Report by Peter Simcox

Photos: Peter Simcox

Stirling Lions broke a five-game losing streak with a 4-2 win against Perth Glory in Round 14 of the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA at Macedonia Park. 

First half goals to Teeboy Kamara, Daniel Micevski and Nathan Bowden-Hasse, and an early second half goal to Lawrence Shuruma had the home side in total control.  

But the Glory hit back with a brace from striker Stefan Valentini to create a few nervous moments late in the game, but the home side held on and moved back into the top five.

Lions Coach Rob Milevski said their first half performance was excellent, but said they switched off and let the Glory back into the game.

“Very pleased to get the three points and to score four goals, but we lost concentration in the second half and conceded two sloppy goals,” he said.

“We then had to weather the storm because they (Glory) came at us, and we failed to keep possession and went away from the team thing.

“But we managed to hold on and it’s good to get the win after losing the past five weeks.” 

English defender Steve Purton, who has recently returned from overseas, said it was nice to get back in the winner’s circle.

“A win’s a win, and it’s nice to score four goals, but as a defender we’re not happy to concede a couple of sloppy goals,” he said.

“We got complacent after we scored the fourth, we should have kicked on, but we stopped doing the basic’s and let them back in.

“But we held on and we hope this can restart our season, and we’re all looking forward to next week’s rivalry round against Floreat Athena.”     

It was a perfect start for the home side and they were ahead after only three minutes.

Shuruma found Kamara on the left, and he cut inside his marker before curling the ball home from the edge of the penalty area. 

The Glory was struggling to break down a tight Lions defence with Billy Quinncroft and Nathan-Hasse solid, while the home side looked dangerous every time they moved forward, and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead on 32 minutes. 

Shuruma made space down the left and found Micevski on the right. He slipped away from Gian Albano, before firing home powerfully, despite keeper Jordan Franken getting a hand to it.

It was one-way traffic as the Lions continued to dominate. Bowden-Hasse headed just wide on the half hour, before Purton fired over the top moments later.

The Glory were hanging on, but their resistance was finally broken nine minutes before the break when the Lions added a third. 

Miki Vujacic’s corner was only half cleared by the Glory, and the Lions skipper whipped a teasing cross into the penalty area, which Bowden-Hasse rose highest to head home from 5m.

It could have been worse for the Glory. Micevski’s shot in stoppage time whistled inches past the post, but at the break the home side were in total control. 

The Glory needed a good start to get back into the game, but four minutes in they conceded a fourth. 

Purton found space down the left and cut inside the penalty area, his shot was parried by Franken and Shuruma fired home the rebound from close range.

It looked to be a case of how many the home side would score, but on 56 minutes the Glory pulled a goal back. Valentini won a tackle on the edge of the penalty area, raced into the box, and fired low past Joel Driscoll. 

Now it was the Glory who was dictating terms and they added another on 67 minutes. Nikola Talimdzioski won a strong tackle on the right of the penalty area and crossed for Valentini to make no mistake from six metres. 

It was game on and the Glory went close to a third three minutes later. King crossed to Dejan Spaseski, who fed Talimdzioski in on goal, but Driscoll was out bravely to save at the strikers’ feet.  

The Glory continued to press forward and Talimdzioski’s shot on the run flashed wide of the post, but they couldn’t find anymore and the Lions took the points.   

Stirling Lions 4 (Kamara 3 Mins, Micevski 32, Bowden-Hasse 36, Shuruma 49)
Perth Glory 2 (Valentini 56 Mins, 67)   
Saturday 11 July 2015
Macedonia Park, Balcatta
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistants: Adrien Liechti and Colin Duncan

Stirling Lions: GK Joel DRISCOLL, 3 Steve PURTON, 4 Billy QUINNCROFT, 6 Kyran NUNES (12 Robert MARIANO 72’), 7 Miki VUJACIC (c), 8 Tim HILL, 10 Daniel MICEVSKI, 14 Lawrence SHURUMA (16 Alen PATAROV 90’), 15 Robert PETKOV (9 Million BUTSHIIRE 72’), 17 Teeboy KAMARA, 18 Nathan BOWDEN-HASSE
Substitutes not used: RGK Lance ALAVAKIS, 12 Liam WOOD 
Yellow Cards: Hill 11’

Perth Glory: GK Jordan FRANKEN, 2 Gian ALBANO,  3 Jacob COLLARD (c), 4 Tom KING, 5 Ali GHOLAMI, 6 Calvin WHITNEY, 7 Waliedin ISMAIL (13 Sean TROUP 63’), 8 Dejan SPASESKI, 9 Stefan VALENTINI (14 Dylan WHITE 84’),  10 Slobodan VULIN, 11 Nikola TALIMDZIOSKI (12 Sam MACKEARNAN 87’)
Subs not used: RGK Riley STEVENSON, 15 Daniel STYNES
Yellow Cards: King 80’, Mackearnan 90+3’