Frustration continues for Mandurah City after loss to Stirling Lions

Stirling went three ahead in the second half with Daniel Micevski scoring twice while David Micevski converted a penalty in between.

Mandurah fought back in the last ten minutes and managed to close the gap with goals from Joseph O’Brien and Jordan Rhodes, but it wasn’t enough to get the job done.  

Craig Tone came close for Mandurah four minutes in, latching on a pass from the left with a diving header, but he narrowly missed the net.

Responding a few minutes later Moses Kalau cut the ball back to David Micevski in the box, whose hard strike slid past the left post.

All the action occurred in the final half hour and Daniel Micevski broke the deadlock with a cracker shot in the 62^nd minute, after picking up the ball on the left wing.

The goal livened up the home side and five minutes later David Micevski won a foul in the penalty box, his conversion putting the Lions two ahead.

Despite having players down from both sides Daniel Micevski tripled the lead in the 77th minute after Alex Taneski made a gallant run down the right wing and crossed the ball for him to knock home.

Mandurah coach Doug Hesketh felt play should have been stopped in the lead up to the goal due to an injury.

The visitors fought back and in the 82^nd minute.

O’Brien’s perfectly timed run pit him against keeper John Perkins, his second attempt at goal finding the net.

Two minutes into extra time Rhodes caught the defenders out, picking up the ball in the box and slotting it past the keeper, but it was too late to take any points.

There were a few squad changes for Mandurah, which Hesketh said were the result of impressive performances from the reserves.

“We’re making changes on the run but I’m not unhappy with the team,” he said.

“This was a game I would have liked to have gotten something out of and my only request to them is to give me a positive attitude.

“I can’t fault them for effort – I think with another ten minutes we would have equalised.”