Lions treble dream comes to an end

Stirling Lions 3 E.C.U. Joondalup 3 (AET) E.C.U won 3-0 on penalties
 
A dramatic penalty shoot out was required to separate Soccer Pools Cup holders Stirling Lions and northern neighbours ECU Joondalup with the Lions bowing out 3-0 at Macedonia Park on Saturday. Full time score ended with the two combatants level at 1-1 and then 3-3 after extra time before the cut and thrust of penalties was called upon.

Another big crowd was in attendance to watch the two evenly matched sides with Stirling earning the first corner of the game courtesy of some good work by young striker Phil Arnold. ECU keeper and ex Glory custodian Tom Tomich showed he was in good touch early and safely handled the inswinging Jordan Rhodes corner.

A tight tussle in the middle of the park was developing with Craig Young, Darren Broxton,Tommy Amphlett and John Higgins having the better of the Lions quartet of Marc Anthony, Steve Porter, Jordan Rhodes and Ludo Boi. Ex Lion Tommy Jones was delighted when a mix up between Lions captain Darko Ilomanoski and keeper Phil Straker allowed Jones to nip in and tuck the ball into the back of the net with the Lions pair lamenting their lack of communication.
 
Joondalup had the Lions under pressure when a John Higgins free kick dipped and curled forcing Straker to put his body on the line saving the day for Stirling.
 
The Lions were well held with Joondalups tall defence led by Scott Blackmore and Craig Simpson giving little space for Mark Redshaw or Phil Arnold to work in.The shut out defence was very effective with the Lions having to play long balls with no effect. Stirling's first real shot at goal came in the 29th minute when a quick shot on goal from Marc Anthony deflected to Redshaw who shot on the turn and Tomich dived to save cleanly.
 
Stirling picked up their rating as Tomich was called upon to make a series of saves as the half time whistle approached. A Marc Anthony free kick was well saved and then a Steve Porter inswinging corner was tipped over the bar while Arnolds dangerous cross forced Tomich to dive low keeping the score 1-0 at the half.
 
The Lions came out a different side in the second half and a speculative shot at goal from distance by defender Jordan Reid tested Tomich who used his reach to effect tipping the ball over the bar in the opening minutes. The equalizer was coming as Phil Arnold beat two opponents down the left flank before squaring a perfect ball into the path of diminutive Lions midfielder Ludo Boi who unleashed a blistering low shot into the bottom corner of the net giving Tomich no chance in the 53rd minute. Stirling's midfield was in full swing as Porter, Boi and Rhodes created some good build ups with the ECU defence covering well but conceding a succession of corners. The experience and reach of Tomich kept the Lions at bay as they went searching for the winner.
 
End to end Cup tie action unfolded as ECU went close via a Higgins free kick while the Lions had a golden opportunity to seal the match when Boi found himself with an open goal at his mercy but blasted his shot narrowly wide in the 80th minute. Joondalup were reduced to 10 men in the 85th minute when John Thornley received his second yellow card  for a foul on reliable Lions defender Dean Evans.
 
The first chance in extra time fell to Lions striker Phil Arnold who blasted over the bar in the opening minutes, but Ian McMurray made no mistake after a good cross from Tommy Amphlett saw him drill the ball home from close range in the 100th minute. The partisan home crowd almost raised the roof when they roared their approval to a spectacular goal by Phil Arnold who took the ball from the half way line weaving a way to goal and beating 4 ECU defenders in the process before unleashing an unstoppable shot levelling the game in the 102nd minute.
 
The second period of extra time saw the ECU side reduced to 9 men with Martin Ashworth sent off for his second yellow card as referee Michael Negus took control in the fierce battle. The drama level lifted as the Lions thought they had scored the winner when Marc Anthony set the ball on a plate for Andy Brown to tap in from a goalmouth scramble in the 115th minute. Joondalup threw caution to the wind and with full time only two minutes away scored a dramatic equalizer when Craig Young latched onto a long ball and rifled past the despairing Straker.
 
Penalty shoot out was a familiar path for the Lions having won the past 2 Cups in this fashion, but today it was Tom Tomich who stood tall as he watched Marc Anthony blast over the bar, then make two great saves from Andy Brown and Phil Arnold while Joondalup's penalties were clinically finished by Craig Young, Anthony Jones and Scott Blackmore. The Lions bow out of the Cup while ECU Joondalup showed great character and desire in their tenacious victory.
 

Football West Reporter - Don Evans