16th May 2009
MATCH REPORT: FOOTBALL WEST. SATURDAY, 16 MAY 2009.
SWAN 2 (B Knox 40, D Scali 94) v SORRENTO 1 (S Kilkelly 55)
HT: 1-0
Swan (4-4-2): GK Cory Hugo, 4 Robert Monterosso, 13 David McNally, 19 Arron Cole, 12 Brendan Craig, 6 Costa Socratous (10 Tom Shepheard 56), 7 John Mansaray, 5 Brendan Knox, 8 David Perich (Stephen Guest 91), 20 Damian Scali, 9 Shane Webb. Subs not used: RGK Chris Ramsey, 3 Dom Ando, 2 Niall Hughes. Cautions: D Perich 77, D Scali 94.
Sorrento (4-4-2): GK Neil Young, 28 Cameron Yorke, 4 Shaun Kilkelly, 12 Paul Cunningham, 3 Stuart Banks, 5 Michael Ord, 11 Lewis Flatt, 18 Glen Thomas, 14 Daniel Darras (25 Joe Stocker 67), 9 Todd Harnwell, 13 Steve McDonald. Subs not used: RGK Michael Lawson, 19 Sam Doyle, 23 Dejan Gurovski, 24 Ross Liang. Cautions: Cunningham 46.
Referee: Jeremy Oliphant
“Scali Strike Slice Sorrento”
Damian Scali scored Swans winner against the Sorrento Gulls in the 4th minute of stoppage time to achieve their 2nd consecutive win of the Football West season. The Gulls never suspecting that they could lose this one so late in the game were consigned to their 2nd consecutive loss when Scali was left unmarked at the far post to simply head in the corner.
Warm conditions for the 3pm kick off at the Swan Italian Club. Gulls Captain, Todd Harnwell called the toss of the coin incorrectly and were consigned to attack the school (western) end of the uneven ground. Swan included David McNally who had rejoined them from Sorrento following his move in the summer. The Gulls were missing Daryl Platten, Stuart Montgomery, Brodie Martin, Reece Vittiglia and James Morgan all due to injury and Danny Hill was away due to work commitments.
Paul Lincoln’s side were coming off an impressive 3-0 away win last week at Mandurah and were buoyed by the return of midfielder David Perich, who has been playing in college soccer in America. Stephen Guest was the unfortunate player to make way, the former Floreat Athena defensive midfielder was on target last week at Mandurah, but it shows Swans are gaining some depth in their squad.
Before kick off there was a minute silence for the sad passing of Sorrento defender Shaun Kilkenny’s grandmother.
Sorrento started the game well, and created their first chance on 4minutes. Glen Thomas passed out to Stuart Banks on the left and his cross was met by Cameron Yorke, but the defender’s header was just wide of the left post. Three minutes later, Lewis Flatt’s progress from the Gulls midfield was halted illegally on the edge of the area. Banks smacked the resultant free kick into the Swan’s wall and Shane Webb cleared the loose ball. Play became a little scrappy and then on 20 minutes Todd Harnwell’s close control got him pass 3 opponents, but his shot was straight into the body of Cory Hugo who gathered at the 2nd attempt. A minute later Swan created their first opportunity and it was a good one. Costa Socratous back heeled into the path of Robert Monterosso who had advanced forward and his bullet was turned away by the alert Neil Young. Then at the other end on 24 minutes a Glen Thomas taken free kick was headed over by Steve McDonald.
Sorrento began to dominate and put the Swans defence under great pressure which resulted in five corners in quick succession, but the Swans defended well with McNally and Aaron Cole outstanding. Then approaching half time Swans got their passing game going, and they hit the front. Cory Hugo played the ball out to McNally, who found the livewire Perich out on the flank. The midfielder combined with Scali to send Monterosso overlapping, his cut back from the bye-line found the oncoming Knox who fired low past Neil Young to give the Swans the lead at the break. Sorrento were nearly back on level terms within minutes of the restart, Banks’ corner nearly found Ord unmarked at the back post, but the cross was just too high for the Sorrento midfielder to reach. On 53 minutes Daniel Darras was clear, but his effort was straight to Hugo who held. Two minutes later, a Thomas corner from the right was headed by centre back Shaun Kilkelly who rose highest to power past Hugo. Sorrento could, and perhaps should have been ahead just two minutes later when Harnwell’s lofted pass put Daniel Darras through on goal. Unfortunately, the midfielder made a mess of his first touch and this allowed Hugo to save at his feet.
The game opened up and become an end-to-end affair with both sides pushing for a winner. In a good move involving Yorke and Thomas and McDonald to Harnwell who forced a sharp one-handed save from Hugo on 75 minutes. At the other end of the pitch, a superb through ball from John Mansaray sent Perich clear, but he wasted a good one-on-one chance when his delicate chip flew straight in the hands of Young. Then on 86 minutes a Perich free kick from the right was headed back by Cole to John Mansaray who steered his header wide of the right post.
Stephen Guest replaced a tiring Perich for Swans and he was soon involved in the action. His snap shot was superbly saved by Young, but from the resulting corner from the right by Knox was a in-swinging that evaded Young to reach Scali at the far post to seal a famous victory.
MAN OF THE MATCH: LEWIS FLATT
RESERVES: SWAN 4 (N Xerri 4, 45, 80, 83) v SORRENTO 1 (R Gibbon 64)
Swans were the better team in front of goal and the Gulls may have a minor excuse of a changed team line up, but in the scheme of where Sorrento should be at in regard to talent and results, the Reserves should be winning matches such as this.
UNDER 18: SWAN 5 (Christian Lopez 3, Tim Hill, Josh Auguste) v SORRENTO 3 (R Sheppard, L Shepherd, K Lorriane)
A match that the Gulls had “in the bag” when they went 3-0 up. However, there is something lacking in the Gulls make up as they allowed the home team to take control in the 2nd half and Swans raked up 5 goals to humiliate their visitors.
Sorrento’s next Football West match is home to Armadale on Saturday, 23 May at Percy Doyle Reserve, Warwick Road, Duncraig. Kick off times are: U/18 at 11am, Reserves at 1pm and First Team at 3pm.
Sorrento FC 
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