Report by Blayne Treadgold

Stirling Lions sealed their place in the NPL WA for next season in sensational style with a come-from-behind win over fellow relegation battlers Balcatta in front of a healthy crowd at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

A 21st minute penalty and a spectacular 25-yard free-kick, both from Stirling veteran David Micevski, were put in the shade by team-mate Alex Tanevski, who staked his claim for goal of the season with a sensational overhead kick to seal the 3-1 win.

“It was a bit far out to try and whip in, I thought I’d hit it with the laces and luckily enough it went in from there,” Micevski said.

“He (Tanevski) scored a similar (overhead) goal last year, it was great for him to get that goal today.

“We started a bit slow today. Once they scored that first goal, I think it woke us up a little bit ... after that we seemed to control the game. We didn’t look like letting it go.”

Despite the early pressure from Stirling it was Lawrence Shurama who put Balcatta ahead in the early stages when he slid the ball past Lewis Italiano following some neat combination play from the Balcatta forwards.

The Balcatta lead was short-lived when referee David Bruce ruled that Stirling’s Steve Sokol was illegally brought down by Balcatta’s Hayden Stevens.

Micevski stepped up for the spot-kick and converted to level the scores at 1-1 on 20 minutes.

Stirling’s Conor Scullion began causing problems for Balcatta as the Lions ramped up their midfield pressure, Scullion delivered a delightful ball to Sokol who was unable to hit the target.

The pressure eventually paid off with Stirling winning a free-kick in a promising position. Micevski hit a rocket into the top left-hand corner to give his side a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Balcatta started the second half on the front foot and Calum O’Connell went close to producing an equaliser only to be denied by a quality save by former A-League keeper Italiano.

But Balcatta failed to clear their lines in the 75th minute and the ball dropped to Tanevski who scored in spectacular fashion, an overhead kick to find the net and put Stirling out of reach.

The win ensured the Lions avoided any chance of relegation with one game remaining in the 2018 season.

“A club like Stirling has a massive history, we don’t deserve to go down. We had to go out there and do the club justice and it’s great that we’re safe now,” Micevski said.

While it was smiles for Stirling, it will come down to the final game of the season for Balcatta. They need a point at home against Inglewood to be 100 per cent sure of safety, although if Subiaco fail to beat leaders Perth Glory then they can plan for next season in the NPL.

Balcatta coach Goran Stajic remained optimistic about his side’s chances of staying in the top flight.

“Those two strikes were probably the difference for us today, I think we created more of the chances ... it was some freekick [and overhead kick],” he said.

“We’re always up for it, when you’ve got a young, energetic team that’s full of belief. We don’t stop.

“We match up really well against Inglewood, ultimately we must go out there and push them all the way."

Balcatta 1 (Shurama 19min)
Stirling 3 (Micevski 21, 43, Tanevski 75)
Grindleford Reserve
Saturday, August 18
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: David Bruce
Assistant referees: Shuo Chen, Harry Bolan
 
Balcatta: 1. Kyle MCDONALD (GK), 3 Hayden STEVENS, 4. Calum O’Connell,  5. Tom PELLIZZARI,
7. Asher NELSON (2. Joseph MARINO 70’) 8. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 9 Alex WILD, 10 Jonathan CORNESS, 14. Lawrence SHURAMA 18. Robert DEL BORRELLO (11. Nicholas CHALLOT 52’) 20 Shubham MOKALA
Substitutes not used: 16. Dougal KINDNESS, 21. Rene ALBA. 25. Damien STANOVSKI
Yellow cards: 9. Alex WILD, 8. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 14. Lawrence SHURAMA
Red cards: Nil   

Stirling Lions: 1. Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 3. Christopher McLAUGHLIN, 4. Alex SULESKI, 5. David MOLINARI,
6. Dhors CHOUL, 8. Dean CUMMINGS, 9. Zane CASELLA, 10. David MICEVSKI, 11. Conor SCULLION,
14. Steve SOKOL (7. Jamie DOCHERTY 86’) 17. Alex TANEVSKI
Substitutes not used: 2. David FILIPPOU, , 12. Dejan SPASESKI 15. Abu DELLIH
20. Damien DAMSONOSKI
Yellow cards: 11. Conor SCULLION, 9. Zane CASELLA
Red cards: Nil