Report by Bobby Stamatoski

 

Stirling Lions produced a strong performance to claim a 2-1 win over Floreat Athena at Macedonia Park on Saturday in round seven of the NPLWA season.

Stirling coach Keegan Ashley was pleased to see his team get the result and was full of praise for his star striker, Robert Petkov.

"We set ourselves out for a big game, we worked hard and got the result," he said.

"Robby has been working hard. He's not been on form but he just keeps working hard and it'll come for him. It was great for him to get a goal today."

The home team came out and applied the early pressure and almost went ahead when Dejan Spaseski failed to capitalise from point blank range as early as the 5th minute.

The Lions dominated the first half but could not find the back of the net. Tanevski summed up their first half when he missed a sitter in the 31st minute and both teams left the field scoreless at half time.

Five minutes into the first half however, it was the visitors who took the lead through Dean Evans.

Stirling failed to clear a corner and the ball fell nicely for Evans to hit it on the half volley into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.

The Lions fought back hard though and were rewarded with a goal in the 60th minute. David Micevski's low drive from a free kick fell right in front of Petkov, who made no mistake from close range to make it 1-1.

Micevski could've put the hosts ahead but his effort went wide and he ended limping off with an injury.

The hosts finally went ahead 11 minutes from through Tanevski from a corner, and it proved to be the winning goal much to the joy of the home fans.

Floreat coach Howard Tweats was dissapointed with the end result.

"First half I thought we got run over a little bit," he said.

"Stirling had the better of the game. Should've been ahead deservedly in the first half."

"We tried to put a few things right at half time. Worked for 10 minutes but we were just not good enough."

"The decision making was poor, and generally overall commitment against a side who's at home who's heavily backed, just didn't stand up to the challenge."

This win sees Stirling move above Floreat on the NPLWA ladder.

 

Stirling Lions 2 (Petkov 60min, Tanevski 79min)

Floreat Athena 1 (Evans 50min)

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Macedonia Park

Kick-off: 5pm

Referee: Nico Hoyle 

Assistant Referee 1: Stewart Beattie         

Assessor: Stephen Muldoon          

Assistant Referee 2: Jatin Lodhia               

 

Stirling Lions: 1. Pasquale GIOFFRE (GK) 4. Alex SULESKI, 11. Alex TANEVSKI, 2. David MOLINARI, 10. David MICEVSKI, (17. Zane CASELLA 66min), 7. Dean CUMMINGS (C), 8. Dejan SPASESKI, 5.Liam HENDERSON, 15. Nathan DE ABREU, 9. Robert PETKOV, (12.Matthew CHERRIE 89min) 6.Dhhors CHOL,

Substitutes not used: 20. Lance ALAVAKIS, 18. Ben CAMPBELL, 13. Joey PERKINS,
Yellow Cards:  De Abreu 38 min, Henderson 72 min, Tanevski 89 min
Red Cards: none

 

Floreat Athena: 1. Jason SALDARIS, 10. Calvin WHITNEY, 9. Carlo COELHO, (13. Hamza HINA 74min) 15. Chris SALDARIS, 17. Dean EVANS (C), 6. Jesse FULLER, 8. Jonathan STYNES, 14. Ludovic BOI, 2. Marco SANTA LUCIA, 18. Phillip ARNOLD, 16. Ryan MALTON,

Substitutes not used: 23. Jordan BARBAS, 11. Dennis GALAN,
Yellow Cards:  Ryan Malton 12min, Phillip Arnold 38min, Chris Saldaris 60min, Dean Evans 63min

Red Cards: none