4.02.2012

Football West News

Report by Peter Simcox

In Friday evening's late game Stirling Lions started their 2012 Football West Night Series with a 4-0 win against First Division Fremantle Spirit at Macedonia Park.

First half goals from skipper Jason Gavin and Irish midfielder Gareth McGlynn gave the home side a 2-0 lead at the break. Further goals from Phil O'Callaghan and an own goal by Spirit defender Mohamed Bangura gave the Lions a the win against a determined Fremantle side.

The Lions were off to a perfect start and were ahead in the first minute. McGlynn's corner from the right was headed home by former Middlesbrough defender Gavin.

The Sprit almost hit back immediately; Diego Garcia's powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area was well saved by Cory Hugo at full stretch.

It was an even first half hour with chances few and far between, the best falling to Lions midfielder Jamie De Abreu on 29 minutes. His run and shot was well tipped over the bar by Bradley Parfitt.

The second goal came for the Lions in controversial circumstances on 35 minutes. A free kick was awarded on the left of the penalty area, but the assistant's flag had been raised for offside earlier in the move. It was ignored by referee Phil Traianedes and McGlynn rubbed salt into the wounds by firing home, despite Parfitt getting a hand to it.

Spirit battled hard and went close to pulling a goal back on the stroke of half time. Tim Hill, who is on loan at the Spirit from the Lions, saw his long-range free kick saved low by Hugo.

It was the Spirit who opened the second half the better and went close six minutes in. Zoran Vrteski's long ball sent Garcia clear, but the striker's shot from the edge of the penalty area flew over the top.

The Lions couldn't shake off a determined Spirit side and they had to wait till the 70th minute to increase their lead. A good run down the right by De Abreu ended with a low hard cross which was unfortunately turned into his own net by Bangura.

Then three minutes later it was 4-0. New Lions midfielder Craig Robson sent Matty Barlow clear down the right, he crossed to O'Callaghan who scored from close-range.

Lions Coach Doug Hesketh was pleased with the win and paid tribute to the Spirit side. "We're delighted to win tonight, but they really made it hard for us," said Hesketh.

"We probably scored too early, and we went a bit flat after that. We made a few changes in the second half and I thought we were better, but credit to Freo they did a good job tonight."

Stirling Lions - GK Cory HUGO, 2 Craig ROBSON, 3 Kyran NUNES (5 Ryan MCDARBY 49'), 4 Jason GAVIN, 6 Marlon RAMIREZ (12 Alex CASTIELLO 46'), 7 Jamie DE ABRU, 8 Gareth
MCGLYNN, 9 Matty BARLOW, 10 Phil O'CALLAGHAN, 11 Anthony LYONS (14 Paul LLOYD 63'), 16 Dennis GALAN

Subs not used - RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 15 Andy HAROLD

Fremantle Spirit - GK Bradley PARFITT, 2 Siddharth ARORA, 3 Mitchell CROCKER, 4 Zoran VRTESKI, 5 Ty FENWICK, 6 Abdirizaq Ahmed SHAQLANE (16 Jarryd WIMBRIDGE 37'), 7
Mohamed BANGURA, 8 Sean TREACEY (14 Steve MORDUE 68'), 9 Diego GARCIA, 10 Tim HILL, 11 Dimce TANESKI (15 Sam HALIFAX 56')

Subs not used - RGK Jarrod ZAMBONI, 12 Christopher BEECH