Report by Navrin Secker

Stirling Lions gave Balcatta a lesson in finishing as they beat their local rivals 3-0 at Macedonia Park on Saturday afternoon.

David Micevski opened the scoring from a first-half penalty, before goals from Alex Tanevski and Dhhors Chol after the interval rounded out the Round 12 result for the home side.

Stirling coach Keegan Ashley praised the heart his side showed in their performance.

“It was workmanlike and thoroughly what we deserved,” he said.

Balcatta came out firing in the first half, looking to press the Lions’ defence, and had an early chance when Shubham Mokala beat his man on the wing but his shot was off target.

Balcatta’s pressure forced several turnovers from home goalkeeper Pasquale Gioffre but they failed to punish his mistakes.

Stirling grew into the game as the half progressed and captain Dean Cummings forced Balcatta keeper Kyle McDonald into action with his effort from the edge of the box.

Cummings once again caused problems for the visitors and this time he was fouled in the box and earned a penalty. Micevski stuck the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 heading into the break.

Stirling were on the front foot at the start of the second half and Tanevski doubled their lead in the 52nd minute when he managed to score from a corner which McDonald failed to clear.

Balcatta were fighting to get back into the game and had a golden opportunity just three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty. Sadly for the visitors Adriano Jelenovic’s shot was saved by Gioffre.

The visitors had another chance to score when Gioffre failed to deal with a free-kick but this time their effort was cleared off the line.

A stoppage time goal from Chol rounded out the result for the home side and ensured they claimed three valuable points.

Balcatta coach Goran Stajic said: “We were the better team but not on the scoreboard.”

Round 13 next weekend sees Stirling Lions welcome Forrestfield United, while Balcatta travel to Inglewood United.

Stirling Lions 3 (Micevski 42min, Tanevski 51, Chol 90+2)
Balcatta 0
Saturday, May 5
Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Joshua Nixon
Assistant referees: Peter Kaiser, Thomas Robinson

Stirling Lions: 1. Pasquale GIOFFRE, 2. David MOLINARI (13. David FILIPPOU 75), 3. Darren O’RIORDAN, 4. Alex SULESKI, 5. Liam HENDERSON, 6. Dhhors CHOL, 7. Dean CUMMINGS, 8. Dejan SPASESKI, 10. David MICEVSKI (14. Steve SOKOL 70), 11. Alex TANEVSKI, 19. Zane CASELLA (18. Ben CAMPBELL 90)
Unused substitutes: 16. Nicholas ASHLEY, 20. Lance ALAVAKIS
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Balcatta: 2. Joseph MARINO, 3. Hayden STEVENS, 4. Calum O’CONNELL, 5. Tom PELLIZZARI, 6. Kris GATE (9. Dejan ANDRIC 70), 8. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 10. Jonathan CORNESS, 15. Adriano JELENOVIC (7. Matthew MCROBERTS-OLANGO 65), 20. Shubham MOKALA, 23. Lawrence SHURAMA (19. Nic CHALLOT 80), 25. Kyle MCDONALD
Unused substitutes: 1. Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 22. Tom LOGAN
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil