Report by Ilija Stajic

Stirling Lions climbed above ECU Joondalup on the National Premier Leagues WA table after producing a stirring fight back to claim a 3-1 win at Macedonia Park.

The Stirling defence did not get off to a good start when towering defender Michael Delima was forced off with injury, leaving Clayton Arnez and Rikki Smith to cover the full back positions for the remainder of the match.

ECU took advantage of the shaken Stirling defence with numerous chances to before Ryan Townsend found the breakthrough with a 28th-minute header.

But just before half-time, Stirling were back in the contest after a move involving Jack Salter and Hayden Doyle resulted in Howard Neighbour scoring the first goal of his double.

Stirling started the second half in similar style with two quick goals on the counter from David Micevski and Neighbour’s second.

Joondalup fought desperately to get back into the game, injecting Ryan McDarby and David Foster into the contest but they were unable to break through the Stirling defence.

Stirling refused to sit back on their lead and their attacking threat was bolstered by the arrival of substitute Moses Kalau. The hard work of Dean Evans, David and Daniel Micevski provided goal-scoring opportunities but Stirling were unable to add further gloss to the score.

Stirling coach Gary Williams said his half-time address had been changed by the equaliser just before the break.

“We conceded one early last week against Perth but this week we changed it for the better,” he said.  

Stirling Lions 3 (Howard NEIGHBOUR 45’, 46’), (David MICEVSKI 47’)
ECU Joondalup 1 (Ryan TOWNSEND 28’)
Saturday 24 May, 2014
Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Adam FIELDING

Stirling Lions: GK Aleks VRTESKI, 2 Rikki SMITH, 3 Michael DELIMA (14 Clayton ARNEZ 12’), 4 Jovo PAVLOVIC, 5 Dean EVANS, 6 Hayden DOYLE (Miki VUJACIC 77’), 8 Andy BROWN, 9 Daniel MICEVSKI, 10 David MICEVSKI, 13 Jack SALTER (Moses KALAU 68’), 15 Howard NEIGHBOUR
Subs not used: RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 7 Tim HILL
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

ECU Joondalup: GK Andy BANKS, 2 Ryan LOWRY, 3 Jon HIGGINS, 5 Ryan TOWNSEND, 6 Jon STYNES, 8 Joe SMITH (9 David FOSTER 73’), 10 Andy HIGGINS, 11 Danny DIXON (17 Parviz SHIRZADI 90’), 13 Tommy AMPHLETT, 14 Jake BENSON-COOPER (16 Ryan MCDARBY 66’), 19 Stuart MONTGOMORIE
Subs not used: RGK Ramiro LESCANO, 15 Henry DURR
Yellow cards:  Danny DIXON 33’, Jon HIGGINS 66’, Ryan LOWRY 85’
Red cards: Nil