Report by Kalon Harrison

Subiaco AFC coach Gerry McEwan said getting a result against Stirling Lions in the inaugural game of the NPL WA 2014 season was the best he has experienced since being at the club.

“For the seven years I’ve been here this has been the pinnacle,” he said. “I just want to be able to look at ourselves on a Sunday morning and know that we gave our best and if you can do that, you’ve done alright.”

The hosts held the league winners of 2013 to a 0-0 draw in a game in which some players were still adjusting to the pace and the demands of the top division.

The best chances for both sides came in the first 10 minutes.

Subiaco forced Aleks Vrteski into a wonderful double save with shots from Ger Fitzgerald and a follow up effort from Ian McMurray in the sixth minute.

Two minutes later Stirling were down the other end and Danny Milne hit the upright with a header at the front post from a corner.

Milne was one of the three Stirling players to succumb to injury during the match, something coach Gary Williams said makes picking his best side hard.

“We’ve made three substitutions within 60 minutes because of injuries so it’s very frustrating,” he said. “. It would be great to be able to put out what I consider my first 11 and I don’t think it would be too hard to expect what happened last year.”

Williams said that not knowing his opposition as well as other top division regulars did not impact on his side.

“I knew one or two players... and I knew the way they were going to set up so that didn’t surprise me but individually I didn’t know too much,” he said. “I think their tactic for today was to stick 10 men behind the ball and nick one off a corner or free kick.”

The result favoured the hosts and Stirling might reflect on points dropped rather than a point gained.

Subiaco AFC 0
Stirling Lions 0
Saturday 8 March, 2014
WA Athletics Stadium, Mt Claremont
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: David Costello

Subiaco: 1. Jack HOWARD, 5. Nathan DIAZ, 16. Laurence GAUGHAN, 11. Mitchell STEINBERG, 3. Rowdy YATES, 6. Brad McDONALD, 8. Guy McDONALD (12. Ross JARMAN 56’), 4. Alex RANDELL, 15. Ian McMURRAY (13. Nathan STEEL 84’), 9. Matthew AKEHURST, 7. Ger FITZGERALD (2. Jake WELTON 75’)
Substitutes not used: 10. Jack RYCROFT, 21. Samuel STONE
Yellow cards: Guy McDonald 15’, Fitzgerald 69’, Jarman 72’, Diaz 87’
Red cards: Nil

Stirling: 1. Aleks VRTESKI, 11. Dennis GALAN, 2. Rikki SMITH, 8. Ross DIAMOND, 6. Hayden DOYLE, 7. Jack SALTER, 14. Ali GHOULAMI, 13. Daniel DOLS, 15. Josh BOOYSEN, 16. Phil ARNOLD (5. Dave FILLIPOU 56’), 10. Danny MILNE (9. Dan MICEVSKI 24’(12. Tim HILL 66’))
Substitutes not used: 17. Vladamir NAUMOVSKI, 24. Conor CAMPBELL
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil