Perth Glory v Sorrento

These statistics were written and researched for the OzSoccer archive by Searlais Mullen and Greg Stock.

As part of Perth Glory's preseason warmup they played a friendly match against the WA State league club side Sorrento.

Played : August 19 1997 Venue : Coker Park, Perth

Sorrento
23.Mike Harkness (1.Tottman), 2.Andrew Bowyer, 3.Steven Love, 4.Jamie Harnwell, 6.Chapman, 7.Morgan (15.Michael Johnson), 8.Ross Greer, 9.Todd Harnwell, 10.Harland, 14.Hindley (18.Thomas), 19.Russell
Goal : T Harnwell 89' 1 - 0 Perth Glory
20.Tom Maras, 2.Vladimir Beretovac, 3.Peter Vukmirovic, 4.Doug Ithier, 5.Warren Oakley, 6.Paul Cook (15.Craig Naven), 7.Michael Mirco, 9.Mani Mboudou, 12.Toby Wright, 13.Paul Hickey, 14.Paul McVittie (16.Paul Strudwick)

Attendance : approx 500

Before anyone goes mental about the unlikely result, it should be noted that this was a scratch match. Only four of Glory's starting line-up were actual squad members. The players were all strangers to each other. Additionally it's unlikely that any of the triallists will be signed (especially after this performance). Sorrento, on the other hand, fielded pretty much their strongest team. Even so it was not a good result against a side not known for its footballing skills.

Before the match eight of the proper Glory squad were being subjected to fitness training at Coker Park. Ernie Tapai looked a little thick around the middle and came last in every sprint. Otherwise there was nothing much to observe. Vinko didn't take part but sat on the bench during the match. He looked very snug in a shell suit.

There were virtually no scoring chances in this match which was scrappy and disjointed from the start. The most notable feature was the Sorrento defence's determination to mark themselves as "hard men". No prisoners were taken and the trio of Andy Bowyer, Steven Love and Jamie Harnwell clogged their way through the match. Steven Love was the worst of the three but was only booked late in the match. He deserved to be booked four or five times. Gary Marocchi was more than a little concerned at Sorrento's attitude, especially as it was only a scratch match, but his complaints to Sorrento coach Trev Morgan went unheeded.

None of Glory's triallists impressed. The worst was Mani Mboudou Vincent Desire, who could only be described as useless. He lacked pace, ball control, positioning and strength in the air. He was also liable to be dirty. With a quarter hour to go Marocchi said: "You've got fifteen minutes to make your name, Mani", but the Cameroon international didn't deliver. Warren Oakley (Joondalup City) showed an occasional good touch, as did Michael Mirco (Spearwood Dalmatinac). Unfortunately for both the pitch was narrow, and didn't afford them any space on the flanks. Perth SC midfielder Paul Cook (who looks rather like Juninho) showed some good skills but rather lost his way in the second half. He was also badly clogged on four occasions, Love the main offender. Paul Hickey (Bayswater City Panthers) was mostly out of the match and didn't do much when he was in it. Joondalup City striker Toby Wright did a lot of running but never looked dangerous. To be fair he received little service. There was also some bloke called "Shuggy" who played behind Mirco on the right, but his performance was as anonymous as his identity. Overall there was little to impress the crowd.

Strangely neither Julio Moreno nor Des Hazel made an appearance.

Of the Glory players Chisel stood out in the first half and Strudders (his replacement) in the second. Craig Naven looked very composed when he came on. Shack was a bit out of sorts. Ithier played a shocker and was responsible for the worst foul of the match (and that was against some pretty stiff competition). And as for Tommy Maras ...

The only goal of the match came right at the end. A long ball was floated into the Glory box. Maras came out to collect and missed it completely. The ball bounced wide to Todd Harnwell who found slotting the ball into the net an easy task. The only other good chance of the match fell earlier to Sorrento substitute Michael Johnson. Ithier misread a bouncing ball, Johnson ran onto it and, with only the keeper to beat, pushed it wide. Glory produced nothing except when Strudders pushed into the middle on one occasion.

A very disappointing match but in the scheme of things not an important one. Marocchi will have to search further for new signings.

As part of Perth Glory's preseason warmup they played a friendly match against the WA State league club side Sorrento.
Played : August 19 1997				Venue : Coker Park, Perth
Sorrento 23.Mike Harkness (1.Tottman), 2.Andrew Bowyer, 3.Steven Love, 4.Jamie Harnwell, 6.Chapman, 7.Morgan (15.Michael Johnson), 8.Ross Greer, 9.Todd Harnwell, 10.Harland, 14.Hindley (18.Thomas), 19.Russell Goal : T Harnwell 89'	1	-	0	Perth Glory 20.Tom Maras, 2.Vladimir Beretovac, 3.Peter Vukmirovic, 4.Doug Ithier, 5.Warren Oakley, 6.Paul Cook (15.Craig Naven), 7.Michael Mirco, 9.Mani Mboudou, 12.Toby Wright, 13.Paul Hickey, 14.Paul McVittie (16.Paul Strudwick)
Attendance : approx 500
Before anyone goes mental about the unlikely result, it should be noted that this was a scratch match. Only four of Glory's starting line-up were actual squad members. The players were all strangers to each other. Additionally it's unlikely that any of the triallists will be signed (especially after this performance). Sorrento, on the other hand, fielded pretty much their strongest team. Even so it was not a good result against a side not known for its footballing skills. Before the match eight of the proper Glory squad were being subjected to fitness training at Coker Park. Ernie Tapai looked a little thick around the middle and came last in every sprint. Otherwise there was nothing much to observe. Vinko didn't take part but sat on the bench during the match. He looked very snug in a shell suit. There were virtually no scoring chances in this match which was scrappy and disjointed from the start. The most notable feature was the Sorrento defence's determination to mark themselves as "hard men". No prisoners were taken and the trio of Andy Bowyer, Steven Love and Jamie Harnwell clogged their way through the match. Steven Love was the worst of the three but was only booked late in the match. He deserved to be booked four or five times. Gary Marocchi was more than a little concerned at Sorrento's attitude, especially as it was only a scratch match, but his complaints to Sorrento coach Trev Morgan went unheeded. None of Glory's triallists impressed. The worst was Mani Mboudou Vincent Desire, who could only be described as useless. He lacked pace, ball control, positioning and strength in the air. He was also liable to be dirty. With a quarter hour to go Marocchi said: "You've got fifteen minutes to make your name, Mani", but the Cameroon international didn't deliver. Warren Oakley (Joondalup City) showed an occasional good touch, as did Michael Mirco (Spearwood Dalmatinac). Unfortunately for both the pitch was narrow, and didn't afford them any space on the flanks. Perth SC midfielder Paul Cook (who looks rather like Juninho) showed some good skills but rather lost his way in the second half. He was also badly clogged on four occasions, Love the main offender. Paul Hickey (Bayswater City Panthers) was mostly out of the match and didn't do much when he was in it. Joondalup City striker Toby Wright did a lot of running but never looked dangerous. To be fair he received little service. There was also some bloke called "Shuggy" who played behind Mirco on the right, but his performance was as anonymous as his identity. Overall there was little to impress the crowd. Strangely neither Julio Moreno nor Des Hazel made an appearance. Of the Glory players Chisel stood out in the first half and Strudders (his replacement) in the second. Craig Naven looked very composed when he came on. Shack was a bit out of sorts. Ithier played a shocker and was responsible for the worst foul of the match (and that was against some pretty stiff competition). And as for Tommy Maras ... The only goal of the match came right at the end. A long ball was floated into the Glory box. Maras came out to collect and missed it completely. The ball bounced wide to Todd Harnwell who found slotting the ball into the net an easy task. The only other good chance of the match fell earlier to Sorrento substitute Michael Johnson. Ithier misread a bouncing ball, Johnson ran onto it and, with only the keeper to beat, pushed it wide. Glory produced nothing except when Strudders pushed into the middle on one occasion. A very disappointing match but in the scheme of things not an important one. Marocchi will have to search further for new signings.