Driscoll saves the Lions at Cockburn

Report by Peter Simcox

Photos: Peter Simcox

Stirling Lions’ teenager keeper Joel Driscoll was their hero as they drew 2-2 against Cockburn City in week 17 of the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA at Dalmatinac Park. 

Lawrence Shuruma had given the Lions the lead early but a double from David Araya either side of half time gave the home side the lead. 


Daniel Micevski leveled for the visitors, but with Cockburn pressing, Driscoll made two stunning reaction saves late in the game to keep Cockburn at bay.

Driscoll, who joined from Bayswater City, said he was happy with his performance and hopes to hold down a spot in the side.

“It’s a good point for us away from home as results haven’t been going our way recently,” he said.

“We started really well and should have wrapped the points up earlier, but we had to hold them off late, and I was happy to help with a couple of saves.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here and hope to keep performing and hold my spot in the side.” 

Lions coach Rob Milevski said he was delighted with the way his side bounced back from last week’s disappointing defeat against Armadale.

“We were the better team in the first half, got the goal and could have added another, and were better defensively, which we worked on during the week,” he said. 

“We were convinced we had a penalty when Brodie (Martin) was brought down, but it wasn’t to be and to be fair they had a penalty claim too, so at the end of the day we’re happy with a point.” 

Both sides were coming off defeats last week, but it was the home side that opened the brighter and went close after only three minutes.

Darren Gibson’s pace took him down the right before Julian Teles met his deep cross to the back post, but Driscoll saved his header.

Stirling settled and they were ahead on 18 minutes.

A long ball over the top caused panic in the Cockburn defence, as keeper Jack Adams raced out of his area to clear the ball, but the ball fell to Shuruma who scored. 

They nearly doubled their lead two minutes later when Shuruma eased past Blake Adams on the right, but his shot was well saved by Jack Adams. 

Cockburn, who pushed league leaders Bayswater close last week, hit back and were level on 34 minutes. 

Gibson was having a great game, and his mazy run took him past four Lions players, before a cheeky back heel found Araya, who fired home via the post.

The Lions thought they had the lead at half time. Jack Adams tipped Micevski’s long-range shot on to the bar and Robert Petkov fired home the rebound, but the flag was up for offside. 

The home side dominated the early exchanges after the break as Driscoll was alert to keep out Araya’s long-range shot, but there was nothing he could do when Cockburn hit the front on 56 minutes. 

It was Gibson again who was the provider. He cut the ball back to Patterson, who in turn fed Araya, whose low shot nestled in the bottom corner of the net. 

Cockburn lost striker Patterson to a groin injury moments later and on the hour the Lions leveled.

A long ball from Shuruma sent Micevski racing clear. Jack Adams blocked his first shot, but he followed up to fire home the rebound. 

The Lions were convinced they should have had a penalty when Josh Kuser brought down Martin, but referee Steven Gregory waved away their protests. 

It was a great finish for the neutrals but not the coaches with chances coming at both ends. 

Alan Carroll headed over for Cockburn when well placed, before Jack Adams denied the Lions’ Shane Malcolm.

But late on it was the home side pressing for the winner with Driscoll standing tall. 

First, on 85 minutes he reacted well to save Ayara’s deflected shot low to his left, but the best was yet to come.

In the final minute Harry O’Brien made space on the edge of the penalty area. His shot flicked off a defender and was heading for the bottom corner of the net, but Driscoll produced a stunning one handed save to deny him and earn his side point. 

Cockburn coach Marc Anthony said they have to learn to hold on to a lead.

“Unfortunately again we found ourselves in front and couldn’t hold onto to it like at Bayswater last week, which is disappointing, but it could have gone either way today,” he said.

“I thought we finished the game off strong and could have nicked it at the end, but at the end of the day it’s not a defeat, it’s a point.” 

Cockburn City 2 (Araya 34mins, 56)
Stirling Lions 2 (Shuruma 18, Micevski 60)  
Saturday August 1 2015
Dalmatinac Park, Spearwood
Referee: Steven Gregory
Assistants: Daniel Cole and David Pohlenz

Cockburn City: GK Jack ADAMS, 2 Josh KUSER, 3 Jonathan CORNESS, 5 Alan CARROLL, 8 David ARAYA, 10 Rory PATTERSON (15 Harry O’BRIEN 57’), 11 Devon GIBSON, 13 Blake ADAMS, 14 Conor KAVANAGH, 16 Julian TELES (12 Feisal ZAW 73’), 17 Eamon McNELIS (c)
Substitutes not used: RGK Eric CUTRI, 6 Kernal MOUTHYS, 9 Daniel BRYANT,
Yellow Cards: Nil

Stirling Lions: GK Joel DRISCOLL, 2 Michael PUGLIESE, 3 Steve PURTON, 6 Brodie MARTIN, 7 Miki VUJACIC, 8 Tim HILL, 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 14 Lawrence SHURUMA, 15 Robert PETKOV (11 Shane Malcolm 77’), 17 Teeboy KAMARA (5 Anthony BAFOBUSHA 89’), 18 Nathan BOWDEN-HASSE
Substitutes not used: RGK Rhys MCFARLANE, 4 Billy QUINNCROFT, 16 Alen PATAROV
Yellow cards: Martin 90+3’ 




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