Report by Jayden Lihou

Photo by Fotoenzo

Balcatta have ended Stirling’s five-match unbeaten streak with a 2-1 victory in round 11 of the PS4 NPLWA at Macedonia Park on Sunday.

The away-side went 2-0 up before Stirling responded with a late goal but the Lions were unable to find an equaliser in injury time.

Balcatta coach Salv Todaro said that his team put in a really good performance against an in form Stirling side.

“The boys have been working hard every week at training and today they brought that effort to the game for the whole 90 minutes,” he said.

“I thought that our defence played very well today and we didn’t give them many opportunities to have shots on goal.

“I think the team as a unit worked really well today, and although we conceded a goal in the end, I thought we were solid for the whole game.”

Stirling created their first genuine opportunity of the match in the fifth minute when the ball fell to Alex Tanevski at the far-post.

The striker had time and space in the box and opted for a low strike towards the near post but he was denied by goalkeeper Domenico Savoldelli.

Balcatta had a golden chance to gain the edge just before the break when Paddy Quinn latched onto a Daniel Hepworth cross with his curling effort denied by the post.

The away side broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when a Calum O’Connell corner found Hepworth at the far post who slotted the ball home.

Balcatta doubled their lead in the 87th minute when Feisal Zaw was brought down in the box by keeper John Perkins. Zaw stepped up to the take the penalty and converted it with conviction to put his side 2-0 up.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the away-side as the Lions made it 2-1 in the 90th minute.

After beating several Balcatta defenders, Daniel Micevski lashed an effort past Savoldelli to give his side some hope in the dying stages.

It wasn’t to be for the home side as Balcatta held on to claim all three points.

Stirling assistant coach Derek Johnstone said his side didn’t play well enough to deserve three points.

“I thought we started off pretty well but in all honesty I think we definitely lacked something up top,” he said.

“Three points was definitely a must for us today because it would have put us up among the top sides.”

Stirling Lions 1 (Daniel Micevski 90min)
Balcatta 2 (Hepworth 54min, Zaw 87)
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Referee: Matthew Southern
Assistant referees: Nico Hoyle, Joshua Nixon

Stirling Lions: GK. John PERKINS, 3. Alex SULESKI, 4. Blamo QUA QUA, 6. Dejan SPASESKI, 7. Milorad VUJACIC, 9. Alex TANEVSKI, 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 14. Lukas DE LIMA, 15. Shane CASSIDY (5. Graham DORAN 53’), 16. Mathaing MATHAING, 18. Moses KALAU (8. Steve SOKOL 68’)
Substitutes not used: RGK. Lance ALAVAKIS, 12. Jason RUBIDGE, 19. Robbie MCNEIL
Yellow Cards: Vujacic 80, Perkins 86
Red Cards: nil

Balcatta: GK. Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 2. Daniel HEPWORTH, 3. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 5. Kieron STALLARD, 6. Calum O’CONNELL, 7. Paddy QUINN (C), 12. Feisal ZAW, 13. Jonathan CORNESS, 15. Luccas MELLO (14. Patrick SARA 83’), 16. Kurt KOUAKOU, 18. Ben MEREDITH (4. Ismael BANGURA 63’)
Substitutes not used: RGK. Luke HUTCHINSON, 8. Giordan SERRA, 19. Brennan BORZECKI
Yellow Cards: nil
Red Cards: nil