Report by Aidan Shaw

Photo by Aidan Shaw

Bayswater City overcame a 2-0 half-time deficit to run away 3-2 winners over Stirling Lions in a thrilling PS4 NPLWA encounter at Macedonia Park on Saturday.

While Stirling dominated proceedings in the first half, Gustavo Giron Marulanda netted a second half brace along with substitute Paul McCarthy’s goal, giving the away team all three points.

Marulanda, who finished the 2015 season as top scorer and recently returned to Bayswater after a professional stint in Indonesia, was delighted to make a positive impact for his side.

“I feel relief, because I’ve been working hard and for a striker it is always good to score goals. Hopefully it keeps going the right way.”

The hosts came out of the blocks at their sparkling best, and dominated Bayswater for the majority of the first half.

In the 24th minute, a moment of individual brilliance and good fortune by young midfielder Lukas De Lima saw him open up the scoring for Stirling.

De Lima broke free in the middle and beat his man before playing a neat one-two with Steve Sokol and flicking his shot into the bottom right corner.

Minutes later, Stirling doubled their lead when Steve Sokol's attempted cross deflected off opposing captain Trent Kay and nestled in the back of the net.

With Stirling having relinquished a two-goal advantage the previous week at Sorrento, they faced immense pressure after the break from a revitalised Bayswater.

The visitors opened up the game in the 51st minute, when Bor Bor Sam’s pin-point cross from the left found substitute Paul McCarthy in space in the box, heading home from close range.

Bayswater continued their electric start to the second half and drew level in the 65th minute.

Jason Mirco’s initial effort was saved well by Perkins, but the rebound fell to Marulanda who buried the ball to equalise for the visitors.

After holding up the ball for some time at the left corner flag, substitute David Heagney crossed to Marulanda who was afforded too much time and space to slot home his second and put Bayswater into the lead.

Despite both sides having late opportunities, Bayswater ran out victors and caused a significant upset for their hosts.

Stirling coach Rob Milevski said he and his side were thoroughly disappointed by the result, acknowledging they had missed opportunities to kill off the game.

“Two weeks in a row now we’ve found ourselves in a similar position. We’re unable to go on with it,” he said.

“Second half they just lifted a notch and we weren’t prepared to match them.”

Chris Coyne, who led Bayswater to three consecutive state titles from 2013-15, was delighted with the result but said he expected more from his side than what they displayed in the first half.

“If you want to be a good player you have got to do it every week, every minute, every second you step on the pitch,” he said.

“You don’t get anything in football unless you work hard, and I think in the second half they worked hard and I thought they were a credit to themselves as a group.”

Stirling Lions 2 (L. De Lima 25min, OG 28)
Bayswater City 3 (McCarthy 51min, Marulanda 65, 77)
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tom Dowle
Assistant Referees: Julian Serra, Andre Ferrara

Stirling Lions: GK John PERKINS, 3. Alex SULESKI, 6. Dejan SPASESKI, 8. Steve SOKOL (12. Jason RUBIDGE 82), 9. Alex TANEVSKI (7. Milorad VUJACIC 72), 10. Daniel MICEVSKI (c), 14. Lukas DE LIMA, 15. Shane CASSIDY, 16. Mathiang MATHIANG, 17 Darren O RIORDAN, 18. Moses KALAU
Substitutes not used: RGK Lance ALAVAKIS, 2. Michael PUGLIESE, 5. Graham DORAN
Yellow cards: L De Lima 58, Suleski 90+2
Red cards: nil

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 2. Declan HARGREAVES, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 9. Gustavo GIRON MARULANDA, 10 Jason MIRCO (21. David HEAGNEY 72), 11. Devon GIBSON, 12. David STOKOE, 13. Trent KAY (c) (8. Paul MCCARTHY 46), 17. Bor Bor SAM, 20. Sam MITCHINSON, 23. Andrija JUKIC (3. Jack ALLEN 46)
Substitutes not used: RGK Owen FISHER, 19. Luka NINKOVIC
Yellow cards: McCarthy 58, Mitchinson 58, Hargreaves 87
Red cards: nil