Three extra-time goals to Brodie Martin, Blamo Quaqua and Jason Rubidge, who completed his hat-trick, was enough to put the home side into the next round.

Rubidge praised the composure of his team to pull through, while also praising the opposition’s resilience.

“They [Curtin] defended really well. They took their chances in attack; I think they only had a couple of shots and they made them count,” he said.

“We were told [after regulation time] to get back to the game plan. A couple of times in the first half particularly we went away from it and there was just too much fancy stuff. We needed to get back to basics.

“At the end of the day, at least we got through, that’s the main thing, being through to the semis.”

Stirling looked like they would make easy work of Curtin after a brilliant assist from Teeboy Kamara saw Rubidge slot one into the back of the net after just five minutes.

Curtin, however, were able to deal with constant attacking pressure from the home team, and with a rare opportunity up forward, Khaled Salhah managed to draw a free kick and convert with a powerful set-piece.

After what had been an open and very attacking first half, Stirling upped the ante early in the second with a flurry of quick attacking breaks, orchestrated primarily by Kamara’s speed on the wing.

However, there was plenty of frustration on the pitch and in the stands as Curtin’s miserly defence continued to force Stirling into offside traps.

The ball spent a lot of time in Stirling’s final third, and the result looked set in stone when the favourites kicked true in the 79th minute – a second goal to Rubidge – to bring the score to 2-1.

Curtin refused to be denied, though, a chain of precise passes through the middle of the ground saw the ball land at Arijan Stovrag’s feet and he fired it into the goal in the dying stages of regular time to force the crowd into hysterics and the game itself into extra time.

Stirling took their class advantage into the next stretch of play, and substitute Martin was able to convert with a break-through shot at goal in the 95th minute.

Rubidge completed his hat-trick early in the second half of extra time, while Quaqua sealed the deal in the dying seconds to see the home team walk away with a 5-2 win.

Curtin coach Campbell Ballantyne emphasised that while there was a case for mixed emotions, both coaches and players could hold their heads high.

“I said to the boys, I’m so proud of their performance today. To take Stirling Lions to extra time was phenomenal.

“We’ve just had a Stirling Lions supporter come up and say ‘Well done’. We’re a division two side. We’ve been a state league side for three years. Stirling have done it all, they’ve won the state title on a number of occasions. This is the furtherest we’ve ever been, so I’m happy.”

Stirling Lions FC 5 (Jason Rubidge 5′, 79′, 108′ Brodie Martin 95′; Blamo Quaqua 120’+1)
Curtin University FC 2 (Arijan Stovrag 21′; Khaled Salhah 91′)
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 5:30pm
Referee: J. Mannella
Assistant Referees: M. Jasinski, D. Cole

Stirling Lions: 1. Connor CAMPBELL, 2. Michael PUGLIESE, 4. Blamo QUAQUA, (6. Brodie MARTIN 95′), 7. Miki VUJACIC, 8. David SESAY, 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 11. Daniel MICEVSKI, 12. Jason RUBIDGE (5′, 79′, 108′), 14. David MURPHY, 15. Shane CASSIDY, (16. Abdul SESAY) 17. Teeboy KAMARA, (20. Lance ATAVAKIS)
Substitutes not used: 3. Lukas DELIMA, 13. William KESSEL
Yellow Cards: 14. David MURPHY
Red Cards: Nil

Curtin University: 1. Jack KENNY, 2. Daniel YOUNG, 6. Dominic JACKSZUK, 7. Kye MIDDLETON, 10. Edward Tickoft, (12. Lee TAYLOR) 15. Kahled Salhah (91′), (16. Dilip Masrangi), 23. Kristian BEVAN, 29. Robbie NICHOLL, 30. Antony RUSSO, 40. Jonathon KRAWEC, (41. Brandon KAGARO) 46. Arijan STOVRAG (21′)
Substitutes not used: 3. Mark MATKOVIC, 27. Lewis HARVEY
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil

Guests will be treated to live music, cultural performances, guest speakers, soccer highlights, FREE cocktail food, wine and beer.

Prizes up for grabs & more surprises.

When: Saturday July 9th at 6.30pm
Where: Macedonia Park, 273 Albert St Balcatta
Tickets: $60
Dress: Cocktail

Purchase Tickets at Macedonia Park or online at http://MacedoniaPark30.EventBrite.com.au

Stirling Lions rose to third on the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA ladder after a 3-2 win over Floreat Athena at Macedonia Park on Saturday.

Captain Milorad Vujacic gave the Lions the lead in the 20th minute, along with a second half free kick from David Micevski and a Teeboy Kamara goal in the 73rd.

Lewis McMahon grabbed a second half brace for Floreat, including a penalty, but the visitors couldn’t overtake the Lions.

Stirling coach Rob Milevski said it was good to achieve some consistency despite the nail-biting end to the match.

“It’s lifted our confidence coming against some quality teams in the last few weeks and getting the results,” he said.

“However we let ourselves down in attack in the first half of the match, we should have been a bit more clinical and gone into the break a few more goals up.

“Hopefully we can keep the momentum up against Sorrento next week.”

Stirling led the charge in the first half releasing Kamara numerous times but after latching on to a long ball from a goal-kick, his 15th minute goal was disallowed.

The opening goal came five minutes later from Vujacic who confidently struck the ball past keeper Jason Saldaris.

Saldaris kept the visitors in the match with key saves throughout the half, closing down Kamara on the break and saving a free kick a minute after the opening goal.

But Floreat weren’t without their chances. Declan Hargreaves’ corner kick in the 18th minute found Blair Govan’s head, but was denied by keeper John Perkins.

The Lions doubled their score in the second half with a textbook free kick from David Micevski settling into the bottom right corner of the net in the 65th minute.

Floreat managed to get their first on the scoreboard eleven minutes later with McMahon capitalising on a penalty area scramble.

It was a momentary celebration as a minute later Blamo Qua Qua spotted Saldaris off his line and attempted a lob from the halfway mark, but the keeper scrambled just in time.

Kamara snatched possession back immediately after and finally scored the elusive goal he had been hunting for.

Tension heightened when Floreat won a penalty in the 83rd minute and McMahon converted it, but Stirling rode out the final minutes to seal the win.

Floreat coach Glen Grostate thought his side gave the game away from the very start.

“We weren’t good on the ball, our structure wasn’t right, and to be honest we almost gave them the three goals,” he said.

“We were creative enough to score goals, but every time we scored and gained some momentum we made another mistake.

“But we’re only into the sixth game of the season, so we just have to keep fighting, because we are a good team.”

Stirling Lions 3 (Vujacic 20min, David Micevski 65, Kamara 73)
Floreat Athena 2 (McMahon 76mins, 84)
Saturday April 30, 2016
Macedonia Park
Local kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: David Bruce
Assistant Referees: Oliver Allen, Liviu Katona

Stirling Lions: GK John PERKINS, 2. Michael PUGLIESE, 5. Graham DORAN, Milorad VUJACIC (C), 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 11. David MICEVSKI, 12. Jason RUBIDGE (6. Ben CAMPBELL 84’), 14. David MURPHY, 15. Shane CASSIDY, 16. Lukas DELIMA (4. Blamo QUA QUA 46’), 17. Teeboy KAMARA.
Substitutes not used: RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 3. Jack MCMASTER, 8. William KESSEL.
Yellow cards: Delima 27’, Pugliese 84’, Qua Qua 86’, Murphy 88’.
Red cards: nil

Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 3. Blair GOVAN, 5. Bobby WILSON, 6. Clayton ARNEZ (4. Andrew SCALDAFERRO 57’), 8. Jonathan STYNES, 11. Dennis GALAN, 12. Declan HARGREAVES, 14. Ludovic BOI (c), 15. Christopher SALDARIS, 18. Phillip ARNOLD, 19. Lewis MCMAHON.
Substitutes not used: RGK Thomas CHUDY, 13. Aaron DELANY, 20. Kye DOUGLAS, 16. Sam KHANKHALILI.
Yellow cards: Wilson 21’, Arnold 65’, Hargreaves 76’.
Red cards: nil

Stirling Lions shocked Inglewood United with a 3-0 win in the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA at Inglewood Stadium on Saturday.

A penalty converted by David Micevski in the 27th minute and two second half goals from Teeboy Kamara in the 57th and 85th was enough for Stirling to slam the home side that was down to 10 men.

Inglewood coach Taki Nicolaidis said the missed chances early on only sealed his side’s fate.

“If you can’t score goals with 10 men or not, then you can’t win games,” he said.

“We just weren’t clinical enough.”

The home side were awarded a penalty for handball but Brian Woodall’s spot kick hit a post.

It all went downhill from there for Inglewood as they found themselves a man down in the fifth minute as Jason Colli was charged with serious foul play.

A weakened Inglewood saw Calum O’Connell foul a Stirling player inside the box in the 27th minute, which allowed Micevski to easily convert from the spot.

Stirling continued to dominate the game throughout the second half as the hosts struggled to get their shots on target.

It took just 12 minutes from the restart for Stirling’s Teeboy Kamara to score a fantastic long-range strike, which rebounded off of the cross bar to reach the back of the net.

The ex-Adelaide United player said he didn’t expect his shot to go in.

“I just took a hit, hoped for the best and it actually went in,” Kamara said.

The 19 year old continued to show his class as he drove into the box to find himself unmarked, held up the ball, and made it float straight into the top corner in the 85th minute.

Kamara said that his chip was deliberate.

“My first instinct was to actually cross it, but I looked up and there was no one there, so when I saw the keeper off his line I took my chance,” he said.

Stirling coach Rob Melevski put his sides win down to a great team performance.

“It was a great team effort at the end of the day,” he said.

“Obviously it was a bit unfortunate for Inglewood to go a man down, but we took full advantage of that to deserve the win.”

Inglewood United 0
Stirling Lions 3 (David Micevski (P) 27min, Kamara 57, 85)
Inglewood Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Saturday, 23th April, 2016
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistant referees: Shane Skinner, Samir Becarevic

Inglewood United: GK: Alex DUNN, 3. David CYRUS (C), 5. Adam TONG, 6. Calum O’CONNELL, 7. Kenny KEOGH (4. Scott BLACKMORE 78), 8. Jason BARRERA, 9. Brian WOODALL, 10. Ash ROSINDALE (17. Tim ROBERTSON 60), 11. John MIGAS, 14. Mark PRITCHARD, 18. Jason COLLI
Substitutes not used: RGK: Mitchell PAPAS, 2. Rikki SMITH, 13. Josh PEREIRA
Yellow Cards: Keogh 30’, Robertson 88’, Cyrus 89’
Red Cards: Colli 5’

Stirling Lions: GK John PERKINS, 2. Michael PUGLIESE (16. Abdul SESAY 66), 4. Blamo QUA QUA, 5. Graham DORAN, 6. Brodie MARTIN (C) (7. Milorad VUJACIC 71), 8. David SESAY, 9. Robert PETKOV, 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 11. David MICEVSKI, 15. Shane CASSIDY, 17. Teeboy KAMARA (12. Jason RUBIDGE 88)
Substitutes not used: RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 3. Jovo PAVLOVIC
Yellow Cards: Pugliese 46+1’, Sesay 80’
Red Cards: nil

Stirling Lions moved to fourth place on the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA table after a 3-0 win against ECU Joondalup at Macedonia Park on Saturday.

Robert Petkov gave the home side lead in the first half, before late goals from Teeboy Kamara and Daniel Micevski wrapped up the points for the Lions.

Lions coach Rob Milevski said after a disappointing first half they outplayed Joondalup, and thought they deserved the points.

“I thought our first half was poor and they got on top of us in the middle of the park, and we were fortunate to go into the break with the lead, but we addressed that at half time,” he said.

“I think we got what we deserved in the second half, and scored some good goals and kept a clean sheet as well, our first of the season, which is very pleasing.”

The coach said it was vital to continue their momentum after their big win at Cockburn last week as they look ahead to next week’s big clash with league leaders Inglewood United.

“It’s all about consistency and we’ve spoken about it this week at training, and today we showed that,” Milevski said.

“We worked extremely hard defensively and went forward and but the goals on the board and we will be looking to keep the momentum going next week at Inglewood.”

Lions captain Brodie Martin said they took their chances when they came and they are now looking to play more consistent football.

“We didn’t start to well today, but we came to the party in the second half and come away with the three points,” he said.

“It’s our first clean sheet since Perth in the Night Series, nine games, and we’ve been working hard at training on this but it’s only two on the spin.

“If we want to make finals we need to keep that going. It’s a big week for us and a big game next week and we will prepare well and look to get the three points again.”

The visitors made the better start and Shane Cassidy got back with a fantastic last ditch tackle to deny Steven McGarry after only three minutes, before Gordon Smith’s long-range effort flashed wide.

Lions hit back and debutant ECU keeper Scott Wallis was alert to save David Micevski’s shot moments later, but on 16 minutes it was ECU who should have hit the front.

Smith shrugged off two Lions defenders and raced clear, he rounded keeper John Perkins, but with the goal at his mercy he fired wide.

Wallis then produced a good reaction save to stop David Micevski’s deflected shot as the home side pushed forward.

The pitch wasn’t the best and large areas of sand made passing football difficult, but it didn’t stop the Lions hitting the front ten minutes from half time.

David Micevski’s in-swinging corner was flicked on by Graham Doran and Petkov finished at the back post.

Both sides had good early chances in the second half. First David Micevski’s snap shot from the edge of the penalty area flashed wide of the target, before Bayley Brown-Montgomery long-range shot was saved low by Perkins.

It should have been 2-0 on 67 minutes, Blamo Qua Qua through ball sent David Micevski clear one-on-one with Wallis, but the ECU custodian stood tall and the midfielder fired wide of the target.

But the game was put to bed by the Lions with two goals in as many minutes.

First on 81 minutes ECU defenders Ryan Lowry and Shane Pickering challenged for the same ball and the ball fell to second half substitute Jason Rubidge, who fed Kamara who made no mistake.

Then two minutes later, Kamara was the supplier for the third. His quick counter attack ended with a ball to Daniel Micevski, who finished low past Wallis to seal the points.

The Lions travel to the Inglewood Stadium next week to take on league leaders Inglewood United, while ECU Joondalup take on Floreat Athena in the twilight game at the E&D Litis Stadium.

Stirling Lions 3 (Petkov 38 min, Kamara 81, Daniel Micevski 83)
ECU Joondalup 0
Saturday 16th April 2016
Venue: Macedonia Park
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistants: Tom Dowle and Walter Ciotti

Stirling Lions: GK John PERKINS 2 Michael PUGLIESE (16 Abdul SESAY 54’), 4 Blamo QUA QUA, 5 Graham DORAN (7 Miki VUJACIC 89’), 6 Brodie MARTIN (C), 8 David SESAY 9 Robert PETKOV (12 Jason RUBIDGE 80’), 10 Daniel MICEVSKI, 11 David MICEVSKI, 15 Shane CASSIDY, 17 Teeboy KAMARA
Subs not used: RGK Lance ALAVAKIS
Yellow Cards: Doran 12’, Cassidy 29’, Pugliese 43’

ECU Joondalup: GK Scott WALLIS, 2 Ryan LOWRY, 3 Joseph JONES, 4 Shane PICKERING, 5 Andy HIGGINS, 7 Harley ORR (13 Ollie ANNIS 64’), 8 Steven WALMSLEY, 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY (12 Paddy DOYLE 79’), 14 Steven MCGARRY, 18 Henry DURR
Subs not used: RGK Todd HOYLE, 15 Coire MCGUIGAN, 16 Josh TUCKER
Yellow Cards: Orr 27’, McGarry 48’, Smith 65’, Jones 70’, Higgins 79’