Football West News Match Report NPLWA Round 5

Sorrento have continued their unbeaten start to the season after snatching a point in the 96th minute against Bayswater in a 4-4 thriller at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday.

With both sides coming into the season challenging for the title, the fans expected a tight encounter, and that’s how the game would play out.

Sorrento would open the scoring with an early goal from Sean Canham. After Scott Bulloch beat his man out wide, Canham would get on the end of his cross, putting the home side ahead in the 19th minute.

Just before half-time, Sorrento would double their lead. After a precise through ball, Jack Salter would take on his man, and fire his shot into the bottom corner for a fantastic solo goal.

Bayswater started the brighter of the two teams in the second half, with Borbor Sam getting a goal back for his side after a quick counter attack.

Sorrento however would soon restore their two goal buffer, with Reece Vittiglia placing the ball into the corner of goal after a good piece of attacking play.

Just nine minutes after however, Bayswater would begin their comeback. With a routine corner hit into the box, Jason Mirco would manage to get to the ball first and bundle it over the line.

Things would only get worse for Sorrento, with Ryan Pearson getting his second yellow for a raised elbow when challenging for the ball.

Just over ten minutes later, Bayswater would have the scores evened up.

Following a run down the wing, the ball was crossed into the box, hitting the trailing hand of Jordan Brown, giving the referee no choice but to give a penalty. Gustavo Giron Marulanda would even the scores with the subsequent penalty, giving Bayswater their third goal of the game.

With only minutes of injury time remaining, Luka Ninkovic would finish the comeback for Bayswater, scoring in the 93rd minute to give them the lead. His celebration however, would end with him receiving a second yellow and being sent off.

This late red card would come back to bite Bayswater, with Sorrento getting a penalty right at the death.

With seconds remaining, Bayswater would give up a penalty, with Griffiths receiving his second yellow card in the aftermath.

Scott Bulloch stepped up and gave Sorrento their fourth goal of the match, snatching a point for his side with the last kick of the game.

Despite his side throwing away a two goal lead, Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell was happy with his team’s late effort.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose that game, we were in control for most of it” he said.

“The character the team showed going down 4-3 and coming back to draw, not many other teams can do that.”

Bayswater City coach Chris Coyne was happy with his team’s performance, despite losing two points in the last minute.

“Happy with the intensity of the boys, they can all hold their heads high” he said.

“We can do better from a technical aspect, but it was a good game from two teams trying to win the NPL”.