Report by Peter Simcox

Stirling Lions National Premier League WA Top Four Finals hopes hang in the balance after Bayswater City retained their five-point lead at the top with a hard fought 1-0 win at Frank Drago Reserve in a precursor to next weekend’s Cool Ridge Cup Final.

Steve Burton’s goal after only 56 seconds won the game for the home side but the result was hard on Stirling, who dominated the second half without converting their opportunities.

Pictured: Steve Burton in action. Photo: Peter Simcox

Coach Gary Williams was livid after the game.

“I thought we deserved all three points today,” he said. “We created numerous chances in the second half but we were not ruthless enough in the final third and that’s been our problem all season.

“Our decision making today was poor. The players know that. They’re all really disappointed and I’m really frustrated at the moment.”

For Bayswater, the loss of skipper Trent Kay meant Burton took over the captains arm band and it was his goal that separated the sides.

“I’m 30-years-old now - tap ins and penalties are all I’ve got,” he joked. “You won’t see shots from outside the box from me.

“We’ve had a little lull in our performances in recent weeks but we are working hard to get back on track and we have done that.”

On a day when grounds around the metropolitan area acknowledged the passing of Siggy Kramer with a moment of silence, there was an even more sombre feeling at Frank Drago Reserve. Bayswater’s Ron Rucci and Stirling’s Garry Lazarides, who passed away this season, were also recognised in the pre-match address.

The mood was lifted for the home side just seconds in when the Lions failed to clear their lines and Paul McCarthy’s shot from the edge of the penalty area was saved by Aleks Vrteski but Burton scored from close-range.

It was nearly 2-0 on three minutes when Todd Howarth’s corner picked out the unmarked McCarthy on the back post but his header crashed off a post and away to safety.

The home side played some great football early and their one-touch play and movement carved out a number of chances.

With their finals hopes on the line, the Lions lifted and went close to an equaliser late in the half. Phil Arnold made space down the left and cut the ball back to Hayden Doyle whose shot from 10m was saved by Devon Spence.

Bayswater opened the second half well - Vrteski had to be alert to save from Burton and Howarth before Gustavo Giron-Marulanda headed over from close range.

But the Lions were now getting a foot hold in the game and on 52 minutes Moses Kalau burst clear but Spence narrowed the angle and saved. From the resulting corner, Arnold blazed over from 4m with the goal at his mercy.

It was end-to-end football with both sides going for the win. Arnold fired wide on the hour after good work from Kalau before the lively Marulanda’s shot was tipped over the bar by Vrteski moments later.

The Lions were on top and Jamie Coyne and Adam Bachiller were outstanding at the back for Bayswater as they worked overtime to keep the visitors at bay. Spence saved Doyle’s shot in the 80th minute, and two minutes later Kalau’s shot was spilled by the Bayswater custodian but he recovered in time to grab the rebound.

Bayswater were indebted to Coyne for clearing off the line in stoppage time after Spence had not dealt with Doyle’s free-kick.

Bayswater’s assistant coach Stewart Moses said it was a tough game but the win would give City an edge in next week’s Cup Final.

“We started well today, and we have the psychological edge on them now going into next week,” he said

“We will probably go into the game as favourites but they had a couple of players out today, so we will need to prepare well and hopefully get our second piece of silverware this season.”

Bayswater City 1 (Burton 1’)
Stirling Lions 0
Saturday 12th July 2014
Frank Drago Reserve, Bayswater
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistants: Alex Best and Stuart Blacker
Attendance: 200 (approx.)

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 2 Declan HARGREAVES (7 Hassan EL YASSIRI 70’), 3 Adam BACHILLER, 5 Andy REALE, 6 Todd HOWARTH, 9 Gustavo GIRON MARULANDA (10 Damien CATALANO 90’), 12 Steve BURTON, 8 Paul MCCARTHY, 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie COYNE, 20 Sam MITCHINSON
Subs not used: RGK Joel DRISCOLL, 11 Harry BISSETT, 14 Aaron DELANEY, 17 Sahr MUSA
Yellow cards: Howarth 85’

Stirling Lions: GK Aleks VRTESKI, 2 Rikki SMITH, 3 Ali GHOULAMI,  4 Jovo PAVLOVIC,  6 Hayden DOYLE, 7 Miki VUJACIC (13 Jack SALTER 70’), 8 Andrew BROWN, 15 Moses KALAU, 10 David MICEVSKI (12 Robert PETKOV 87’), 11 Phil ARNOLD, 14 Clayton ARNEZ, 
Subs not used: RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 5 Daniel DOLS, 15 Boas MTWALE
Yellow cards: Arnez 84’