Stirling coach Gary Williams said his side had been wary of Perth Glory’s talent going into yesterday’s match at Macedonia Park but inexperience was a factor in deciding the outcome the contest.
Stirling coach Gary Williams said his side had been wary of Perth Glory-s talent going into yesterday-s match at Macedonia Park but inexperience was a factor in deciding the outcome the contest.
The Lions fell behind to a Slobodan Vulin goal after just 16 minutes but responded emphatically with two goals from Daniel Micevski and others from Dean Evans, Hayden Doyle and Rikki Smith sealing a 5-1 victory.
“I just felt the goals were there,” Williams said. “They can play through you, so we talked about sitting off and assessing the game… then pressing higher up as it went on.”
Stirling started the game slowly – something that has been a recurring theme this season – and the visitors deserved the early lead through Vulin in the 16th minute.
The Glory number 10 benefited from a weak headed clearance and side-foot volleyed his effort from just inside the area onto the inside of the post and into the back of the net.
Micevski got his first in the 27th minute when he broke clear down the right channel and rifled his low effort into the bottom corner.
He completed his brace two minutes before half-time after Hayden Doyle played him through the left.
That goal visibly lifted the home side and they came out in the second half with an air of belief after a rocky start to the game.
Seven minutes after the restart Dean Evans had the ball in the net with a header assisted by an inch-perfect cross by Clayton Arnez.
Doyle got himself on the score board in the 75th minute, curling the ball home from an acute antle.
The scoring was completed by central defender Smith, who tapped in after a curling David Micevski effort had hit a post.
Glory NPL coach John Gibson said while his side lacked experience they would continue to try to play entertaining football.
“We-ve certainly got to be expansive and we want to win games,” he said. “Doing that you-re going to have some risks and that-s what-s happened.”
The result cements Stirling-s fifth spot on the NPL ladder, putting them one point behind fourth-placed Sorrento, who play tomorrow.
Stirling Lions 5 (Daniel MICEVSKI 27-, 43-, Dean EVANS 52-, Hayden DOYLE 75-, Rikki SMITH 81-)
Perth Glory 1 (Slobodan VULIN 16-)
Saturday 21 June, 2014
Macedonia Park, Stirling
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tim Mihevic
Crowd: 250
Stirling: 1. Connor Campbell, 3. Ali GHOULAMI (12. Daniel DOLS 76-), 2. Rikki SMITH, 4. Jovo PAVLOVIC, 14. Clayton ARNEZ, 5. Dean EVANS, 10. David MICEVSKI, 7. Miki VUJACIC (13. Jack SALTER 72-), 6. Hayden DOYLE, 9. Daniel MICEVSKI, 8. Moses KALAU (11. Phil ARNOLD 76-)
Substitutes not used: 15. Boas MIWALE
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Glory: 24. Fraser GREENWOOD, 2. Scott ROBERTSON, 3. Anthony BAFOBUSHA, 4. Rocco PIZZATA (14. David STOKOE 76-), 5. Jack OLDHAM, 6. Blamo QUA QUA, 7. Borbor SAMBINDI (15. Calvin WHITNEY 36-), 8. Jacob COLLARD, 9. Joe KNOWLES, 10. Slobodan VULIN, 11. Gian ALBANO (16. Nic TALIMAZIOSKI 13-)
Substitutes not used: 20. Luke RADONICH, 12. Matt NTOUMONOPOULOS,
Yellow cards: Knowles 49-, Pizzata 67-
Red cards: Nil
