Report by Colin Outhwaite

Stirling Lions came from behind to seal a 1-1 draw with Subiaco in an evenly contested PS4 National Premier Leagues clash at Macedonia Park.

Both goals came in the first seven minutes, as 15-year-old Ignacio Dominguez put the visitors in front, before Teeboy Kamara quickly leveled.

Stirling have struggled to make a mark at home this season, only managing to win three of their nine home games compared to last season’s total of seven.

“It’s very frustrating from all parts of the pitch,” said Lions captain Miki Vujacic.

“One week we play like one of the best teams in the league and the next we look like we don’t even deserve to be in the league.

“As the captain I have to make sure I keep the boys together and focus on the positives, but it’s been very disappointing that we haven’t been putting on a show for the home fans.”

Within the first minute, Nathan Bowden-Hasse put a ball over the top for Shane Malcolm to run onto, but goalkeeper Ryan Montgomery kept him out with a sliding save.

Dominguez opened the scores in the fourth minute, firing home Ian McMurray’s rebound off the bar following Owen Coates’ cross from the left.

The lead didn’t last long after a defensive error gifted Kamara a loose ball, and he had no trouble finding the back of the net.

Keeper Joel Driscoll continued his strong form with two diving saves either side of half time to prevent Coates and Joshua Booysen getting on the scoresheet.

But the save of the day went to Montgomery, whose impressive fingertip save in the 72^nd minute denied Brodie Martin’s powerful volley from the edge of the area.

The resulting corner was almost headed in by Lawrence Shuruma, but Coates was conveniently placed to clear from the goal line.

Both sides had their chances to take the three points but no one came closer than Malcolm, who slid to meet Shuruma’s dangerously placed ball, only to clear the crossbar from a metre out.

With up to nine players out, Subiaco coach Gerry McEwan has had to rely on his younger players in recent weeks.

“Both Zac Hardisty and Matt Steffenssen made their first-team league debut and I thought they had a great game,” he said.

“Our U15’s and 18’s are both sitting top of the table and our U20’s are third, so whilst we’re currently lacking the experience, we’re going to have a lot of great young players pushing to get a game in the first team.

Stirling Lions 1 (Kamara 7mins)
Subiaco 1 (Dominguez 4mins)
Saturday 8 August 2015

Macedonia Park
Local kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Josh Manella
Assistant Referees: Walter Crotti, Eamon McDonnell 

Stirling Lions: 1. Joel DRISCOLL (GK), 2. Michael PUGLIESE (4 Billy QUINNCROFT 61’), 3. Steve PURTON, 6. Brodie MARTIN, 7. Miki VUJACIC (c), 8. Tim HILL, 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 11. Shane MALCOLM (16. Alen PATAROV 90+2’), 14, Lawrence SHURUMA, 17. Teeboy KAMARA, 18. Nathan BOWDEN-HASSE
Substitutes not used: 26. Lance ALAVAKIS (RGK), 12. Boas MTWALE, 13. Liam WOOD
Yellow cards: Kamara 69
Red cards: nil 

Subiaco: 1. Ryan MONTGOMERY (GK), 2. Nathan DIAZ (c), 3. Ger FITZGERALD, 4. Jackson DONGRAY, Mitch STEINBERG, 6. Ignacio DOMINGUEZ (12. Chris MASSEY 67’), Daniel MILNE, 10. Zac HARDISTY, 8. Owen COATES, 9. Ian MCMURRAY (7. Matthew AKEHURST 86’), 11. Joshua BOOYSEN (5. Jordan SCRAGGS 45+2’), 13. George TCHAMI, 14. Matt STEFFENSSEN16. Siyang ZHANG.
Substitutes not used: 15. Dylan ANDREWS, 21. Anastasis FARSALAS.
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil