Lions bite back against ECU

Report by Peter Simcox

 

Stirling Lions have won for the first time in the NPL WA this season after a 2-0 win against ECU Joondalup at Macedonia Park on Saturday afternoon.

A first half strike from Chris McLaughlin put the Lions on their way, before a great finish on the run by Bleron Mamudi wrapped up the points and set of wild celebrations in the crowd.   

Lions Coach Keegan Ashley stepped down from his role last week, and interim coaches Terry Nicolaou and Antony Bennett were in charge for this one, and it was a tight first half with both creating good chances.

Henry Durr’s shot fizzed over the top, before Tom Hough’s effort flashed wide for the visitors, while Dhhors Chol’s shot was saved by Scott Wallis and Sean McManus fired over the top with the goal at his mercy for the Lions.

But it was the Lions who hit the front two minutes from half time. A corner wasn’t dealt with by the ECU defence and it fell to McLaughlin on the edge of the box and the defender buried it low into the corner of the net.

The Lions were on the front foot after half time and Mamudi’s shot crashed off the crossbar, before McManus’ shot was well saved by Wallis.

But their pressure was reward with the second, just before the hour. A long ball over the top sent Mamudi racing clear, he  rounded the keeper and held off the challenge of Cian Hirrell before finishing with aplomb to seal the win, much to the delight of the home faithful.  

 

Star Man 0 Bleron Mamudi - Stirling Lions

 

Stirling Lions 2 (McLaughlin 43’, Mamudi 59’)

ECU Joondalup 0

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Macedonia Park

Kick-off: 3:00pm

Referee: Shane Skinner

Assistant referees: Adrien Liechti, Adam Hicks

 

Stirling Lions: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 2 Michael GAMA, 3 Darren O’RIORDAN (14 Filip MILIC 84’), 4 Alex SULESKI, 5 Chris McLAUGHLIN (12 Andrew MARANTA 80’), 6 Dhhors CHOL, 7 Sean MCMANUS, 8 Finn GRAHAM (16 Joseph PERKINS 90+2’), 9 Ben WANTEE, 10 Bleron MAMUDI, 11 Kristian DESPOTOVSKI,

Substitutes not used: RGK Daniel MARQUES, 15 Nenbrim CHARMING,

Yellow cards: Wantee 50’, O’Riordan 57’, Montgomery 88’, Milic 90+2’, McManus 90+5’

Red cards: Nil

ECU Joondalup: GK Scott WALLIS, 2 Cian HIRRELL (12 Ryan MCDARBY 62’), 3 Ronald RIXER (9 Ben HINSHELWOOD 52’), 4 Henry DURR, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 7 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY, 8 Josh WHITMORE (14 Kian MCGUIGAN 14’), 10 Andy HIGGINS, 11 Jakub SKLENAR, 15 Tom HOUGH, 16 Ewen FAWCETT (6 Paddy DOYLE 85’)

Substitutes not used: RGK George JACKSON, 6 Harry EDWARDS,

Yellow cards: Sklenar 73’, Brown-Montgomery 90+4’, Cassidy 90+5’

Red cards: Nil