Cool Ridge Cup back in Baysie cabinet

Delighted Bayswater City coach Chris Coyne felt his side could have made yesterday’s impressive 2-0 Cool Ridge Cup victory even more emphatic after their convincing start to the contest at Macedonia Park

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Report by Peter Simcox

Wearing the captain’s armband on the day in the absence of the injured Trent Kay, Steve Burton opened the scoring in the 10th minute and Todd Howarth drilled home after 27 minutes to seal Bayswater’s second successive Cup success.

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“It was a magnificent performance from the lads today,” said Coyne, who conceded his side had not been as ruthless as he would have liked in recent weeks.

“We hadn’t been in great form of late but I knew someone was going to cop it. When we got two goals early I thought ‘here we go’, and if our decision making had been a little better, I think we could have scored another three or four.

“I’m really proud of the whole club, the backroom staff and players.”

Bayswater players celebrate Burton’s opener. Photo: Vince Caratozzolo

Burton was surprised to have been awarded the Stan Lazaridis Medal as the best player on the day, despite his tireless performance.

“I was up front on my own today as we tinkered with our formation slightly,” he said. “I was given the captain’s arm band and you have to lead by example.

“We’ve had a little dip in form in recent weeks but we started the game really well today. And winning is a habit and we know how to do it now.”

With the rain clouds hovering, there was a poignant start to the game with the big crowd standing in silence as a mark of respect to the victims of the Malaysian Airlines disaster in Europe.

Goalkeeper Aleks Vrteski can’t keep out Burton’s flick. Photo: Alan McDonald/Amac Images

Bayswater opened brightly with Adam Bachiller picking out Howarth who forced Stirling keeper Aleks Vrteski to save after just six minutes.

But just four minutes later Bayswater hit the front. Lions kipper Andy Brown brought down Bachiller left of the penalty area and Gustavo Giron Marulanda’s free-kick found Burton at the front post and he made no mistake from close range.

The Lions needed to hit back and went close on 24 minutes. Miki Vujacic’s corner was met by Phil Arnold, who watched in anguish as his glancing header flew past a post.

Bayswater looked lively going forward and had soon doubled their lead. The Lions failed to pick up Marulanda on the edge of the penalty area, and the Colombian striker’s powerful shot was saved by Vrteski only for Howarth to pounce.

It could have been 3-0 six minutes later. Chris Saldaris made space down the right and his cross into the penalty area picked out Howarth but the former Perth Glory midfielder fired straight at Vrteski from 6m.

With coach Gary Williams’ half-time address still ringing in their ears, the Lions opened the second half brightly. Moses Kalau’s free-kick tested Devon Spence early but the Stirling winger’s next attempt went straight at the Bayswater custodian.

While the Lions were struggling to break down a resolute Bayswater defence, superbly led by Jamie Coyne and Saldaris, Burton was causing headaches at the other end.

On the hour, Howarth raced clear down the left and crossed for Burton, whose first-time shot crashed off the post. Then moments later Paul McCarthy and Burton combined to set up Marulanda, whose shot flashed over the top.

The Lions went to three at the back as they looked to get back in the game, and Hayden Doyle tested Spence on 73 minutes but still the Lions could not find a way through.

In the first of four minutes stoppage time, Kalau’s corner found Brown, whose header crashed off the base of a post.

Cool Ridge Cup Final
Stirling Lions 0
Bayswater City 2 (Burton 10’, Howarth 27’)
Saturday 19th July 2014
Macedonia Park, Balcatta
Attendance: 2,200 (Approx.)
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistants: Mathew Cheeseman and Josh Mannella
Fourth Official: Steven Gregory

Stirling Lions: GK Aleks VRTESKI, 2 Rikki SMITH, 3 Ali GHOULAMI, 4 Jovo PAVLOVIC, 5 Dean EVANS, 6 Hayden DOYLE, 7 Miki VUJACIC (3 Michael PUGLIESE 74’), 8 Andrew BROWN, 9 Moses KALAU, 10 David MICEVSKI, 11 Phil ARNOLD (13 Jack SALTER 60’)
Subs not used: RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 12 Daniel DOLS, 15 Boas MTWALE
Yellow cards: Kalau 16’

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 2 Declan HARGREAVES (7 Hassan EL YASSIRI 76’), 3 Adam BACHILLER, 6 Todd HOWARTH, 8 Paul MCCARTHY, 9 Gustavo GIRON MARULANDA (10 Damien CATALANO 63’), 12 Steve BURTON, 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie COYNE, 20 Sam MITCHINSON, 23 Chris SALDARIS
Subs not used: RGK Joel DRISCOLL, 5 Andy REALE, 14 Harry BISSETT, 17 Sahr MUSA
Yellow cards: Howarth 87’