Report by Kalon Harrison

Stirling Lions coach Gary Williams isn’t panicking despite his side’s poor start to the season and 3-0 loss to neighbours Balcatta at Grindleford Reserve.

“We’ve given ourselves a mountain to climb in the league now to retain the title,” he said. “But I’ve got confidence in the players in the dressing room and the lads we’ve still got to come back in.”

The loss leaves the 2013 All Flags State League premiers with just eight points from eight games in the NPL WA with a gap of 13 points between themselves and leaders Bayswater City.

The away side dominated the first half, controlling the possession of the game and creating more chances – mainly from set pieces.

In the 15th minute Andy Brown had a header cleared off the line from a corner and in the 41st minute Howard Neighbour had his header denied by the post.

It was the home side who opened the scoring in the first minute of injury time in the first half as ex-Bayswater boys Pat Quinn and Gustavo Catarcione linked up to score.

Quinn put the ball on a plate for Catarcione to finish with his head at the back post and the striker placed his header perfectly into the bottom corner.

Balcatta emerged from the break full of confidence after going ahead and started to control the game in the second half.

Catarcione scored his second after finishing a lightning counter attack started by Benny Kouakou in the 76th minute.

Catarcione went around Aleks Vrteski following in his initial shot which had hit the post but tapped the ball in off the line despite heavy pressure from incoming defenders.

The contest was effectively finished in the 83rd minute when Kouakou latched on to a miss-kick from Brown and raced forwards in a one-on-one with the keeper and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Balcatta coach Ramon Falzon said he was proud of his whole team’s performance and not just the two ex-Bayswater players that excelled.

“They are both fitting in quite well,” he said. “Ultimately it isn’t just about them though, it’s about the eleven players on the pitch.”

The result sees Balcatta move to fourth spot with 12 points, just two behind Perth in second.

Balcatta 3 (Gustavo CATARCIONE 45+1, 76, Benny KOUAKOU 83)
Stirling Lions 0
Saturday 26 April, 2014
Grindleford Reserve, Stirling
Crowd: Appx 350
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: David Costello/Josh Manella

Balcatta: 1. Clint DAVIES, 3. Kieron STALLARD, 8. David CYRUS, 5. Adam TONG, 6. Luke RANDAZZO (16. Ben MEREDITH 70’), 7. James SAMMUT, 19. Gustavo CATARCIONE (9. Carlo COELHO 84’), 14. Benny KOUAKOU (12. Matt IZZO 86’), 10. Marc DE FRANCESCH, 17. Kieran COLWELL, 20. Patrick QUINN

Substitutes not used: 21. Daniel PASSARELLI, 18. Marc ZAGAMI
Yellow cards: Catarcione 15’
Red cards: Nil

Stirling Lions: 1. Aleks VRTESKI, 2. Rikki SMITH, 8. Andy BROWN, 11. Dennis GALAN, 14. Clayten ARNEZ (5. Danny MILNE 78’), 13. Jack SALTER, 10. David MICEVSKI, 4. Ali GHOULAMI (12. Tim HILL 52’), 9. Daniel MICEVSKI, 6. Hayden DOYLE (7. Moses KALAU 70’), 15. Howard NEIGHBOUR

Substitutes not used: 3. Michael PUGLIUSE, 24. Conor CAMPBELL
Yellow cards:  Galan 9’, Brown 68’
Red cards: Nil