Report by Colin Outhwaite

Perth SC snatched a second consecutive late win and were crowned winners of the 2014 Dylan Tombides Trophy in a tough match against fifth placed Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park in the NPL WA on Saturday.

Ashley Rosindale made it his third goal in three games for Perth since returning from injury before David Micevski equalised from the spot, but Mark Doninger continued his recent scoring streak and won the game five minutes from time.

Pictured: Perth's James Marocchi and Stirling's Dean Evans. Photo: Perth Soccer Club

Stirling coach Gary Williams thought a draw would have been a fair result for both teams.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half, we got into some good offensive positions but we didn’t capitalise,” he said.

“When you get in front of the back four you’ve got to drive and commit a player, but sometimes we just weren’t positive enough.”

Williams had admiration for Perth’s consistency.

“In the last two games Perth have scored late to convert two points into six and that’s why they’re second and we’re fifth," he said.

Rosindale opened the scores after seven minutes when he met Doninger’s cross between two defenders and clumsily rolled it into the bottom corner.

It was not long before Alex Castiello brought down Jack Salter in the box, and Micevski had no problems converting the penalty.

The Lions looked most promising to going ahead after the break when Dean Evans found acres of space in the 67^th minute and delivered an almost perfect ball into the box, but Salter could not meet it.

Substitute Tim Robertson came close to making his mark for Perth, delivering some dangerous balls from the right wing. But Doninger could not reward his efforts, miss-timing a free shot in the box in the 75^th minute.

Doninger eventually got the breakthrough when Aden Da Luz passed across goal and he beat Vrteski in a fifty-fifty to give himself a second chance to tap home.

Centre-back Andy Brown was pushed forward to bolster the attack in a last-minute attempt to earn a point but Stirling saw another dangerous ball float untouched across goal- Phil Arnold coming painstakingly close to a connection on Brown’s cross in the 92^nd minute.

Perth coach Taki Nicolaidis said it was a tough game but they needed the win.

“We just had to focus on what we needed to do and today we needed the three points,” he said.

Nicolaidis said he would much rather be in Bayswater’s shoes but it is not over yet.

“We’re not going to give them the championship; we’re still putting the pressure on them so they’re going to have to fight for it.”

 

STIRLING LIONS 1 (MICEVSKI 17')
PERTH SC 2 (ROSINDALE 7’, DONINGER 85’)
Saturday 9th August 2014
Venue: Macedonia Park
Attendance: 250
Referee: Matthew Cheeseman
Assistants: Elliott Cirkovic, Oliver Allen

STIRLING LIONS: 1. Aleks VRTESKI, 3. Michael PUGLIESE, 16. Jovo PAVLOVIC, 5. Dean EVANS, 6. Hayden DOYLE, 8. Andy BROWN, 9. Moses KALAU, 10. David MICEVSKI, 11. Phil ARNOLD, 12. Ali GHOULAMI (14. Clayton ARNEZ 78’), 13. Jack SALTER (7. Miki VUJACIC 78’)
Subs not used:  24. Connor CAMPBELL (rgk), 15. Robert PETKOV, 17. David DIAS
Yellow Cards: 11. Phil ARNOLD 90+2’
Red Cards: Nil

PERTH SC: 1. Francis SOALE, 2. Josh WILKINS, 6. Clarke KELTIE, 13. Alex CASTIELLO, 20. James MAROCCHI, 19. Andreas THEODOSIADES, 14. Mark PRITCHARD, 18. Jason BERRERA (12. Tim ROBERTSON 60’), 15. Mark DONINGER, 8. Aden DA LUZ, 10. Ashley ROSINDALE (21. Harley ORR 70’)
Subs not used:  24. A. DUNN, 17. Matt MILENKOVIC, 22. Thomas SOUTHGATE
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil