Stirling ended Sorrento’s undefeated start to the All Flags State Premier League season with a 3-2 win at Percy Doyle Reserve.
Stirling ended Sorrento-s undefeated start to the All Flags State Premier League season with a 3-2 win at Percy Doyle Reserve.
“We had a great first half, but probably sat a little too deep in the second which caused us some problems,” Stirling assistant coach Gary Williams said.
“We know from history that if Sorrento went down that they would probably go three up front and start lobbing balls into the box and I think we coped with that reasonably well, but if you look at the whole 90 minutes we probably shaded it.”
The visitors were ahead after only three minutes; Phil Arnold-s cross from the left found the unmarked Rory Grant, who headed home. They doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time, when Moses Kalau reacted quickest to score from Dean Evans- flick on.
With second spot on the table up for grabs, Sorrento was back in the game midway through the second half.
Todd Harnwell-s cross was turned past Stirling keeper Aleks Vrteski by Irish defender Jason Gavin, but three minutes later the Lions added a third, as Moses Kalau-s stunning long-range shot gave former Hull City keeper Curtis Aspden no chance.
Sorrento gave themselves a lifeline with three minutes remaining, Jamie Harnwell tapping home after Gavin Knight-s free kick had crashed off the post, but it was too little too late.
League leaders Bayswater City beat the Football West National Training Centre (NTC) 4-2 at Frank Drago Reserve, but they had to fight all the way.
Steve Burton gave them the lead just before the break, despite the NTC twice hitting the woodwork and being thwarted by former Perth Glory keeper Devon Spence in the first half.
Sahr Musa equalised for the youngsters after the break but Brian Farrell regained the lead for the home side on 72 minutes. Perth Glory striker Ndumba Makeche came off the bench and levelled for the NTC six minutes later, before late goals from Gustavo Giron Marulanda and Trent Kay won it for the home side.
Bayswater coach Chris Coyne was full of praise for the NTC, but was happy to get the three points.
“I thought the NTC acquitted themselves really well. They moved the ball around well and credit to them they made it hard for us today, and the future of the game in the state is in good hands,” Coyne said.
In other games, a Liam Boland brace helped Perth to a 3-1 win against Bunbury at Dorrien Gardens, Armadale held off a fast finishing Joondalup to run out 4-3 winners at Alfred Skeet Reserve, Floreat edged out Balcatta 3-1 at Grindleford Reserve, with skipper Mark Pritchard scoring a double, while Cockburn and Inglewood drew 0-0 at Intiga Stadium.