Report by Aidan Shaw

Stirling Lions put on a spirited performance to claim a convincing 3-0 win over league-leaders Bayswater City at Finance 365 Stadium on Saturday.

A penalty converted by David Micevski in the first half was backed up in the second by a spectacular Miki Vujacic corner and a bizarre own goal in stoppage time.

Stirling coach Rob Milevski said the result was testimony to a great team performance, and praised his younger players who had been brought in to account for a number of injuries and suspensions.

“It was a brilliant team performance, we stuck to the game plan and I think we frustrated them at times,” he said.

“We had a couple of young lads in there, 17-year-old Lukas Da Lima came in on the right side and I thought he worked hard and combined well.”

The match started in a lively fashion, with both sides having their fair share of possession and Bayswater creating a number of chances on goal.

Stirling were awarded a penalty in the 16th minute when David Micevski was brought to ground from behind by Andy Reale.

Micevski stepped up and fired low into the right side of goal to give his side the lead.

Bayswater immediately pressed for an equaliser, but Perkins showed consistency and resilience by making a number of quality saves.

The visitors should have been two to the good in the 27th minute when they caught Bayswater’s backline napping.

Micevski picked up an attempted clearance and took a number of touches before firing at goal but Spence, who had been out of position, got back in time to make the save.

They had another good chance to double their lead in the 37th minute, when Mathiang played the ball in from the right where Jamie Gibson was in a perfect spot to turn it in, but he didn’t make good contact and the ball went well over the bar.

Bayswater should have equalised in the 40th minute, when Mirco played a great pass to meet the run of Heagney on the right wing.

Heagney played the ball in to Lawrence Shuruma at the back post, but with the goal at his mercy he took too many touches and squandered the opportunity.

Stirling started the second half positively, making a strong case for attack being the best form of defence.

Perkins continued his stellar form, and made a spectacular diving save to deny Alex Salmon from a free kick in the 69th minute.

He parried it to Heagney who took a shot on the follow-up, but Perkins was again on hand to keep his side ahead.

Acting captain Vujacic doubled Stirling’s lead in the 72nd minute, when he curled a superb corner directly into goal to the elation of the visiting fans.

An unfortunate own goal in added time put the nail in the coffin for the home side, but made it a day to remember for Stirling.

Stirling keeper John Perkins said his side put in a great shift, and was humble about his individual performance.

“The young boys were absolutely brilliant, they did everything that was asked of them and were well disciplined,” he said.

“If I had a chance to do that every week and come away with a 3-0 win, I’d be happy to do it.”

Bayswater’s Chris Coyne said his side’s performance was one of the worst he has seen in his time as head coach.

“I’m not disappointed with the result because we didn’t deserve one,” he said. “What I am disappointed in is work rate, effort, and intensity.

“We’ll be in Monday, we’ll work hard this week and we’ll go again because there’s nothing at all we can take from that, it was a joke.”

The result sees Stirling hold on to fourth position while Bayswater remain top of the table, two points clear of Inglewood United.

Bayswater City 0
Stirling Lions 3 (David Micevski 16 pen, Vujacic 72, OG 90+1)
Saturday, June 18, 2016    
Finance 365 Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistant referees: Matt Southern, Eamon McDonnell

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 2. Jack JONES (11. Devon GIBSON 73), 5. Andrew REALE (13. Trent KAY 85), 6. Todd HOWARTH (c), 10. Jason MIRCO, 14. Lawrence SHURUMA (8. Paul MCCARTHY 55), 15. Brian FARRELL, 16. Jamie COYNE, 19. Alex SALMON, 20. Sam MITCHINSON, 21. David HEAGNEY
Substitutes not used: RGK Fraser GREENWOOD, 23. Andrija JUKIC
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil

Stirling Lions: GK John PERKINS, 3. Lukas DA LIMA (13. William KESSEL 90+3), 4. Blamo QUA QUA, 5. Graham DORAN, 7. Milorad VUJACIC (c), 8. David SESAY, 9. Jamie GIBSON (10. Daniel MICEVSKI 77), 11. David MICEVSKI, 12. Jason RUBIDGE (2. Bleron MAMUDI 88), 15. Shane CASSIDY, 16. Mathiang MATHIANG
Substitutes not used: RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 14. Endalk ACHAMYELEH
Yellow cards: Qua Qua 86’
Red cards: nil