Report by Bobby Stamatoski

Stirling Lions produced an incredible 4-1 win over Subiaco at Macedonia Park on Saturday despite having two players sent off to give their chances of survival a major boost.

Goals from Abu Delleh and Jamie Docherty and a double from Dean Cummings ensured the hosts moved out of the bottom three of the NPL WA following a run of seven straight losses.

Stirling coach Keegan Ashley said: "This just goes to show you what we're about."

Ashley was full of praise for goalkeeper Lewis Italiano, Docherty and defender Chris McLaughlin.

Delleh got Stirling off to the perfect start by running onto a through ball and stabbing it past Subiaco goalkeeper Ryan Montgomery.

To their credit Subiaco fought back and equalised through Adam Carlino, who slotted past Italiano to make it 1-1 at the break.

But Subiaco's momentum was quickly punctured when Stirling scored two goals in the space of three minutes early in the second half.

In the 49th minute, Docherty did well to get past his marker and he cracked an unstoppable low drive into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

Three minutes later, Cummings coolly rounded the goalkeeper to make it 3-1.

But things took a downturn for Stirling as David Molinari collected his second yellow with over half-an-hour to go.

Then to make matters worse for the hosts, Nathan De Abreu was given his marching orders for dissent which left Stirling with nine men on the park and over 15 minutes still to play.

Subiaco could not capitalise however, and Cummings added his second for the day to make it 4-1 and leave the visitors second from bottom.

Subiaco assistant coach Basil Lenzo was not happy with the team's performance.

"Well I think the result does reflect on the players because we as a club have to stand behind what was put out there," he said.

"We were second to the ball. The last two weeks the players haven't wanted it enough and they need to find something quickly to show that they want it.

"To be honest, we had a good 35 minutes in the first half. After they scored, I thought we got on top.

"At half-time we simply encouraged them to go out and use their energy and motivation that we've been talking about and the system. But they simply left it in the change room.

"All credit to Stirling, they worked their socks off."

Stirling Lions 4 (Delleh 9min, Docherty 49, Cummings 52, 85)
Subiaco 1 (Carlino 25)
Saturday, July 21
Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Adam Fielding    
Assistant referees: Daniel Cole, Ammar Timour

Stirling Lions: 1. Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 3. Darren O'RIORDAN (C), 11. Alex TANEVSKI, (12. Daniel HEPWORTH 75) 2. David MOLINARI, 4. Christopher McLAUGHLIN, 6. Zane CASELLA, 7. Jamie DOCHERTY 9. Abu DELLEH (15. Steve SOKOL 64) 10. David MICEVSKI, (14. Daniel MICEVSKI 83) 8. Dean CUMMINGS, 5. Nathan DE ABREU
Substitutes not used: 13. Ben CAMPBELL, 20. Damian DAMSONOSKI
Yellow cards: MOLINARI, HEPWORTH
Red cards: MOLINARI, DE ABREU

Subiaco: 1. Ryan MONTGOMERY (C, GK), 10. Alex CASTIELLO, 12. Nathan SMITH, 13. Jonas DORLING 16. Dean APELGREN, 18. Dave PERICH, 9. Adam CARLINO, 7. Mitchell BATH, 14. Ross JARMAN, 3. Vasco DA SILVA, 15. Anthony TOPINI
Substitutes not used: 19. Ian McMURRAY, 5. Manase ABANDELWA, 17. Mark PRITCHARD, 4. Robert HARDING, 21. Teophile BROWN
Yellow cards: JARMAN, McMURRAY, TOPINI
Red cards: Nil

Subiaco coach Basil Lenzo was not available for post-match comments. The assistant coach was not happy with the team's performance.

"Well I think the result does reflect on the players because we as a club have to stand behind what was put out there."

"We were second to the ball. The last 2 weeks the players haven't wanted it enough and they need to find something quickly to show that they want it."

"To be honest, we had a good 35 minutes in the first half. After they scored, I thought we got on top."

"But at half time, we simply encouraged them to go out and use their energy and motivation that we've been talking about and the system. But they simply left it in the changeroom."

"All credit to Stirling, they worked their balls off."