Report by Edward Nixon

Two first-half goals helped Stirling Lions claim a comfortable 2-0 win over Joondalup United at a cold Percy Doyle Reserve in Round 11 of the National Premier Leagues WA on Wednesday.

A Jay Marsden own goal and a strike from David Micevski four minutes later settled the issue to leave Joondalup marooned at the bottom with a single point from 11 matches.

The victory was Stirling’s fourth of the season and manager Keegan Ashley said: “A clean sheet is always good - a win’s a win."

Fresh from a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Perth SC in Round 10, Stirling dominated the first half.

Lions captain Dean Cummings had the first real opportunity of the game but his effort from distance was palmed over by United goalkeeper James Bosdet.

Bosdet was by far the busier of the two keepers and was again called upon - his reflex save from Alex Tanevski’s header keeping the game scoreless.

Stirling’s pressure paid off in the 17th minute, however, and Bosdet could do nothing to prevent Marsden’s own-goal.

From a corner the Joondalup man rose highest but could only guide the ball into the back of his own net to spark a half-an-hour period of dominance for Stirling before the break.

The Lions should have doubled their advantage almost straight away but Tanevski missed a one-on-one before Robert Petkov blazed over the follow-up.

But Stirling didn't have to wait long to grab a second when top scorer Micevski volleyed home on the turn for his fifth of the season.

Joondalup did have an opportunity to pull one back on the stroke of half-time but Adam Buckley didn’t have the same luck with his volley that went wide of the target.

The second half brought more of the same as Stirling went in search of a third goal.

Ashley’s men dominated possession and had multiple opportunities to kill the game off but couldn’t find the back of the net.

“I thought we were a bit wasteful,” he said.

In a comical turn of events, Lions should have had a third after Steve Sokol’s cut-back found an unmarked Dhors Chol, whose shot was destined for the back of the net until teammate Petkov got in the way to deflect the ball wide.

Sokol was guilty of missing two one-on-ones in the space of five minutes, while winger Tanevski had his header go agonisingly wide.

Joondalup never really troubled Pasquale Gioffre in the Stirling goal, as they slipped to their 10th loss of the season.

“The dressing room’s been fantastic. The banter, the humour, the camaraderie’s been absolutely excellent and that’s probably what’s held the boys together,” Joondalup assistant manager Steve Flint said.

Joondalup host Inglewood United next with Stirling at home to Balcatta. 

Joondalup United 0
Stirling Lions 2 (Marsden og 17min, Micevski 21)
Percy Doyle Reserve
Wednesday, May 2
Kick-off: 6.30pm
Referee: Stephen Knight
Assistant referees: Anastasios Paraskevas, Alexander Best

Joondalup United: 1. James BOSDET (GK), 2. Johnny CHALMERS, 5. Joel LEDSHAM, 7. Matthew SPARROW (c), 8. Jay MARSDEN, 10. Elliot TATTERSALL, 11. Anthony TAYLOR, 14. Liam MOONEY,  15. Callum STOCKS (22. Ellis HESLOP), 19. Adam BUCKLEY (23. Harley CURRAN), 25. Greg PELLOW
Substitutes not used: 4. Danny O’SHEA, 20. Morgan COOPER, 21. Luke GREEN
Yellow cards: Tattersall (30), Marsden (37), Taylor (88)
Red cards: Nil

Stirling Lions: 1. Pasquale GIOFFRE (GK), 4. Alex Suleski, 5. Liam Henderson, 6. Dhors Chol, 7. Dean CUMMINGS (c),  8. Dejan SPASESKI, 9. Robert PETKOV (18. Ben CAMPBELL), 10. David MICEVSKI (19. Zane CASELLA), 11. Alex TANEVSKI (12. Adam PONDA), 15. Nathan DE ABREAU, 17. Steve SOKOL
Substitutes not used: 3. Darren O’Riordan, 20. Lance ALAVAKIS
Yellow cards: De Abroad (88)
Red cards: Nil