A last minute goal by Feisal Zaw earned Balcatta a 2-1 win over crosstown rivals Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park on Saturday.
The visitors recovered their form against a Stirling outfit who started proceedings on the back of a six-game winning streak.
Balcatta’s Marc Anthony said he was delighted with the result.
“It’s a tough place to come, they’ve been on fire recently, and we knew they would be a big threat,” he said.
“Credit to all the lads, we’re a very young playing group and we just kept going.”
Balcatta pressed hard early and opened their account in the 6th minute when Cameron Teece was given too much time at the edge of the area.
Teece fired at John Perkins who saved the initial attempt, but Gomo Dukully was on hand to bury the follow-up.
The visitors nearly doubled their lead in similar fashion in the 22nd minute, but this time Perkins was on hand to save Carlo Coelho’s follow-up attempt.
Stirling began to play some football of their own, and Blamo Qua Qua was unlucky not to draw his side level with his terrific long-range shot in the 40th minute.
Daniel Micevski and David Micevski had a chance each to score late in the first half but neither shot challenged Davies.
The second half consisted of end to end football with both sides having their fair share of possession and chances.
Stirling found their equaliser in the 82nd minute when David Micevski executed a trademark free kick to the elation of the home fans.
Daniel Micevski made a great run in to the box in the 87th minute and was seemingly brought to ground, but his appeal for a penalty was waved away despite cries of protest from the Stirling faithful.
It was the visitors who sealed the result in the last minute of regular time when Zaw tapped home following a great ball in from the left by Teece.
Zaw said his side has worked hard at training to recover their form, following recent defeats to Floreat Athena in round eight and Inglewood United in the Westfield FFA Cup quarter-finals.
“Lately the boys have really stuck together and it showed today against Stirling who are in good form,” he said.
Stirling coach Rob Milevski said he was disappointed but credited Balcatta on a strong performance.
“I think it was a fair result, they took their chances and are deserved winners,” he said.
“We’re just going to have to regroup and focus on the next game now, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
The result sees Stirling drop to third place, six points behind table-topping Inglewood United.
Stirling Lions 1 (David Micevski 82)
Balcatta 2 (Dukully 6, Zaw 90)
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Macedonia Park
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tom Glavovic
Assistant referees: John Taran, Hayden Frost
Stirling Lions: GK John PERKINS, 4. Blamo QUA QUA, 5. Graham DORAN, 6. Brodie MARTIN (c) (7. Milorad VUJACIC 83), 8. David SESAY, 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 11. David MICEVSKI, 12. Jason RUBIDGE (9. Robert PETKOV 55), 14. David MURPHY, 15. Shane CASSIDY, 17. Teeboy KAMARA,
Substitutes not used: 3. Paul DAVID, 13. Ben CAMPBELL, 20. Connor CAMPBELL
Yellow cards: Martin 13’
Red cards: nil
Balcatta: GK Clint DAVIES, 2. Hanafi GHAZALI, 6. John CORNESS, 10. Zelfy NAZARY, 11. Feisal ZAW, 12. Eamon McNELIS, 13. Cameron TEECE, 15. Carlo COELHO (16. Marc ELDRIDGE 68), 17. Kieran COLWELL (c), 19. Alan CARROLL, 23. Gomo DUKULLY (22. Scott NEWLAND 76)
Substitutes not used: 5. Carmelo GIUFFRE, 21. Damien STANOEVSKI
Yellow cards: Colwell 19’, Teece 62’, Newland 83’
Red cards: nil
Report by Aidan Shaw
