Report by Aviva Mahfouda

Perth Glory striker Joseph Knowles last minute penalty gave his side a 1-0 victory over Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park on Saturday.

It looked like the game was going to end goalless, until David Micevski was adjudged to bring down Sean Troup in the box and Knowles converted the resulting penalty in the 89th minute.
Glory coach John Gibson was ecstatic with his team's performance.

"We just wanted a positive reaction from the group and today the boys were outstanding,” he said.

"With our recent games we have had a few hiccups at certain stages and this week we followed it through until full time.”

The home side started proceeding stronger, dominating possession and creating several chances in the opening 15 minutes.

Glory had their first real chance in the 16th minute as Stirling failed to clear their lines, although Cal Whitney's effort on goal sailed over the bar.

Not long after Nic Talimdzioski broke down the left and raced towards the goal, but Stirling keeper John Perkins saved his low shot and again managed to parry away a follow up strike by Dejan Spaspeski.

In the 20th minute David Micevski outpaced the Glory defence from a long ball but was brought to ground by an onrushing Glory keeper who was lucky to be shown a yellow.

In the closing stages of the half Glory had a couple of chances but neither Talimdzioski or Stynes could open the scoring.

Only a few minutes into the second half, Glory’s Scott Robertson was fortunate not to see red after a rash challenge on Blamo Qua Qua.

Stynes had another excellent opportunity in the 60th minute to put Glory in front, although his effort from inside the box was straight at the Lions keeper.

In the 63rd minute, Miki Vujacic delivery for Stirling was headed just wide by defender Shane Cassidy.

Although, the closest Stirling came to breaking the deadlock was in the 72nd minute when Daniel Micevski header came back off the cross bar.

Stirling coach Rob Milevski was disappointed with his team's missed opportunities and not coming away with the much needed three points.

"The last few weeks we have been a bit too complacent and not taking our chances,” he said.

"Unfortunately today it didn't go our way with a few of the decisions which added to the frustration for our players.”

The result sees Stirling drop one place down to fifth on the table, while Glory move up to tenth.

Stirling Lions 0
Perth Glory 1 (89' Joseph Knowles)
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Nico Hoyle
Assistant Referees: Brian McDonald and Darren Quinlan

Stirling: GK John PERKINS, 2. Michael PUGLIESE, 4. Blamo QUA QUA, 6. Brodie MARTIN (c) (13. William KESSEL 44') 7. Milorad VUJACIC, 8. David SESAY (9. Lukas DE LIMA 86'), 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 11. David MICEVSKI, 12. Jason RUBIDGE (3. Ben CAMPBELL 78') 15. Shane CASSIDY, 17. Teeboy KAMARA
Substitutes not used: 5. Graham DORAN, 20. Connor Campbell
Yellow cards: Teeboy 31', Pugliese 40', Vujacic 53', Micevski 88'
Red cards: nil

Perth Glory: 1. Riley STEPHENSON, 2. Gian ALBANO, 3. Ben Johns (14. Cameron MURRAY 74') 4. Jack IREDALE (15. Scott ROBERTSON 45') 5. Ross MILLARD, 6. Cal WHITNEY, 7. Sean TROUP, 8. Dejan SPASPESKI (13. Jacob MUSTAFA 86') 9. Joseph KNOWLES, 10. Daniel STYNES, 11. Nic TALIMDZIOSKI
Substitutes not used: 12. Chok DAW, 20. Jackson LEE
Yellow cards: Iredale 18', Stephenson 20', Whitney 31', Robertson 53'
Red cards: nil