammut’s second half double gave Lee Bamber’s side the points.

The home side began well and Inglewood were struggling to cope with the lively Swans midfield, and it wasn’t long before they were behind. The move was started and finished by Perich, he found Damian Scali out on the right with a superb ball, the veteran striker cut inside the box and crossed to Perich who fired low past Oliver Taseski to give the Swans the lead on nine minutes.

Inglewood looked shell-shocked and were making too many mistakes, resulting in coach Lee Bamber becoming animated in his technical area as the Swans continued to dominate. Brendan Knox sent Alex Cocking clear on 11 minutes but Taseski was out quick to save at his feet. The visitors slowly began to get into the game and almost levelled on 18 minutes, Jason Colli’s cross from the left was punched clear by Daniel Agudelo, but only as far as Sammut on the edge of the box. His chip back towards goals was superbly cleared off the line by Robert Monterosso, and James Mitsopoulus’ follow up shot flew wide.

The home side came within inches of doubling their lead three minutes later, Andy O’Neill picked up the ball 25-yards from goal and his curling shot beat Taseski but crashed down off the crossbar and bounced on the line before Taseski collected. The Swans were left appealing that the ball had crossed the line but referee Michael Tolmie waved play on. Then moments later Inglewood’s keeper had to be alert to save low from Cocking as the Swans pressed.
 
The visitors were getting more into the game with Colli a constant threat down the right, his cross shot on the half hour was pushed over the bar by Agudelo at full stretch. The young Swans keeper was kept busy and two minutes later he saved low from a Kevin Griffiths shot, and five minutes later was scrambling to his left after Colli’s shot.

Their pressure paid off and they were level on 38 minutes when a controversial penalty was awarded by Tolmie after Kovacevic fell after a push from Aaron Cole. It looked a little harsh but Kovacevic picked himself up to take the spot kick. Agudelo guessed right and blocked the penalty but Kovacevic was quickest to react to fire home the rebound from close-range.

It was 1-1 at the break but it was the visitors who started the second half the better. Skipper Shane Pryce should have done better in the 50th minute when he was found unmarked by Sammut’s corner but the former Perth Glory defender headed over.

The Swans were struggling to get into the game but on 56 minutes O’Neill’s great run down the left ended with a shot that Taseski saved well to his left.

Moments later Inglewood should have scored, Sammut’s corner from the right found Michael Baczynski only two-yards from goal, but somehow the midfielder headed over with the goal at his mercy.
It was end-to-end and Taseski came to his sides rescue again on 61 minutes, Cocking found Geoff Mason down the left but his shot was well saved by the Inglewood custodian. Then in the next attack Inglewood hit the front, a quick break caught the Swans napping and Sammut was given far too much time on the edge of the box. He produced a quality finish low in to the corner of the net.

The home side looked for a quick response and Cocking nearly obliged on 68 minutes, Knox found the 17-year-old striker down the right, his first time shot beat Taseski but hit the outside of the post.

Sammut was having a great game in the middle of the park and he made it 3-1 on 77 minutes. He was found by Matt Wardle’s pass and placed his shot was perfectly past Agudelo as it went in off the post.

Both sides had late chances, O’Neill’s curling shot was inches past the post for the Swans, while second half substitute Ian Griffiths fired wide for the visitors  after good work by Mitsopoulus on the left, but it was Inglewood United who claimed the three points.

Inglewood United Coach Lee Bamber was delighted with the side’s victory, but disappointed with the first 25 minutes in the first half.

“After the first 25 minutes we settled down, I think the break last week took the wind out of our sails and it took us a while to settle. But after that I thought we played some really good stuff, it’s a difficult place to come and get a result so I’m delighted,” said Bamber.

Teams
Swan IC – GK Agudelo, Monterosso, Cole (Paone 80), McNally, Ando, Perich (Djukanovic 87), Knox, Mason, O’Neill, Scali, Cocking (Catalano 68)
Subs not used – Sutton, T. Wood

Inglewood United – GK Taseski, Pryce, Whiteside, Wardle, Baczynski (Aguirre 80), Mitsopoulus, K. Griffiths (I. Griffiths 69), Colli, Sammut, Duncan, M. Kovacevic (Stamatiadis 90)
Subs not used – Van de Meer, Davite 

Referee – Michael Tolmie

Six of the Best from Joondalup
Courtesy of Footballwa.net

A dominant opening 45 minutes laid the foundations for E.C.U. Joondalup’s 6-2 triumph over Cockburn City at the Joondalup campus of Edith Cowan University.   It was a day when little went right for the visitors who ended with nine players following red cards to Jason Godfrey and Adam Surjan.   Less than a minute was on the clock when the visitors were caught out for the first time as McMurray intercepted a poor back header and coolly stroked his shot under goalkeeper Nick Feely’s body.   The visitors suffered a further blow after 8 minutes with the dismissal of Godfrey for a foul on McMurray, who made no mistake converting the resultant penalty.   A Tommy Amphlett pass on the half hour put the ball at the feet of John Thornley who turned his marker before despatching his shot into the net.   A fingertip save by Feely denied Amphlett the hosts’ fourth goal, then minutes later Surjan saved the ‘keepers blushes after his poor clearance presented Garin Collins with a shot on goal.   The second half commenced with Josh Kamasz, Johnny Mirco and Michael Mirco prominent as Cockburn sought for a way back into the game.   However, it was Joondalup that found the net on 65 minutes via a fine counterattack that saw the ball channelled through Anthony Jones, McMurray and Darren Broxton whose superb cross was finished off by Amphlett.   Cockburn were by no means out and five minutes later reduced the deficit through De Felice who netted following a good exchange on the right between Marko Aleksic and Giovanni De Bartolo.   A rare error in the Joondalup defence open the door on a comeback as Kamasz fired past Bobson Koroma.   But that ended when Surjan was issued his marching orders for a needless foul on McMurray, who again converted from the spot.   There was still time for Cockburn to concede once more with McMurray netting his third from the spot.

Lions maul Fremantle
Courtesy of Footballwa.net

An inspired two-goal performance from rising star Dean Evans helped Stirling Lions to a commanding 5-0 mauling of Fremantle Spirit at Macedonia Park. The Lions youth policy was called upon with six experienced players absent and the young cubs stood tall with Rory Feely bagging two and Phil Arnold one.
Spectators were still settling into their seats when Ludovic Boi’s blistering drive was parried by goalkeeper Steve Grant but fell into the path of Feely who tapped in the opening goal after a minute.
Evans and Matthew Italiano formed a creative midfield with Boi and Arnold providing width in the opening minutes.
Arnold went close to adding to the tally in the 12th minute, gliding his header from a Redshaw corner just wide of the mark.
A 16th minute free-kick gave Evans the chance to step up and power his shot through the wall and into the bottom of the net to increase the gap.
Fremantle were well served by Simon Elton-Bott and Tom Straker who defended bravely against the constant onslaught.
The visitors only genuine chance of the half came after 27 minutes when Jason Pottier’s long-range effort rose over the crossbar.
On the half hour Italiano threaded a beautiful pass to Redshaw who, with only the ‘keeper to beat, slammed into the side netting.
Stirling added their third just moments before half-time when Leo Harman’s through ball allowed Feely to waltz around the advancing ‘keeper and blast into the empty net.
It didn’t get any better for Fremantle after the break as Boi set-up Evans whose left foot drive from 25-metres ricocheted into the net off the inside of the post after 53 minutes.
An in-swinging Redshaw corner on 55 minutes saw Arnold rise to the occasion and angle his header in for Stirling’s fifth of the afternoon.
Although the game was effectively over, Fremantle never stopped trying and battled hard all day but were no match for this inspired group of Stirling youngsters who could well have added a few more before the final whistle sounded.