Football West State League

Premier Division

Match report


Perth Soccer Club (2) vs. Stirling Lions (3)

A goal two minutes into injury-time by youngster Dean Evans secured Stirling Lions a tremendous 3-2 fight back victory in Sunday’s round 12 Football West Premier League clash against Perth SC at Dorrien Gardens. The Lions were 2-0 down at half time but fought back to take all three points and inflicted Perth fist defeat at home in 2007.

The Lions opened brightly and Steve Porter’s free kick was pushed over by Gareth Deeg, and after a good run by Michael Pugliese, Phil Arnold’s shot on the turn flashed wide of the post. But Perth went close on five minutes, Todd Howarth cross found Barry Wood in the box and his header was superbly saved by Phil Straker. But moments later Perth had the lead Robbie Puca’s cross found the unmarked Andreas Oliviera who headed past Straker.

Both sides had chances, as rain began to fall making the pitch slippery, Puca’s long-range strike was straight at Straker and Arnold’s cross shot was deflected wide. But Perth doubled their lead in the 25th minute, a superb one-two between Antonio Naglieri and Puca on the edge of the box ended with Puca finishing clinically past Straker.

The Lions pressed but lacked the final ball, Daniel Micevski fired from long-range, and Ludovic Boi headed over from inside the six-yard box after good work from Arnold on the left. But it was the hosts who went closest to scoring just before half time. Again Naglieri was the provider his perfectly weighted ball sent Wood clear, but his shot was superbly saved by Straker.

The Lions began well in the second half, and Micevski’s in-swinging corner was punched clear by Deeg. Perth threatened and should have made it 3-0, Howarth’s pinpoint cross found Oliviera unmarked in the box but he headed wide.

Perth was guilty of giving the ball away in midfield, and second half substitute Dean Evans profited on a mistake by Scott Bulloch on 77minutes. He feed David Dugdale who slipped it to Boi who fired past Deeg. It was game on and three minutes later it was 2-2, a foul on the edge of the box by Gianfranco Circati on Arnold, and midfielder Steve Porter curled the resulting free kick past Deeg’s.

It was game on and both sides went close late, Michael Ord headed just wide for Perth and Arnold’s low shot was saved by Deeg. But with time running out it was the Lions who scored the late winner, Evans picked the ball up 20-yards out and cut inside and hit a screamer wide of Deeg, much to the delight of the lions faithful.

Football West Match Reporter Peter Simcox


Loans Café Amateur Premier division

Match report


Match of the Week

Spearwood Dalmatinac (1) vs. Stirling Panthers (0)

Spearwood Dalmatinac fought off a gallant Stirling Panthers side, winning 1-0 in the rematch of last years championship final in The Loans Café Amateur League on Sunday, July 8 at Dalmatinac Park.

Dalmatinac had the first good chance for the match in the 12th minute when Rob Santich played to Darren Rich who shot well under pressure but saw it roll wide. Despite Spearwood looking the better side, they were unable to convert their possession into chances. Stirling almost caught the host side out in the 40th minute when Nick Paone intercepted a cross-field pass deep in Spearwood’s half and ran it to the edge of the box but he never properly controlled it and shot tamely at the ‘keeper.

Spearwood were unlucky not to take the lead on the stroke of halftime when Pesich shot fiercely but narrowly over after Rich’s cross.

Four minutes into the second period through Rich, who was played through by Graham Rickman and finished superbly under pressure.

On the hour the Panthers should’ve tied the scores when Paul Da San Martino was played in-behind but the Dallies ‘keeper saved his effort heroically.

Like Spearwood in the first half, Stirling had large amounts of possession in the second half but were unable to convert them into good chances. Just as it seemed the home side had ridden the storm, a horrible communication error between the Dallies defence and goalkeeper saw the ball fall to Paone on the edge of the box with the goals empty and with nobody around him, but with all the time in the world he shot wide.

Deep into stoppage time it Stirling had another great chance to take a share of the spoils when the ball fell back to O. Xavier just inside the box with endless amounts of time and under no pressure but like Paone just four minutes before, Xavier shot wide, throwing away yet another chance for the Panthers to take something from the game, which ended 1-0.

Football West Match Reporter Jacob Kagi.



Smarter than Smoking Women’s Premier division

Match report

Match of the Week

Queens Park (1) vs. Northern Redbacks (1)

In one of the most entertaining matches of the season, Queens Park were held to a 1-1 draw by the Northern Redbacks at Coker Park yesterday. In a game played in terrible conditions, both sides played attacking football deserving of more goals.

The Redbacks started the brighter and 2 minutes in shocked the League leaders with Rebecca Dudek finding space and shooting successfully to give her side the dream start.

Queens Park started to come into the match more as the half went on, however, chances today were at a premium and they found themselves troubled by a tight Redback defensive unit.

After the break, the league leaders came out more attacking and just five minutes into the half, got the deserved breakthrough. After some good lead up play, the leagues top scorer Stacey Learmont added another to her impressive tally with a cool finish.

Queens Park went out harder looking for the winner and were close on several occasions, with Learmont looking very dangerous up front. Each side had chances to win with Amy Thorpe’s effort crashing into the crossbar the closest either side came to taking all three points.

The dropped points for Queens Park give the title initiative to Balcatta in the race for the title, while for the Redbacks, it was proof that they can now mix it with the big two sides in the division.

Football West Reporter: Raymond Bohan