Lions Bite Back Against Cockburn

Stirling Lions kept their Bam Creative Night Series Semi-Final hopes alive, with a hard fought 1-0 victory against Cockburn City at The BGC Stadium – Dorrien Gardens on Saturday evening.

The only goal of the game came from a Jordan Rhodes free kick early in the second half, as both sides went close in an exciting game in front of a good crowd.

Cockburn City went into the game unchanged from the side that beat Perth SC 2-1 last week, while the Lions made five changes to the side that were beaten 0-4 by Swan United. James Turvil replaced Kevin Miller in goal, while new imports Bobby Wilson, Tom Ingram and Matthew Stares came into the side along with Paul Rechichi to replace Tom Kennedy and Matt Italiano, who dropped to the bench, while Keith Clevenger and James Davis were omitted.

It was an even opening to the game the first chance falling to the Lions on 14 minutes. Wilson’s long ball found former Cockburn player Jamie DeAbreu on the right. His cross picked out teenager striker Ndumba Makeche in the penalty area and his shot on the turn was straight at Dejan Aleksic who saved.

Cockburn pressed and went close themselves on 28 minutes, Aaron dos Santos’ lob from the edge of the box almost caught out Lions’ keeper Turvill, but the youngster back pedalled and tipped the shot over at full stretch.

It was the best spell of the game for the Cockerels and when Joe Brunetto and Jason dos Santos combined on the half hour to find Aaron dos Santos, his shot was deflected wide and moments later Jason dos Santos’ long-range shot was well saved low by Turvill.

Both sides went close before the break, Ingram’s long throw was flicked on by the Lions’ skipper Wilson and the alert Ryan Pretorius cleared the danger as DeAbreu looked to pull the trigger from close-range, while at the other end Jason dos Santos’ shot from 18-yards was saved low by Turvill, but it was scoreless at the break.

The Lions made a dream start to the second half and they were ahead in the opening minute. Rhodes’ curling free kick from out wide on the left beat everyone in the penalty area and nestled in the back of the net much to the delight of the Lions supporters.

Cockburn looked to hit back immediately and on 53 minutes a great run down the left by Jason dos Santos ended with a cross from the bye-line that Turvill did well to push way and Michael Pugliese cleared the rebound.

Then two minutes later the Lions went close to doubling their lead, Rhodes’ corner found Stares who’s shot from eight-yards was cleared off the line by Brunetto.

There were chances at both ends as the game opened up. First on the hour Adrian Webster’s free kick from the left found former Perth Glory defender David Tarka who headed just over the bar, and moments later second half substitute Josh Findlater was sent clear by Webster, but Turvill was out bravely to save at the Cockburn striker’s feet.

Then a mistake by Anthony Perriera on 69 minutes let in DeAbreu and his shot from long-range was well saved by Aleksic, although Makeche was first to react to the rebound and rolled the ball in the path of Ingram whose goalbound shot was superbly blocked by Tarka

Cockburn suffered a blow on 75 minutes when Michael Grigo was carried off on a stretcher with a leg injury, and it was the Lions who ended the game on top.

On 85 minutes Rhodes’ pass picked out Makeche whose shot crashed off the crossbar and was cleared and in stoppage-time Wilson’s free kick was well saved by Aleksic and Rechichi’s follow up shot crashed off the post.

The win puts the Lions back in the hunt for a semi-final spot and Coach Michael Lyons was delighted after the game. “We looked solid tonight and created a number of chances and with a bit of luck we could have scored three, but overall I was delighted with the performance,’ said Lyons.

“The new lads fitted in really well, Bobby (Wilson) was solid at the back and Matthew (Stares) and Tom (Ingram) did well in midfield. We still have a few more to bring in, but we were pleased the way the side played tonight,” added Lyons.

Cockburn City – GK Dejan ALEKSIC, 2 Shane NUNES, 4 Ryan PRETORIUS (3 Jason GODFREY 72’), 5 David TARKA, 6 Anthony PERRIERA, 7 Aaron DOS SANTOS (9 Josh FINDLATER 58’), 10 Adrian WEBSTER, 11 Michael GRIGO (19 Pavle BISERKO 75’), 16 Joe BRUNETTO, 17 Paul NATALE, 18 Jason DOS SANTOS – Subs not used – RGK Jason O”BRYNE, 21 Craig THOMPSON

Yellow Cards – Perriera 50’, Tarka 90’

Stirling Lions – GK James TURVILL, 2 Michael PUGLIESE, 4 Bobby WILSON, 5 Daniel STOITIS, 6 Tom INGRAM (8 Matt ITALIANO 83’), 7 Jamie DEABREU, 10 Jordan RHODES, 11 Ndumba MAKECHE, 12 Matthew STARES, 19 Paul RECHICHI, , 24 Clayton AMEZ (23 Tom KENNEDY 58’) – Subs not used – RGK Curtis PRIOR, , 18 Jake GEDDES, 21 Jason TRPVESKI,

Yellow Cards – Ingram 79’

Referee – Mathew Cheeseman

Assistants – John Mannella and Gabriele Merlacco