MATCH REPORTS
FIRST DIVISION/AMATEUR
Lions Pay The Penalty
Sorrento (1) v Stirling Lions (0)
A twice taken penalty was enough to give Sorrento a 1-0 victory against Stirling Lions, but it wasn’t enough for them to reach the semi-finals of the McInerney Ford Night Series.
The Gulls need a five-goal victory to make the next stage, and they started off well. James Morgan’s shot from the edge of the area was tipped away by Phil Straker. From the resulting corner Stuart Banks headed inches past the post. The Lions pressed and Okwy Diamondstar tested keeper Neil Young who saved low.
The game was end-to-end and Lewis Flatt’s long-range shot flew wide and Banks free kick was pushed around the post by the alert Straker. While at the other end, Tommy Jones headed over a Michael Pugliese cross and Leo Harman low shot was saved well by Young.
The Lions opened the second half the better. David Dugdale firing wide and Keith Brown’s long-range effort saved low by Young. The decisive goal came in the 77th minute when Todd Harnwell was brought down in the box and referee Jeremy Oliphant pointed to the spot. Harnwell picked himself up to take the spot-kick, but Straker guessed right and saved his shot.
But that wasn’t the end of it. The referee spotted an infringement and the penalty had to be re-taken. The Lions skipper Keith Brown was sent off and Carl Poore held his nerve and sent Straker the wrong way to give the Gulls the match.
Teams
Sorrento – GK Young, Poore, S. McDoanld, York, Banks, Morgan, Flatt, Gagorski, Thomas, Gurovski (Wimbridge 75), Harnwell
Subs not used:Ramsey, G. McDonald, Neville, McCallum
Stirling Lions – GK Straker, Pulieise, Ilomanoski, Hesketh, Stefoski, K. Brown, Micevski (McColloch 45), Dugdale, Harman (Arnold 54), Jones, Diamondstar (A. Brown 45)
Subs not Used: Bentley, Boi
Referee – Jeremy Oliphant
Match report by Peter Simcox
Lee Leaves His Mark For Joondalup
ECU Joondalup (3) v Cockburn City (1)
After an initial false start by Cockburn it didn’t take long for the game to swing into full motion.
Cockburn City’s speed was proving to be an early headache for ECU and a disallowed goal in the fifth minute for a handball by Dean Wallace after a lightening quick break via the right wing, highlighted the lightening fast style Scott Miller has instilled in his team.
However, Cockburn would not have to wait long to take the lead as Wallace struck in the sixth minute from an almost identical break but this time from the left.
Despite the early pressure ECU settled and won a 15th minute penalty. A brilliant one two between Tony Amphlett and Mark Lee opened up Cockburn and resulted in a shirt pull which the referee was quick to penalise. Lee stepped up and had his shot brilliantly tipped on to the post by Luige Lopresti.
Despite the setback ECU struck the equaliser in the 25th minute after a cleared corner fell to Mark Lee, who brilliantly chipped in a cross for Anthony Jones to head home.
Cockburn were reduced to nine players in the space of five minutes, with Michael Mirco and Jason Dos Santos dismissed.
In spite of only having nine men on the field Cockburn’s John Micro created the last real opportunity of the first half as he dazzled his way through three hapless defenders, before firing just over Aleks Vrteski’s goal.
ECU came out running in the second half and Bayne brought out a great save from Lopresti.
Despite Cockburn’s best efforts the inevitable happened and ECU earned a 58th minute penalty in which Lee stepped up and calmly sent Lopresti the wrong way. The game was wrapped up in the 83rd minute when Abel headed home to send Joondalup into the semi-finals
Match report courtesy of Scari Morales from 90.5FM
PREMIER DIVISION - SEMI-FINALS
ECU End Lions Night Series Campaign
ECU Joondalup (3) v Stirling Lions (1)
ECU Joondalup reached the final of the McInerney Ford Night Series with a 3-1 victory against Stirling Lions at Edith Cowan University Sunday evening.
It was an even opening, but the home side had the first opportunity; Martin Ashworth’s cross from the left found Ian McMurray whose half-volley flew inches over the bar.
ECU continued to dominate the game, and Ashworth’s pace again caused the Lions trouble down the flanks, his cross was flicked on by McMurray and Jason Mirco’s low shot was well saved by Phil Straker.
The Lions settled and began to press the ECU backline, David Dugdale’s long-range strike was well saved by Aleks Vrteski. As the half ended the home side created a number of chances but Scott Blackmore’s free kick was saved low at his near post by Straker and Abel fired wide from close range.
The Lions looked lethargic and ECU continued to dominate and they deservedly were in front in the 58th minute, Mark Lee’s cross found Gibb at the back post and he bundled the ball over the line.
But the Lions had a lifeline 10 minutes later when Daniel Micevski was hauled down on the edge of the box, and referee David Currie pointed to the spot. Dugdale’s spot-kick was superbly saved by Vrteski down to his right.
Moments later Straker came to the Lions rescue with a superb one-handed save to deny Blackmore. ECU made it 2-0 in the 80th minute, when McMurray was brought down by Darko Ilomanoski and Currie again pointed to the spot and sent the Lions defender off. Lee converted the spot-kick.
The Lions were back in the game five minutes later, when second half substitute Phil Arnold scored low past Vrteski, but the game was wrapped up in the last minute when Gibb’s shot cannoned back off the post and McMurray headed home the rebound.
Teams
ECU Joondalup – GK Vrteski, Jones, Mirco, Baines, Lee, Donlevy, Blackmore, McMurray, Abel, Ashworth, Gibb
Subs not used: Hindley, Porter, Fondyke, Amphlett, Ward
Stirling Lions – GK Straker, Pugliese, Ilomanoski, Stefoski, Micevski (Diamondstar 77), Dugdale, Hesketh, Jones (Boi 64), Harman Arnold 64), A. Brown, McCulloch
Subs not used: Bentley
Referee – David Currie
Match report by Peter Simcox
Perth Into Consecutive Night Series Final
Floreat Athena (0) v Perth Soccer Club (2)
Perth SC moved into their second consecutive night series final with a 2-0 over Floreat Athena at Litis Stadium.
The big occasion affected both teams in a first half that lacked goal scoring opportunities.
The best chance of the first period fell to Perth’s Nikita Rukavytsya in the 27th minute when the teenage striker got on the end of a bad back-pass but his shot was cleared off the line by Floreat.
Floreat’s first real goal scoring opportunity came in the 55th minute when Stefan Smiljanic wasted a golden opportunity from a corner. With the goal at his mercy from just three yards away he headed tamely into the ground.
Perth made Floreat pay for their missed opportunity when they took the lead just four minutes later. Andres Oliveira was played in behind the defense and calmly slotted the ball over the ‘keeper to give Perth a 1-0 lead.
Rukavytsya nearly booked Perth into the final in the 68th minute when a rebound fell to the young Perth Glory striker, who smashed the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard box.
Perth doubled their lead in the 77th minute when Scott Bulloch’s spectacular shot from 25-yards caught the Floreat ‘keeper napping, securing a spot for them in the final.
Perth coach Graham Normanton was unconvinced with the performance of his team but is optimistic about the upcoming season.
“It wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take the win,” he said.
“We have a squad that can get us a victory in games like this.”
Teams
Floreat Athena - V Vujasic, A Dunn, J Isaia, J Madaschi, M Vujacic, A Bachiller, B Karpeh, J Magdic, B Mikulic, J Migas, P Vatistas, S Smiljanic, C Mooney, P Coci, J Daville, S Booysen.
Perth SC - G Deeg, M Icanovski, G Circati, S Trinca, T Kay, M Danskin, T Howarth, M Ord, A Oliveira, C Socratous, O Hilton, N Rukavytsya, G Papalia, G Faria, S Bulloch, A D’Adamo.
Match report by Jacob Kagi
FINAL FIXTURES
MCINERNEY FORD NIGHT SERIES FINAL
Sunday, 25 March 2007
First Division/Amateur
5.00pm – Bayswater City v Ashfield – E&D Litis Stadium
Premier Division
7.15pm – ECU Joondalup v Perth – E&D Litis Stadium
Lions Pay The Penalty
Sorrento (1) v Stirling Lions (0)
A twice taken penalty was enough to give Sorrento a 1-0 victory against Stirling Lions, but it wasn’t enough for them to reach the semi-finals of the McInerney Ford Night Series.
The Gulls need a five-goal victory to make the next stage, and they started off well. James Morgan’s shot from the edge of the area was tipped away by Phil Straker. From the resulting corner Stuart Banks headed inches past the post. The Lions pressed and Okwy Diamondstar tested keeper Neil Young who saved low.
The game was end-to-end and Lewis Flatt’s long-range shot flew wide and Banks free kick was pushed around the post by the alert Straker. While at the other end, Tommy Jones headed over a Michael Pugliese cross and Leo Harman low shot was saved well by Young.
The Lions opened the second half the better. David Dugdale firing wide and Keith Brown’s long-range effort saved low by Young. The decisive goal came in the 77th minute when Todd Harnwell was brought down in the box and referee Jeremy Oliphant pointed to the spot. Harnwell picked himself up to take the spot-kick, but Straker guessed right and saved his shot.
But that wasn’t the end of it. The referee spotted an infringement and the penalty had to be re-taken. The Lions skipper Keith Brown was sent off and Carl Poore held his nerve and sent Straker the wrong way to give the Gulls the match.
Teams
Sorrento – GK Young, Poore, S. McDoanld, York, Banks, Morgan, Flatt, Gagorski, Thomas, Gurovski (Wimbridge 75), Harnwell
Subs not used:Ramsey, G. McDonald, Neville, McCallum
Stirling Lions – GK Straker, Pulieise, Ilomanoski, Hesketh, Stefoski, K. Brown, Micevski (McColloch 45), Dugdale, Harman (Arnold 54), Jones, Diamondstar (A. Brown 45)
Subs not Used: Bentley, Boi
Referee – Jeremy Oliphant
Match report by Peter Simcox
Lee Leaves His Mark For Joondalup
ECU Joondalup (3) v Cockburn City (1)
After an initial false start by Cockburn it didn’t take long for the game to swing into full motion.
Cockburn City’s speed was proving to be an early headache for ECU and a disallowed goal in the fifth minute for a handball by Dean Wallace after a lightening quick break via the right wing, highlighted the lightening fast style Scott Miller has instilled in his team.
However, Cockburn would not have to wait long to take the lead as Wallace struck in the sixth minute from an almost identical break but this time from the left.
Despite the early pressure ECU settled and won a 15th minute penalty. A brilliant one two between Tony Amphlett and Mark Lee opened up Cockburn and resulted in a shirt pull which the referee was quick to penalise. Lee stepped up and had his shot brilliantly tipped on to the post by Luige Lopresti.
Despite the setback ECU struck the equaliser in the 25th minute after a cleared corner fell to Mark Lee, who brilliantly chipped in a cross for Anthony Jones to head home.
Cockburn were reduced to nine players in the space of five minutes, with Michael Mirco and Jason Dos Santos dismissed.
In spite of only having nine men on the field Cockburn’s John Micro created the last real opportunity of the first half as he dazzled his way through three hapless defenders, before firing just over Aleks Vrteski’s goal.
ECU came out running in the second half and Bayne brought out a great save from Lopresti.
Despite Cockburn’s best efforts the inevitable happened and ECU earned a 58th minute penalty in which Lee stepped up and calmly sent Lopresti the wrong way. The game was wrapped up in the 83rd minute when Abel headed home to send Joondalup into the semi-finals
Match report courtesy of Scari Morales from 90.5FM
PREMIER DIVISION - SEMI-FINALS
ECU End Lions Night Series Campaign
ECU Joondalup (3) v Stirling Lions (1)
ECU Joondalup reached the final of the McInerney Ford Night Series with a 3-1 victory against Stirling Lions at Edith Cowan University Sunday evening.
It was an even opening, but the home side had the first opportunity; Martin Ashworth’s cross from the left found Ian McMurray whose half-volley flew inches over the bar.
ECU continued to dominate the game, and Ashworth’s pace again caused the Lions trouble down the flanks, his cross was flicked on by McMurray and Jason Mirco’s low shot was well saved by Phil Straker.
The Lions settled and began to press the ECU backline, David Dugdale’s long-range strike was well saved by Aleks Vrteski. As the half ended the home side created a number of chances but Scott Blackmore’s free kick was saved low at his near post by Straker and Abel fired wide from close range.
The Lions looked lethargic and ECU continued to dominate and they deservedly were in front in the 58th minute, Mark Lee’s cross found Gibb at the back post and he bundled the ball over the line.
But the Lions had a lifeline 10 minutes later when Daniel Micevski was hauled down on the edge of the box, and referee David Currie pointed to the spot. Dugdale’s spot-kick was superbly saved by Vrteski down to his right.
Moments later Straker came to the Lions rescue with a superb one-handed save to deny Blackmore. ECU made it 2-0 in the 80th minute, when McMurray was brought down by Darko Ilomanoski and Currie again pointed to the spot and sent the Lions defender off. Lee converted the spot-kick.
The Lions were back in the game five minutes later, when second half substitute Phil Arnold scored low past Vrteski, but the game was wrapped up in the last minute when Gibb’s shot cannoned back off the post and McMurray headed home the rebound.
Teams
ECU Joondalup – GK Vrteski, Jones, Mirco, Baines, Lee, Donlevy, Blackmore, McMurray, Abel, Ashworth, Gibb
Subs not used: Hindley, Porter, Fondyke, Amphlett, Ward
Stirling Lions – GK Straker, Pugliese, Ilomanoski, Stefoski, Micevski (Diamondstar 77), Dugdale, Hesketh, Jones (Boi 64), Harman Arnold 64), A. Brown, McCulloch
Subs not used: Bentley
Referee – David Currie
Match report by Peter Simcox
Perth Into Consecutive Night Series Final
Floreat Athena (0) v Perth Soccer Club (2)
Perth SC moved into their second consecutive night series final with a 2-0 over Floreat Athena at Litis Stadium.
The big occasion affected both teams in a first half that lacked goal scoring opportunities.
The best chance of the first period fell to Perth’s Nikita Rukavytsya in the 27th minute when the teenage striker got on the end of a bad back-pass but his shot was cleared off the line by Floreat.
Floreat’s first real goal scoring opportunity came in the 55th minute when Stefan Smiljanic wasted a golden opportunity from a corner. With the goal at his mercy from just three yards away he headed tamely into the ground.
Perth made Floreat pay for their missed opportunity when they took the lead just four minutes later. Andres Oliveira was played in behind the defense and calmly slotted the ball over the ‘keeper to give Perth a 1-0 lead.
Rukavytsya nearly booked Perth into the final in the 68th minute when a rebound fell to the young Perth Glory striker, who smashed the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard box.
Perth doubled their lead in the 77th minute when Scott Bulloch’s spectacular shot from 25-yards caught the Floreat ‘keeper napping, securing a spot for them in the final.
Perth coach Graham Normanton was unconvinced with the performance of his team but is optimistic about the upcoming season.
“It wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take the win,” he said.
“We have a squad that can get us a victory in games like this.”
Teams
Floreat Athena - V Vujasic, A Dunn, J Isaia, J Madaschi, M Vujacic, A Bachiller, B Karpeh, J Magdic, B Mikulic, J Migas, P Vatistas, S Smiljanic, C Mooney, P Coci, J Daville, S Booysen.
Perth SC - G Deeg, M Icanovski, G Circati, S Trinca, T Kay, M Danskin, T Howarth, M Ord, A Oliveira, C Socratous, O Hilton, N Rukavytsya, G Papalia, G Faria, S Bulloch, A D’Adamo.
Match report by Jacob Kagi
FINAL FIXTURES
MCINERNEY FORD NIGHT SERIES FINAL
Sunday, 25 March 2007
First Division/Amateur
5.00pm – Bayswater City v Ashfield – E&D Litis Stadium
Premier Division
7.15pm – ECU Joondalup v Perth – E&D Litis Stadium
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