David Cox

Sorrento remains on course for an historic league and cup double after scraping by gutsy Amateur outfit Hamersley Rovers in Wednesday’s first Soccer Pools Cup semi-final at E&D Litis Stadium.

A Stuart Banks goal two minutes before the interval was all that separated the two teams who usually operate two divisions apart.

The Gulls will now meet the Western Knights in the final on October 4th after Ronnie Campbell’s men despatched ECU Joondalup 2-0 later that night.

The majority of the crowd had come hoping to see a major upset with Rovers flying the flag for West Australian Amateur football.

Winners of last year’s Amateur Cup, they failed to defend their crown after being upset heavily by Subiaco United in round two, but made it to the last four of the State competition with some stunning victories over Bayswater and Premier Division Fremantle.

With two divisions between them and the inevitable stigma of ‘Semi-Pro vs. Amateur’ attached to the game, it was Sorrento who had it all too lose and they looked nervy in the opening exchanges.

The games tone was set in the first 30 seconds when Hamersley’s Joe Stocker launched a bone-crunching, but fair, tackle on Scott Neville.

It started out as a typical cup-tie, the favourites being harassed, hurried and hassled into errors by the minnows. It was no surprise when Rovers’ had the first shot on target, Ciaran Hughes’ 20-yard effort uncomfortably dealt with by Neil Young.

Sorrento had again deployed the adventurous front three of skipper Todd Harnwell, Steven McDonald and Stuart Montgomery but despite their constant interchange there was little or no service forthcoming.

It took the semi-professional side eight minutes to register any play in the opposition’s penalty area and even then the move was the catalyst for the defining moment of the game.

Scott Neville did brilliantly to hook in a cross from the byline but it was emphatically cleared at the second attempt.

The raking ball caught a static Sorrento defence flat-footed and the pacey Hughes was onto it like a flash. Thirty five yards from goal, he cut across the last man expertly and bore down on Young.

As the volume of expectation increased from the stands, Hughes made it into the area but the chance went begging as he scuffed his shot horribly, and the big keeper pounced on the ball at the second attempt.

Sorrento knew they had been let off and tried desperately to get out of first gear. McDonald’s goal-bound volley was blocked before Montgomery twisted and turned in the box, before attempting an audacious chip that ‘keeper Michael Dawson was alert to.

Rover’s certainly weren’t letting the occasion get to them and were playing the better football. A lovely interchange between captain Ian Bunton and Danny Partington-Smith saw the ball laid off for Martin Sherwin to try his luck from fully 35 yards. Just over!

The first goal was always going to be critical and it came from an unlikely source. Higgins had brilliantly blocked Montgomery’s effort, however the next passage of play saw a loose ball find it’s way into a huge gap in the centre of midfield. Banks strode forward unopposed and calmly stroked the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from fully 25 yards.

It was a devastating time to concede for the underdogs and they were visibly rattled. It could have easily been three before the half was out. Montgomery was just short of reaching a James Morgan cross, this just after the best move of the match saw McDonald and Harnwell combine to setup Brodie Martin who fired just wide.

The second period was an intriguing battle, many expecting Sorrento to steamroller their opponents, like they have done to a lot of State Premier sides this season.

Hamersley however held firm and at 1-0 were always in the game. They were a credit, not just to Amateur football, but the depth of WA football as a whole. In Hughes they had arguably the Man of the Match. It is doubtful whether Banks and Shaun Killkelly have had many tougher games this year.

The match became a punishing cup-tie for both sets of players, a lot of the play became scrappy and inevitably the direct option was preferred.

Clear chances were few and far between. Michael Hodgins had a chance to equalize but chose the wrong option in attempting to chip Young from a tight angle. Sorrento substitute Glen Thomas livened up the favourites and was involved in a neat exchange that culminated in him firing just over the bar.

Hamersley pushed to the bitter end. With 12 minutes to go, an unmarked Stuart Brett could only head Sherwin’s free kick over the bar. Then a sliced Sherwin cross nearly embarrassed Young who had to be on his toes to tip out for a corner. Then, deep into stoppage time, Bunton’s wild volley was almost deflected in off the head of Hughes.

The whistle sounded and rightly so both sets of players received rapturous applause for a game, that although short on quality, was not lacking in effort and endeavour for the full 90 minutes.

Skipper Harnwell knew his side had been in a game:

“Fair play to them. This was their cup final and if they play like that every week they could hold their own in the State League no problem.

“We paid them the respect they deserved and of course we are happy to get through. I think it’s our first ever final.

“We’ve got to focus on the 5 league games now and then we get to finish the season with a cup final. Very happy.”

Rover’s Coach Kevin Clifford was understandably proud of his charges:

“Very proud. I had a feeling we could play better football than Sorrento and we definitely had a couple of chances to get back in the game.

“They’re a good side and they beat most teams every week, so for us to only lose 1-0, yes, very proud.”

SQUADS

Hamersley Rovers: M.Lawson, J.Stocker (J.Waller 78’), J.Higgins, S.Brett, I.Bunton (c), C.Rogers, M.Sherwin, M.Hodgins, D.Partington-Smith (L.Moorhouse), C.Hughes, D.McDool,  (not used: S.Morris, J.Lock, J.Hutchinson).

Yellow Cards: J.Stocker 35’.

Sorrento: N.Young, D.Cain, S.Banks, S.Kilkelly, J.Morgan, B.Martin, T.Harnwell (c), S.Montgomery, L.Flatt (G.Thomas 65’), S.McDonald, S.Neville (M.Ord 67’), (not used: D.Gurovski, C.O’Connell, T.Ross).

Yellow Cards: S.Neville 58’.

STATISTICS

Full Time: 0-1 Half Time: 0-1

Goals: S.Banks (SOR) 42’.

Referee: Matthew Cheeseman


KNIGHTS REIGN SUPREME IN CUP CLASH
Peter Simcox

Western Knights put their disappointing league season behind them to reach the 2008 Soccer Pools Cup final with a hard fought 2-0 victory against ECU Joondalup in Wednesday’s semi-final at E&D Litis Stadium.

Second half goals from Rory Grant and Luka Jukic were enough for Ronnie Campbell’s side to reach the final where they will play Sorrento, who beat amateur side Hamersley Rovers 1-0 in the other semi-final.

ECU opened brightly and went close on five minutes, former Knights striker John Thornley’s shot was blocked by Kevin Miller, but they suffered a blow two minutes later when John Higgins limped off. Chris Nicholson’s side continued to dominate and another former Knight’s player Scott Bushby fired over from 10-yards.

The Knights settled and their first opportunity came on 15 minutes, David Micevski’s free kick was dropped by keeper Chris McCrone, however Scott Blackmore cleared the danger. Micevski was involved again moments later when his low cross caused problems in the ECU defence, and Darren Broxton had to be alert to clear.

It was a typical cup tie with both sides pressing, for the Knights David Annall’s header was cleared off the line by Blackmore, while Ian McMurray fired wide from the edge of the box for ECU as neither side were able to trouble the scorers before half time.

The Knights made a perfect start to the second half and two minutes in they had the lead. A quick throw in by Daniel Trim caught the ECU defence napping, he found Grant down the left channel, and the striker finished clinically past McCrone.  

They almost doubled their lead two minutes later, Anthony Skorich sent Grant clear again but McCrone was out quick to save. It was all the Knights and Grant was in again on 55 minutes but his shot from the angle flashed wide of the post.

ECU looked to get back in the game and Tommy Amphlett went close to equalising on the hour but his volley from 18-yards was tipped over the bar by Miller at full stretch. There were chances at both ends as a Micevski long-range shot for the Knights was saved at the second attempt by McCrone, while Amphlett’s shot on the run for ECU was well saved by Miller.

It was the Northern suburbs club that were pressing and after a good one-two on the edge of the box between Craig Young and Perth Glory youth trialist Amphlett opened up the Knights defence, Miller again denied the youngster.

With ECU on top it was against the run of play that the Knights doubled their lead on 74 minutes. Moments earlier George Tchami fired over from eight-yards, but after a foul on Skorich by Anthony Jones on the edge of the box, Jukic curled his free kick around the wall and into the net to secure a 2-0 victory to the Knights.

Knights Coach Ronnie Campbell was delighted with his team’s performance.
“Everybody gave 100% tonight which I was very pleased with, and I thought we thoroughly deserved the victory,” said Campbell.

“We’ve been outstanding in the cup this season, but our league form has been inconsistent but tonight I couldn’t fault any of my players, I’m delighted,” added Campbell.

Teams
Western Knights – GK Miller, Warmt-Murray, Mathers, Jukic, Annall, Ferguson, Tchami (Allen 84), Micevski, Grant (Peran 60), Skorich, Trim
Subs not used – Chudy, Cooke, Zuvela 

Yellow Cards – Grant 42, Mathers 46    

ECU Joondalup – GK McCrone, A.Jones, Broxton, Blackmore, Ashworth, Amphlett, Bushby, Young, Higgins (Walmsley 7) (T. Jones 75), McMurray, Thornley
Subs not used – Bowers, Mirco, C. Cheeseman

Yellow Cards – Young 71

Referee – Paul Anderson