Report by Alasdair Beer

Photo: Alasdair Beer

Stirling Lions honoured the recent passing of former coach Ernie Hannigan with a commanding 4-2 victory over ECU Joondalup on Saturday.

Both sides observed a minute’s silence before kick-off at Macedonia Park to pay tribute to Hannigan, who Lions coach Rob Milevski described as a great club servant.

ECU looked intent on spoiling the occasion as they applied sustained pressure in the first 15 minutes. Tommy Amphlett sent a volley just wide after good play in the box for the visitors.

Stirling responded well to the challenge and began creating chances of their own.

They broke through in the 27th minute as Steve Purton launched a swift counter attack before rolling the ball across the box for Brian Woodall to finish.

The fast-paced affair was level again two minutes later as a scrap in the penalty area led to Paul Miller’s effort taking a touch from a Stirling player before creeping over the line.

The goal spree continued as Robert Petkov fired Stirling back ahead in the 32nd minute after finding the bottom corner with a composed finish.

Stirling retained their lead thanks to keeper Connor Campbell, who dived to his left to keep out a magnificent Miller strike from outside the area.

The hosts began the second half far stronger than the first, and increased their lead six minutes after the break as Teeboy Kamara tapped in from a smart Woodall pass.

Purton turned defence into attack once more in the 62nd minute, intercepting an errant pass before driving forward into the box.

ECU’s clearance fell back to him at the top of the area and he smashed his shot high into the left side of the net.

Despite the growing margin, the visitors remained committed to finding a reply.

Their persistence was rewarded in the 68th minute as Miller hit a sublime free-kick past the Stirling wall and beyond Campbell’s reach.

Lions boss Milevski was encouraged by his team’s ability to find the back of the net.

“It was good to spread the goals around, and it shows we have plenty of players capable of scoring,” he said.

Despite feeling his side at times let their concentration lapse, Milevski said Stirling would continue to play attacking football.

“When you push forward in numbers, you sometimes concede, but we’re really happy with the result,” he said.

ECU coach Dale McCulloch rued his side’s inability to capitalise on their early ascendency.

“We’re not scoring goals at the right moments; we missed a couple of opportunities that I think changed the game,” he said.

“We can’t keep conceding four goals, so we’ll work hard at the back and go from there.”

Stirling travel to Inglewood next week, whilst ECU host Subiaco.

Stirling Lions 4 (Woodall 27 minutes, Petkov 32’, Kamara 51’, Purton 62’)
ECU Joondalup 2 (OG 29’, Miller 68’)
Macedonia Park, May 23, 2015

Stirling Lions: GK Connor CAMPBELL, 2 Boas MTWALE, 3 Steve PURTON, 7 Milorad VUJACIC, 8 Tim HILL, 9 Teeboy KAMARA, 10 Daniel MICEVSKI, 14 Anthony BAFOBUSHA 15 Robert PETKOV, 17 Brian WOODALL (4 Billy QUINNCROFT 90’), 18 Nathan BOWDEN-HASSE
Substitutes not used: 1 Luke RADONICH, 6 Lok MAMAL, 12 Robert MARIANO 13 Vladimir NAUMOVSKI
Yellow cards: Mtwale 57’

ECU Joondalup: GK Jamie SERRA, 2 Ryan LOWRY, 4 Charlie COMYN-PLATT, 5 Carl RODGERS (C), 7 Paul MILLER, 8 Joe SMITH, 9 Guy MCDONALD (16 Harry BISSETT 75’), 10 Stuart MONTGOMERY (12 Ronald RIXER 67’), 11 Rowdy YATES, 13 Tommy AMPHLETT, 17 Bayley MONTGOMERY
Substitutes not used: 14 Ollie ANNIS, 18 Kye DOUGLAS, 20 Ash MAYNARD-BREWER
Yellow cards: Miller 7’, B. Montgomery 25’. Bissett 84’

Referee: Matt SOUTHERN