Report by Blayne Treadgold

 

Bayswater City snatched the PS4 NPLWA Premiership with a convincing 3-1 victory over Stirling Lions at Finance 365 Stadium on Saturday.

Bayswater hit the top of the PS4 NPLWA table following the result, but club faithful were left nervously awaiting news of other results before they could celebrate.

A mighty roar echoed around the stadium as the result of the Floreat Athena v Inglewood filtered through, ensuring Bayswater's champion title.

Bayswater coach Chris Coyne was ecstatic.

“The heart rate is up and I don’t think it ever went that high when I was playing,” he joked.

“I’m immensely proud of the players and their workrate," he said.

"Everything they’ve done in the second half of the season has been magnificent.”

“I’m so pleased for them. They’ve done so much hard work to get themselves in that position, they deserve all the plaudits.”

Coyne said the team will now look ahead to the McInerney Ford Top Four Cup.

“We’ll enjoy it tonight, but we’ll be back on the track on Tuesday, to get ready for a big game on Saturday,” he said.

Luca Ninkovic got Baywater off to a bright start within six minutes with a deflected shot that left Stirling keeper, John Perkins stranded.

Gustavo Marulanda doubled the advantage on 36 minutes with a superb finish as he got on the end of a floated through ball and neatly chipped Perkins.

Cameron Teece kept Stirling in the match as he got on the end of a superb cross from Mathiang Mathiang to head home and send the teams into the sheds at 2-1.

Bayswater gloveman, Devon Spence produced a massive save to deny Stirling’s Blamo Qua Qua from finding an equaliser.

The opportunities kept falling to Marulanda as he stepped up to the spot after two penalty decisions but it wasn’t to be, the first saved by Perkins the second sent straight over the bar.

Marulanda found his second off a cool header to seal the win in the 69th minute.

Teece turned from hero to villain for Stirling’s side as Referee Adam Fielding showed him a red card for a second bookable offence.

In his final match in charge, Stirling coach Rob MIlevski congratulated Bayswater.

“It’s mixed emotions, it would have been nice to finish on a high and win the game today but full credit to Bayswater," he said.

“They worked hard, got the win and congratulations to them on winning the premiership.”

“It’s been a great end to the season, to go down to the last minute like that."

Bayswater City 3 (Ninkovic 5min, Marulanda 36, 69)

Stirling Lions 1 (Teece 45+2min)

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Finance 365 Stadium

Kick-off: 3:00pm

Referees: Adam Fielding

Assistant Referees: Shane Skinner, Mitchell Barrington

Bayswater City: 1. Devon SPENCE (GK), 2. Declan HARGREAVES (7. Paul MCCARTHY 25’), 6. Todd HOWARTH, 9. Gustavo Giron MARULANDA, 11. Devon GIBSON, 13. Trent KAY (C), 17. Bor Bor SAM (10. Jason MIRCO 81’), 18.Brent GRIFFITHS, 19. Luka NINKOVIC (21. David HEAGNEY 54’), 20. Sam MITCHINSON, 23. Andrija JUKIC.

Substitutes not used:12. David STOKOE, 25. Dejan ALEKSIC

Yellow Cards: 18. Brent GRIFFITHS 41’, 21. David HEAGNEY 73’

Red Cards: Nil

Stirling Lions: 1. John PERKINS (GK), 2. Michael PUGLIESE, 4. Blamo QUA QUA, 5. David MOLINARI,
6. Dejan SPASESKI, 9. Alex TANEVSKI (15. Shane CASSIDY 89’) 10. Daniel MICEVSKI (7. Milorad VUJACIC 89’), 16. Mathiang MATHIANG, 17. Darren O’RIORDAN, 18. Moses KALAU, 19. Cameron TEECE

Substitutes not used: 12. Adrian KOIOS, 13. Robbie McNeill,, 20. Lance ALAVAKIS

Yellow Cards: 6.Dejan SPASESKI 57’, 19. Cameron TEECE 75’ 83’

Red Cards: 19. Cameron TEECE 83’