Report by Colin Outhwaite

Coach Gary Williams praised David Micevski's contribution in Stirling Lions 3-2 win over Balcatta in the NPL WA on Saturday.

“Micevski’s been excellent for us all year and to score two goals like that with both feet was superb,” said Williams, who felt it was the Lions’ best performance of the season.

Balcatta captain Kris Gate scored early and then matched Micevski’s brace in the 58th minute but Phil Arnold’s tap in from a free-kick sealed the game 11 minutes from time.

Stirling looked determined to make up for their Cool Ridge Cup Final defeat to Bayswater last week with Moses Kalau rattling the cross-bar within the first minute.

But five minutes in, Gate smashed one from the edge of the area into the bottom corner and put Balcatta in front.

Stirling kept their momentum and two minutes later Micevski ran into the box and curled in the equaliser with his left foot.

He struck again in the 16th minute, this time a low drive with his right boot.

Stirling pressured Balcatta and forced errors at the back. Dean Evans almost took advantage in the 20th minute but keeper Clint Davies tipped his shot over the bar.

Balcatta tried to work the ball up the wings and in the 38th minute Alex Caniglia sprinted onto a ball and pulled it back for Carlo Coelho, who mishit his shot.

They came desperately close to an equaliser four minutes later as keeper Aleks Vrteski hesitated to meet Kieran Colwell’s ball into the box but Coelho could not connect.

The Lions did not carry the same intensity into the second half and Balcatta showed patience as they worked the ball into the box then Gate brilliantly skipped past two defenders to score his second.

Stirling had quietened down but after Doyle and Evans were denied by an impressive double save, they gained a second wind.

Micevski earned a free-kick and as everyone anticipated a cross, substitute Miki Vujacic fired through the wall towards the near corner and although Davies reacted well to keep it out, Arnold slotted home the rebound.

Coach Ramon Falzon was frustrated that Balcatta had gained just one point from their last three games after a long spell of form that had made them contenders for the title.

“It hurts,” he said. “But now we have to pick ourselves up, work hard and try and at least seal third place.”

“Subiaco have picked up recently so it will be a tough game next week, but now we really need the three points.”

With Sorrento’s results dipping in recent weeks, Williams knows there’s still a chance of third spot for the Lions as well.

“We’ve made it difficult for ourselves but it’s not in our own hands at the moment,” he said.

“Sorrento have given us a leg up so we’ve just got to win the rest of our games and see what we can get.”

Stirling Lions 2 (David MICEVSKI 7' 16', Phil ARNOLD 79’)
Balcatta FC 1 (Kris GATE 5’ 58’)
Saturday 26 July, 2014

Venue: Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 3.00pm

Referee: Steven Gregory
Assistant referees: Taz, Shane Skinner
Crowd: 200 (approx)

Stirling Lions: 1. Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 2. Rikki SMITH, 3. Michael PUGLIESE,  4. Jovo PAVLOVIC,  5. Dean EVANS, 6. Hayden DOYLE, 8. Andrew BROWN, 9. Moses KALAU (15. Robert PETKOV 74’), 10. David MICEVSKI (14. Ali GHOULAMI (90+2’), 11. Phil ARNOLD, 13. Jack SALTER (7. Miki VUJACIC 76’)
Substitutes not used: 24. Connor CAMPBELL, 12. Daniel DOLS
Yellow cards: 8. Andrew BROWN 42'
Red cards: nil

Balcatta: 1. Clint DAVIES (gk), 4. Alex SULESKI, 6. Luke RANDAZZO, 7. James SAMMUT, 8. David CYRUS, 9. Carlo COELHO (19. Ben MEREDITH 72’), 10. Kris GATE (c) (16. Patrick SARA 69’), 11. Alex CANIGLIA (15. Marc DE FRANCESCH 87’), 12. Matt BROOK, 17. Kieran COLWELL, 20. Patrick QUINN 
Substitutes not used:  21. Damien STANOESVSKI, 3. Kieron STALLARD
Yellow cards: 9. Carlo COELHO 64’  
Red cards: nil