Stirling Lions Snare Gun Striker Phil O’Callaghan

The Stirling Lions have made their first move in the recruitment market for season 2011 with former Lions striker Phil O’Callaghan agreeing to terms to rejoin with Stirling after a year at ECU Joondalup where he bagged 12 goals. Coach Paul Lincoln said “Phil is an out an out striker who knows how to finish and we could have done with him last year but am pleased to have secured his services for next season. His work rate is first class and he is deadly when it most counts.”

Lions President Don Evans also welcomed O’Callaghan back to the Lions Den saying ” Phil saved our clubs bacon is season 2009 and the fans loved him as he knew how to finish from limited opportunities. His return to Macedonia Park is a massive boost to our clubs aspirations to win the league title as he joins a squad brimming with quality and talent.” Evans went onto say “Phil is the first of a number of talented local players we are targetting in the hope that we can go one better next season, the fans and board have a taste for success and we won’t let our supporters expectations down.”

The Lions UK imports will play a vital role in the contuing success of the club with WA State defenders Jason Gavin and Bobby Wilson leading the defence again with ex Aberdeen left back Scotty Muirhead and Michael Pugliese filling out what could be the tightest defence in the league. Stirling have a number of players who are trialling at higher levels and could well be without the talented quartet of Shane Robinson, Ludo Boi, Phil Arnold and Mario Marcinko with Asian and Australian clubs bidding for their services.

The club also made a change in the coaching staff with assistant coach Ian Cowan being thanked for his tremendous contribution in helping the club’s rise to prominence in 2010 as he considers offers as senior coach at a number of Division One clubs. Paul Lincoln re-united ties with former Swan United Youth coach Dejan Vilic who joins him as his assistant.

The Stirling Lions have tendered to be one of the host venues for the 2011 Night Series which kicks off in mid January with the grounds now in immaculate order.

Fantastic Fowler Secures Victory

A stunning hat-trick from Robbie Fowler steered Glory back into the winners’ circle and back into the race for a top six finish as they downed Melbourne Victory 3-1 at nib Stadium on Sunday.

The marquee man proved way too hot for the visitors to handle, firing Glory into a first-half lead via a penalty rebound, before completing his treble with two goals in the space of seven minutes after the break.

“Its nice scoring goals but the most important thing is the three points,” Fowler said.

“As the gaffer (coach) said we’ve been a lot better in the last few weeks but I think today we’ve taken it Melbourne and deserved the win.”

Glory certainly did not look like a side lacking in confidence, hitting their straps right from the opening whistle and carving out the game’s first goal scoring opportunity with barely two minutes on the clock.

Rampaging forward from left-back where he had replaced the suspended Naum Sekulovski, Jamie Coyne dummied to shoot from the edge of the box and instead slipped a neat through ball between the converging Kevin Muscat and Rodrigo Vargas. Fowler needed no second invitation to dart into the box, but his powerful drive brought a fine, one-handed block from Victory ‘keeper Michael Petkovic at point-blank range.

Having dominated much of the build-up to the game, Archie Thompson then decided to show the Victory fans just what they have been missing since he was forced out of last season’s Grand Final with a serious knee injury. Picking up the ball in the right channel, he deceived Scott Neville and then out-paced the covering Jamie Harnwell before unleashing a powerful angled drive that drew a fine save from the alert Tando Velaphi.

Glory responded in the best possible manner to that early scare, however, breaking the deadlock from the penalty spot on 13 minutes. It was Fowler who latched onto a flick-on from the lively Baird and when he went to ground under a clumsy challenge from Vargas, referee Chris Beath did not hesitate in awarding the penalty. Fowler duly dusted himself down and although his initial effort was parried by Petkovic, the former Liverpool man kept his nerve to lash the loose ball home.

An intriguing tactical battle was unfolding, with Victory employing their customary 3-5-2 and Glory favouring the more traditional 4-4-2 and it was the home side who gradually gained the ascendancy as the half progressed. Todd Howarth had two opportunities to double Glory’s advantage, firstly heading wide from a Fowler corner before firing over after Jacob Burns and Fowler had combined cleverly to create a shooting chance on the edge of the box.

Victory, meanwhile, were threatening only occasionally, although Velaphi was called upon to make another superb block on 34 minutes, getting his right hand to a shot from Marvin Angulo and tipping the Costa Rican midfielder’s goal-bound effort wide of the post.

Four minutes later it was Glory who were back on the front foot, with Burns sending a controlled 20 metre half-volley narrowly wide after Vargas had only managed to half clear a Pellegrino cross from the right. The Victory goal then continued to lead a charmed life moments later as a delightful dinked pass from Fowler released Neville, who turned Kevin Muscat inside out only to see his low shot bring out another top class stop from the over-worked Petkovic.

Clearly buoyed by their impressive first-half display, Glory carried on where they had left off after the break and deservedly grabbed their second goal of the afternoon nine minutes in. Neville again overlapped to great effect down the right flank, drilled in a low cross and Fowler showcased his legendary eye for a goal as he took his shot first time and swept the ball home past Petkovic at the near post.

Victory looked shell-shocked at this point, struggling to cope with the home side’s movement in the final third and with The Shed in full voice, Glory pushed home their advantage to bag a third goal just after the hour-mark. Pellegrino’s chipped through ball caught the visitors’ defence flat-footed as they looked in vain to play Fowler off-side and finding himself clean through on goal, Glory’s marquee man calmly side-footed past Petkovic to seal a stunning hat-trick.

With the game all but over as a contest, Ian Ferguson’s side could have been forgiven for sitting back and protecting their hard-won advantage, but they did no such thing, continuing to throw bodies forward at every opportunity and going close in the space of three minutes through long-range efforts from Pellegrino and the impressive Neville.

Not to be overshadowed by his fellow full-back, Coyne then decided to get in on the attacking act, playing a neat one-two with the ubiquitous Fowler, but failing to make a decent connection from close range with only Petkovic to beat.

To their credit, Victory continued to chase what was increasingly looking like a lost cause and they managed to claim a consolation goal with eleven minutes remaining. Angulo released Diogo Ferreira down the right and he picked out fellow-substitute Mate Dugandzic who made no mistake with a close-range finish at the far post.

That strike failed to take the gloss off a sparkling display from Ian Ferguson’s men, arguably their best home performance of the season and indeed Fowler could have added a fourth in stoppage time, dragging his shot centimetres wide after fine approach work from substitute Tommy Amphlett.

Hyundai A-League Round 14

Perth Glory3: (Fowler 13’, 54’, 61)

Melbourne Victory 1: (Dugandzic 79’)

nib Stadium Sunday 14th November

Attendance:6217

Referee: Chris Beath

Perth Glory: 1. Tando Velaphi (gk), 3. Jamie Coyne, 4. Andy Todd, 5.Jamie Harnwell, 7.Jacob Burns, 9.Robbie Fowler, 10.Michael Baird, 12.Scott Neville (15. Howard Fondyke 75’), 14.Steven McGarry (13.Tommy Amphlett 80’), 16. Adriano Pellegrino, 17. Todd Howarth (18. Brent Griffiths 66’)

Substitutes not used: 20. Aleks Vrteski

Yellow cards: Harnwell 21’, Neville 40’, McGarry 64’, Fondyke 79’

Red Cards: Nil

Melbourne Victory: 1.Michael Petkovic (gk), 2. Kevin Muscat (c), 5.Surat Sukha, 8.Grant Brebner (13.Diogo Ferreira 55’), 10. Archie Thompson (3. Mate Dugandzic 69’), 11.Marvin Angulo, 12.Rodrigo Vargas, 14. Billy Celeski, 15.Tom Pondeljak (6. Leigh Broxham 46’), 16.Carlos Hernandez, 23. Adrian Leijer

Substitutes not used: 20.Sebastian Mattei (gk)

Yellow cards: Vargas 11’, Broxham 51’,

Red Cards: Nil

Stunning Strike Decides Contest

Tim Brown’s contender for goal of the season consigned Glory to a 1-0 defeat in Sunday’s clash with Wellington Phoenix at nib Stadium.

“Losing an early goal wasn’t good. We defended well but just couldn’t get the ball in the net, “Perth Glory interim coach Ian Ferguson said.

Another home game, another blistering start, but unfortunately for Glory, it was the visitors who hit the front in spectacular style before many fans had even found their seats. With only 42 seconds on the clock, a long clearance from Phoenix goalkeeper Mark Paston made its way to Chris Greenacre via Leo Bertos, the Englishman laid it into the path of Brown and from just outside the area, the All Whites international crashed an unstoppable pile-driver past the helpless Tando Velaphi into the roof of the net.

The home side could have been forgiven for being stunned by such an early setback, but to their credit, they immediately set about forcing their way back into the contest and came agonisingly close to restoring parity within three minutes. Howard Fondyke split the Phoenix defence with a perfectly-weighted through ball that allowed Michael Baird to race clear on goal, but Paston was equally sharp off his line and made a fine sprawling block as the former Queensland Roar striker tried to dink the ball over him.

The goalmouth drama then proceeded to dry up slightly as both sides settled into the game, but there was still plenty to for the fans to enjoy as Tommy Amphlett and Manny Muscat engaged in an intriguing duel down Glory’s right flank and Jacob Burns and Fondyke went to toe to toe with central midfield counterparts Simon Elliott and Brown.

Phoenix danger-man Paul Ifill, meanwhile, was kept pretty quiet during the opening exchanges, although he did waste a fine chance to double his side’s advantage on 20 minutes, taking his shot too early after latching onto an under-hit back pass from Brent Griffiths and failing to trouble Velaphi.

Moments later Glory were dealt a blow as Scott Neville was forced to limp from the fray. The in-form defender came off second best after a thundering challenge on Vince Lia, picking up a yellow card for his troubles before being replaced by Jamie Harnwell. The club’s record appearance holder slotted in alongside Andy Todd at the heart of the defence, with Brent Griffiths moving to left back and Jamie Coyne moving to the right and almost made an immediate impact at the other end, rising high to meet an inswinging Burns free-kick only to be foiled by Paston’s punch.

Glory went on to finish the half strongly, Baird heading wide after again being picked out by the lively Fondyke with a deep cross, but Ricki Herbert’s men just managed to hold on and take their precious lead into the sheds.

The home side were grateful to Velaphi with the second-half barely two minutes old, as he pulled off a fine reflex save to deny Ifill, before Glory responded in kind at the other end, Sterjovski firing over from just inside the box and Baird seeing a goal-bound effort blocked by Ben Sigmund.

With the Shed upping the volume levels, Ian Ferguson’s men began to dominate in terms of both possession and territory and created another golden chance on 68 minutes. A neat exchange of passes between Sterjovski, substitute Robbie Fowler and Burns culminated in the latter playing the overlapping Coyne in on goal, but Paston was again out smartly to make a brave block at the defender’s feet.

Burns’ tenacity was a driving force behind Glory’s increasingly desperate search for an equalizer, but unfortunately for the club skipper, his enthusiasm got the better of him with ten minutes left as he received his marching orders following a tangle with Phoenix substitute Daniel.

The home side made light of their numerical disadvantage to keep pressing right to the death, but with Andrew Durante and Sigmund immovable objects at the heart of their defence, the visitors held firm, ran the clock down and ensured that the points would be winging their way back across the Tasman.

Hyundai A-League Round 13

Perth Glory: 0

Wellington Phoenix: 1 (BROWN 1’)

Sunday, 7 November nib Stadium, Perth

Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones

Attendance: 6,676

Perth Glory line up: 1. Tando VELAPHI (gk), 3. Jamie COYNE, 4. Andy TODD, 7.Jacob BURNS, 10. Michael BAIRD (9.Robbie FOWLER 61’), 12.Scott NEVILLE (5. Jamie HARNWELL 33’), 13. Tommy AMPHLETT (16. Adriano PELLEGRINO 75’), 15. Howard FONDYKE, 17. Todd HOWARTH, 18. Brent GRIFFITHS, 21. Mile STERJOVSKI

Substitutes not used: 20. Aleks VRTESKI (gk),

Yellow cards: Neville 30’, Burns 32’, Griffiths 64’, Todd 92’

Red cards: Burns 80’

Wellington Phoenix line up:: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS (21. Marco ROJAS 92’), 8. Paul IFILL (23. Dylan MACALLISTER 72’), 9. Chris GREENACRE (11. DANIEL 69’), 15. Jade NORTH, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 26. Simon ELLIOTT

Substitutes not used: 19. Danny VUKOVIC (gk),

Yellow cards: Lia 34’, Brown 44’, Elliott 68’, Muscat 70’

Red cards: Nil

Stirling Lions Trophy Night Winners

The Stirling Lions Soccer Club had it’s annual trophy night last Saturday at the Macedonia Park Complex where only one vote separated the top 3 in the prestigious Players Player award. The winner was State centre half Bobby Wilson while the Fairest and best award went to fellow State centre half Jason Gavin,while joint runners up Ludo Boi and Michael Pugliese came within a whisker of taking out the honours. Golden Boot went to Mario Marcinko with 10 goals.

The Reserves honours list found livewire midfielder David Sesay taking out Fairest and Best from runner up Adiano D’Adamo, while Players player went to reliable defender Dennis Galan. Up coming star striker Ndumba Makeche won the golden boot with 12 goals.

Under 18′s Fairest and Best was taken out by Edward Pop while Mitchell Crocker finished runner up. The Coaches Award went jointly to Ben Meredith and Boas Mtwale while the Golden Boot went to Moses Kalua with 16 goals. The Prestigious George Mitsopoulos Most Outstanding Junior Award went to Dylan Filicamo.

Long Serving Volunteers were also honoured on the night with club treasurer/secretary Luoie Adamos acknowledged for 20 years continuous volunteer service to the club, as was Youth development coach Joe Pugliese for 10 years service and current President Don Evans also presented with a plaque commemorating 10 years of Presidency at the Lions Den.

The night was well attended with Women, Amateurs and Semi Pro players attending the wind up celebrating a successful 2010 season.

West Ham Football Academy Winner Announced

14 year old Currambine resident Ross Millard was yesterday announced as the lucky winner of the all expenses paid West Ham United Academy football experience trip to London in March next year. The talented left footer who plays with ECU Joondalup was delighted when West Ham’s rep in Australia Mike Leigh knocked on his door and gave him the good news.

The Stirling Lions hosted the very popular West Ham United Academy experience at Macedonia Park last week with over 140 talented youngsters enrolling for the 4 day trial that will see one lucky player getting an all expenses trip to London and the home of the Hammers at Upton Park. Past City of Stirling mayor and current councillor Terry Tyzak was announced as the Patron for the Academy and helped launching the weeks trials.

West Ham’s coaching co-ordinator Mike Leigh was on hand to run the trials with 10 well qualified coaches that included Stirling Lions star players Bobby Wilson, Mario Marcinko, Roberto Lujan, Scotty Muirhead and Tom Ingram. The boys and girls ranged in age from 11-16 and displayed incredible talent as the coaches put them through the West Ham drills.

Star Lions defender Bobby Wilson said “The quality of the kids here in Australia is as good as what we have in the UK and it’s a fantastic opportunity for the lucky winner to go to such a great development club like the Hammers. I did my football education at Notts County and know what it takes to get the eye of clubs in the English Premier league, hopefully the lucky winner will get more than a taste for big time football.”

The Stirling Lions President Don Evans was very pleased with the inaugural attendance saying “We were more than happy with the numbers that attended and West Ham representative and chief scout in Australia Mike Leigh was very happy with the kids skills levels and hunger and commitment displayed. Our club is focused on delivering quality football learning programs with real bridge linkages to partner clubs around the world. West Ham has a great reputation and the parents and youngsters (who came from far and wide) I spoke to were full of praise for the clinic and the one on one skills sessions held at our complex. We are very pleased for young Ross and his supporting family and know he will represent WA proudly and skillfully.”

West Ham Academy Trials Attract Talent to Macedonia Park

The Stirling Lions hosted the very popular West Ham United Academy experience at Macedonia Park last week with over 140 talented youngsters enrolling for the 4 day trial that will see one lucky player getting an all expenses trip to London and the home of the Hammers at Upton Park. Past City of Stirling mayor and current councillor Terry Tyzak was announced as the Patron for the Academy and helped launching the weeks trials.

West Ham’s coaching co-ordinator Mike Leigh was on hand to run the trials with 10 well qualified coaches that included Stirling Lions star players Bobby Wilson, Mario Marcinko, Roberto Lujan, Scotty Muirhead and Tom Ingram. The boys and girls ranged in age from 11-16 and displayed incredible talent as the coaches put them through the West Ham drills.

Star Lions defender Bobby Wilson said “The quality of the kids here in Australia is as good as what we have in the UK and it’s a fantastic opportunity for the lucky winner to go to such a great development club like the Hammers. I did my football education at Notts County and know what it takes to get the eye of clubs in the English Premier league, hopefully the lucky winner will get more than a taste for big time football.”

The Stirling Lions President Don Evans was very pleased with the inaugural attendance saying “We were more than happy with the numbers that attended and West Ham representative and chief scout in Australia Mike Leigh was very happy with the kids skills levels and hunger and commitment displayed. Our club is focused on delivering quality football learning programs with real bridge linkages to partner clubs around the world. West Ham has a great reputation and the parents and youngsters I spoke to were full of praise for the clinic and the one on one skills sessions held at our complex.”

The lucky winner will be advised this week and will be on the Stirling Lions website www.stirlinglions.com.au, with upto 9 players getting self funded invitations to the West Ham Academy experience at Upton Park staying at the five star hotel at the ground.

Glory see Red in Adelaide

Perth hero Jamie Harnwell’s milestone match for the club has ended in disappointment as the Glory went down to Adelaide United 2-0 at a packed Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night.

Adelaide’s best crowd of the season saw an entertaining and open affair that was ultimately decided by two goals in three minutes from striker Sergio van Dijk.

Perth had been defending valiantly on the road, but a brilliant 70th minute header from van Dijk gave goalkeeper Tando Velaphi no chance, while the Dutchman doubled the advantage with a 73rd-minute penalty.

The Glory were down to 10 men for the final 15 minutes after Jamie Coyne received a second caution.

But Perth still dominated the closing stages without drawing a goal back, as Harnwell, playing a club record 242nd game in purple, was left to rue what might have been.

“Things just don’t seem to be going in for us at the moment,” said the former skipper reflecting on two great shots by Robbie Fowler and Michael Baird early in the game that were both denied by some world class Eugene Galekovic saves.

“It’s disappointing. The lads worked hard and did all they could but just couldn’t do it in the front third.”

The result sees Adelaide extend their lead at the top of the table to six points over Central Coast while the Glory remain in third.

It may have been scoreless at the break but there was no shortage of thrills, though, in a fantastic first half.

A penetrating Lucas Pantelis run down the left in the sixth minute ended with an unfinished cross by the Reds’ stand-in skipper.

Perth immediately countered as a searing cross from Mile Sterjovski on the right found Fowler 20 metres from goal, the Liverpool legend attempting to loft the ball over Galekovic only for the Adelaide stopper to brilliantly palm it to safety.

Three minutes later Galekovic denied the Glory again, this time seeing off a powerful effort from Baird, in his first start for Perth.

The hardworking Steven McGarry caught Paul Reid in possession in the middle, the Scotsman driving the ball forward and cleverly releasing Baird one-on-one with Galekovic, only for the ‘keeper to produce another one-handed save to his right.

Stunned into action, Adelaide lifted their intensity and gained control of possession, forcing Perth back into their own half.

But for all Adelaide’s hard work, Perth’s sturdy defence kept the Reds to just two shots on goal that were well Tando Velaphi dealt with comfortably, the Glory goalkeeper showing no signs of a recent groin problem.

Perth started the second half with greater intensity, pushing forward hard and defending in numbers across the midfield as coach Dave Mitchell brought his central players and back four closer together, reducing the space for the influential Marcos Flores and Matthew Leckie to work in.

Leckie managed to get away in the 62nd minute, the 19-year-old using his explosive pace to sprint down the right, although his cross was brilliantly intercepted by Harnwell, who denied Flores an almost certain goal.

But Perth’s defence was finally pierced with 20 minutes remaining from what initially appeared an innocuous throw-in from the left.

Taking possession, former Melbourne Victory man Joe Keenan swung in a brilliant ball that van Dijk perfectly sent into the back of the net with an angled header that gave Velaphi no chance.

Three minutes later the Reds doubled the advantage from the spot after Velaphi fouled Pantelis on the edge of the area.

Matters took a further turn for the worse for Perth when Coyne received his second yellow card but the Glory refused to capitulate.

In the 82nd minute Sterjovski’s header across the penalty area was nodded over the bar by substitute striker Anthony Skorich, on for Robbie Fowler.

And, in the second minute of added time the Glory were unfortunate not to receive a penalty of their own from referee Matthew Breeze after McGarry was impeded in the six-yard box attempting to nod home a cross.

Match Details

Adelaide United FC: 2 (van Dijk 70’/73’ (pen))

Perth Glory: 0

Referee: Matthew Breeze

Crowd: 13,310 @ Hindmarsh Stadium

Adelaide United line-up: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 4.Iain FYFE, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (c) (17.Iain RAMSAY 87’), 8.Adam HUGHES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK (16.Inseob SHIN 90+1’), 10.Marcos FLORES, 12.Paul REID, 19.Mathew LECKIE, 24.Cameron WATSON, 26.Joe KEENAN (29.Bradley NORTON 86’)

Substitutes not used: 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk)

Yellow Cards: Cornthwaite 44’, Reid 65’

Red Cards: Nil

Perth Glory line-up: 1.Tando VELAPHI, 3.Jamie COYNE, 4.Andy TODD, 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 7.Jacob BURNS (c), 9.Robbie FOWLER (22.Anthony SKORICH 78’), 10.Michael BAIRD, 14.Steven McGARRY, 17.Todd HOWARTH (2.Josh MITCHELL 78’), 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 21.Mile STERJOVSKI

Substitutes not used: 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk)

Yellow Cards: Coyne 38’/75’, Velaphi 73’

Red Cards: Coyne 75’

Lions hold nerve to edge thriller

Stirling Lions set up an All Flags preliminary final with Perth SC after emerging victorious from an epic minor semi-final clash with Floreat Athena at Macedonia Park, eventually winning 9-8 on penalties after extra-time had ended with the teams deadlocked at 1-1.

Floreat keeper Alex Dunn was the villain, blazing his spot-kick over the bar after Bobby Wilson had cancelled out John Migas’ early goal for the visitors with a stunning free-kick after 68 minutes.

Having thrown away a two-goal lead against Perth the previous week, Stirling were desperate to bounce back but it was Athena who had the first chance after six minutes; Johnny Mirco heading Julian Madaschi’s right-wing cross straight at Lions keeper James Turvill.

Mirco was again in the action 10 minutes later but, after a clever turn on the edge of the area, he couldn’t keep his shot down.

However, Floreat took the lead after 18 minutes.

Jarrad Smith’s centre found Migas just inside the area and the midfielder took one touch before firing a brilliant volley from a tight angle past Turvill.

Athena continued to look the more dangerous and Migas found Branimir Mikulic in a good position but the big striker failed to make good contact and his low 20-yard strike was easily held by Turvill.

After 33 minutes Shane Robinson finally had Stirling’s first genuine effort on goal but it didn’t trouble Dunn, then Ludo Boi hit a long-range strike over.

The game took a spiteful twist with half-time approaching when Ante Kovacevic was forced off with blood streaming from a facial injury after challenging for a high ball with Phil Arnold.

The Floreat player-coach was furious that referee Michael Tolmie took no further action against the Stirling player and after eventually leaving the pitch, hurled an ice pack to the floor, prompting a string of abuse from the home fans.

When play did resume, it was Athena who continued to dominate and Mikulic and Mirco both went close before the interval.

Migas wasted a great chance to give his side some breathing space 10 minutes into the second period, blazing over from 18 yards after David Neiderberger – on for Kovacevic – had set him up.

Lions boss Paul Lincoln made two changes just after the hour mark in an attempt to inject some life into his side – Ndumba Makeche replacing the disappointing Arnold and Stef Frost taking over from Matthew Stares – and within a few minutes they were back on level terms.

Floreat conceded a free-kick in a central position 25 yards out and Wilson made them pay, hitting a wonderful effort that rocketed past Dunn and into the bottom left corner.

The goal visibly lifted the home side and seconds later Mario Marcinko headed a cross inches wide.

Makeche then flicked low centre just off target, before Wilson dragged another free-kick wide from an almost identical position to that from which he scored.

Dunn kept his side on level terms and ensured the match would go into an additional half-hour with a fine save from Marcinko’s downward header.

Makeche combined with fellow substitute Frost in the first period of extra-time but the latter’s low drive from just inside the area was well held by Dunn, while at the other end Mo Atak sliced wide.

Turvill made an important stop low down to deny Migas after a quick Floreat counter-attack, meaning penalties would be needed to find a winner.

After a flawless first five efforts, Atak saw his shot superbly saved by Turvill but Athena were back on level terms when Wilson’s penalty crashed against the crossbar.

The shoot-out went into sudden death and both sides were faultless until Floreat keeper Dunn stepped up for the 20th spot-kick only to sky it high over the bar, sparking great scenes of jubilation from the Stirling players and coaching staff.

Lions Coach Lincoln was thrilled with the result and heaped praised on his players – particularly the outstanding Boi – for fighting back from a goal down.

“I’m so proud of the boys,” he said.

“They showed so much character, it just makes you proud to be involved with a group like this.

“We were hurt last week, we threw it away but we just needed to stay positive and this is a great result.

“Ludo, I love him. He has the heart of a lion and just works so hard – he never stops.”

Lincoln admitted his side didn’t really look threatening in the first half and said: “I had to make a few changes at half-time, I added a bit of pace out wide and it really helped us a lot.”

Report by Tim Lefort

TEAMS

STIRLING LIONS: GK. James TURVILL, 2. Michael PUGLIESE, 4. Jason GAVIN, 6. Paul DICKSON, 7. Tom INGRAM, 8. Bobby WILSON, 9. Mario MARCINKO (15. Roberto LUJAN 115′), 10. Shane ROBINSON, 12. Ludo BOI, 14. Phil ARNOLD (17. Ndumba MAKECHE 60′), 16. Matthew STARES (11. Stef FROST 46′)

SUBS NOT USED: RGK. Anthony SALPIETRO, 3. James STREET

FLOREAT ATHENA: GK. Alex DUNN, 2. Jarrad SMITH, 4. Julian MADASCHI, 8. Adam BACHILLER, 10. Jason BARRERA, 11. Johny MIRCO [22. Adam WOOD 77' (6. Milorad VUJACIC 118')], 12. Branimir MIKULIC, 13. John MIGAS, 14. Mo ATAK, 16. Jovo PAVLOVIC, 17. Ante KOVACEVIC (9. Daniel NEIDERBERGER 44′)

SUBS NOT USED: RGK Jacub CHUDY, 6. Milorad VUJACIC, 15. Paul VATISTAS

Below Par Glory Lose to the Jets

A below par Perth Glory has gone down to the Newcastle Jets 2-0 in a frustrating Friday night clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

The Glory fell behind in the 10th minute thanks to a spectacular volley from Jets’ skipper Michael Bridges from a corner.

Perth had more possession in the second half, however failed to really test Jets keeper Ben Kennedy and with the clock ticking down they were caught on the counter as Newcastle substitute Labinot Haliti doubled the advantage.

“We weren’t at the races in the first half but the second half was a lot better”, Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell said.

The result is Newcastle’s first win of the season, seeing the club leap into seventh on the Hyundai A-League table as Perth drop to third on goal difference behind Central Coast.

“We’ll go back to the drawing board, it’s Adelaide next week who are on top so we need to come out fighting”, Perth Glory ‘keeper Tando Velaphi said.

After a somewhat quiet opening, the Jets took the lead with virtually their first attack of the game as Ruben Zadkovich swung in a corner from the right. The ball eluded former Glory defender Nikolai Topor-Sranley’s head, but it fell for Jeremy Brockie to chest down to Bridges who curled it into the right corner via a deflection off Jacob Burns’ head.

In the 13th minute, the Glory were fortunate not to concede again from another Zadkovich corner, the ball bobbling around on the goal-line without going in before an alert Mile Sterjovski pushed it to safety.

Eight minutes later, the Glory showed how dangerous they can be as Sterjovski fed Robbie Fowler from the right, the former Liverpool man cutting inside but not able to get any power on his shot which Ben Kennedy saved.

The Jets stepped up the attack once again, but Velaphi produced a stunning diving save to deny Topor-Stanley’s header in the 25th minute while Andy Todd, starting for the first time this season, did well to push Zhang Shuo wide three minutes later, the Chinese striker sending his shot narrowly wide.

On the half hour, Burns’ low shot went wide down the other end, while nine-minutes later, Sterjovski once again fed Fowler from the right, the forward sending in a cross-cum-shot that just went the wrong side of the left upright.

The Glory’s best chance of the half came in the 43rd minute when defender Josh Mitchell combined brilliantly with Todd Howarth down the left, before Mitchell’s cross in to Fowler went just wide of the post.

Although Perth started the second period with a much more attacking game plan, opting for a 3-4-3 formation after Michael Baird came on to replace Adriano Pellegrino at the break, the visitors were lucky not to go further behind in the 51st minute when Zadkovich’s shot grazed the bar.

As Perth stepped up the attack, Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy did well to deny the hardworking Steven McGarry in the 69th minute, while the Glory’s best chance came with 12 minutes remaining as Sterjovski did well to feed the ball in for Naum Sekulovski in the area, only for the substitute defender to mis control the pass.

In the 82nd minute Baird fired narrowly wide while McGarry’s tame half-volley was saved a minute later.

But having not taken their half chances, the Glory were exposed down the other end from a quick break as Ali Abbas’ pass allowed Haliti to skip past Todd and drag his left-footed shot past Tando Velaphi to double the lead.

Newcastle Jets: 2 (BRIDGES 10’ HALITI 89’)

Perth Glory: 0

Friday, 17 September 2010

EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle

Crowd: 6977

Referee: Ryan Shepheard

Assistant referees: Sarah Ho & Daniel Dewhurst

Fourth official: Kris Griffiths-Jones

Newcastle Jets line-up: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 3.Adam D’APUZZO, 4.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 5.Ljubo MILICEVIC, 6.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 7.Kasey WEHRMAN, 8.Michael BRIDGES (c) 10.Ruben ZADKOVICH, 11.Tarek ELRICH (19.Ali ABBAS 42’), 16.Jeremy BROCKIE (15.Sean ROONEY 72’), 9.Zhang SHUO (14.Labinot HALITI 78’)

Substitutes not used: 40.Matthew NASH (gk)

Yellow Cards: SHOU 45+2’, ZADKOVICH 58’, HALITI 89’

Red Cards: Nil

Perth Glory line-up: 1.Tando VELAPHI, 2.Josh MITCHELL (19.Naum SEKULOVSKI 59’), 3.Jamie COYNE, 4.Andy TODD, 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 7.Jacob BURNS (C), 9.Robbie FOWLER (11.Branko JELIC 61’), 14.Steven McGARRY, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO (10.Michael BAIRD 46’), 17.Todd HOWARTH, 21.Mile STERJOVSKI

Substitutes not used: 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk)

Yellow Cards: BURNS 51’

Scott Neville Named in Australian Under23 Squad

Perth Glory defender Scott Neville has been named in the Australian National under 23 team for a tour to Vietnam from September 15-26.

The 20-player squad will assemble in Sydney on Wednesday 15 September for a two day training camp before departing for Vietnam on Friday 17 September where they will play matches against the Under 23 National teams of DPR Korea & Kuwait and also the Vietnam National team.

Scott will miss the Glory’s next two away games against Newcastle and Adelaide.

Neville believes he has to step up his work rate even further if he’s to turn his selection for the Australian Under-23 squad into a long-term national career.

The Qantas Olyroos will also play Kuwait’s Under-23s and the Vietnamese national team over a five-day period in Hanoi, as Vidmar assesses his players ahead of Asian qualification for the London Olympics beginning next June.

“Playing in Vietnam for your country is obviously a great achievement and something that I’m really looking forward to be doing,” Neville said on the clubs website, after being informed on Monday morning.

“I think this is a good chance to express yourself, because next year with qualifying for the Olympics, that’s what you’re obviously aiming to be a part of.”

“If you can get to that (the Olympics), that’s the ultimate goal for Under-23s.”

“So this is kind of like a trial period I guess, if you do well here, it puts you in good stead for playing down the track.”

The son of former Exeter City and Southampton striker Steve Neville, who is in change of Football West Premier League side Sorrento, the young defender said he’d love to be returning to his native England representing Australia in two years’ time.
“Obviously I was born in England, to get a free trip home would be unbelievable,” Neville joked.

“To go and see your family and to be playing in an Olympics would be … words can’t even describe how happy I’d be if that came true.”
“But first and foremost, I’ve got to keep working hard.”

“I had a little chat (to my father) about it and he was obviously quite happy for me but he also said it’s the start of something new, so you’ve got to work even harder, you’ve achieved nothing and you just got to keep working hard, which is refreshing.”

Neville’s form and a cracking long-range goal in the opening round against North Queensland has been part of Perth’s best start to a Hyundai A-League campaign.

But, having surrendered their unbeaten record this season to Gold Coast United in a 1-0 result last Sunday, the club will now face two tough away games at Newcastle and Adelaide without Neville and with midfielder Steve McGarry under an injury cloud after taking a heavy knock to the shin.

Having worked his way into a permanent position in the starting XI, Neville knows he’s no guarantee to come straight back into the side after the tournament, especially as his place in the back four will probably be taken by former Blackburn skipper Andy Todd.

“I’m happy to be on the bench or even outside the squad and work hard to earn my position back,” Neville said.
“I think it’s great that we have such a strong squad and people fighting for positions, like Josh Mitchell is an unbelievable player and he played well (against Melbourne Heart) and at the moment he can’t get on the bench.”

“So that just shows how strong our squad is and in two weeks time when I come back, hopefully I just have to fight my way back in and train even harder than I do.”

SCOTT NEVILLE FACT FILE
Date of Birth: 11 January 1989 (Age 21)
Born: Devon, England
Junior Club: Sorrento
Representative honours: WA State under 13,14, 16
Perth Glory: 35 games (3 goals)
2008/09 4 games (elevated from youth team squad)
2009/10 25 games (2 goals)
2010/11 6 games (1 goal v Fury, week 1)

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