Football West News Match Report QBE Night Series

Bayswater City are the defending QBE Night Series champions after a hard fought 3-1 win against Mandurah City at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday evening.

The Night Series holders hit the front just before the half hour with David Heagney scoring, but Mandurah’s Ryan Francis levelled. Bayswater hit back before half time with Oscar Thompson scoring into his own net and both sides had chances in an end-to-end second half, but BorBor Sam scored the decisive third in stoppage time.

Bayswater Coach Chris Coyne said it was good to win the competition but a lot of the credit must go to Mandurah.

“We made hard work of it tonight and I think a lot of the credit has to go to Mandurah. They are going to be up and about next season,” he said.

“I thought we kept our shape well tonight, apart from the goal, but I’m very pleased for the boys, it’s been a long pre-season and now we can look forward to the new season.”

The former Socceroos defender had praise for his young centre back David Stokoe who made some important clearances late on.

“I thought David was very good for us tonight, and for a young kid still learning his trade he was excellent in his first final and cleared two off the line,” he said.

“Ironically we had worked on a few things at training this week, when it was lashing down with rain, and that was one of them.

“The lad listens and want to learn, and he got back and cleared the balls off the line. I was really pleased with him tonight.”

Stokoe was outstanding at the heart of the back four, and he said it’s great to start the season off with some silverware.

“It’s great to hold on to our title, and get some silverware back to the club, but we had to work for it,” he said.

“They pressed us in the second half, but we held firm and we’ll celebrate this tonight, and then we will be focused on the league season next week.”

Mandurah Coach Doug Hesketh said he was proud of his players, who really took the game to their opponents.

“I’m really proud of the boys tonight, and if we can mix it with the likes of Bayswater, we’ll be alright this season,” he said.

“At the end of the day they (Bayswater) were clinical and took their chances, but to give a good account of ourselves was really pleasing.

“We are in a good place now, and really deserve the opportunity to play in the NPL. I think people realise we are worth a go.”

It was a bright opening to the game with both sides creating good early chances. First on two minutes Francis played in Sean Troup, and the former Perth Glory Youth midfielder saw his shot well saved by Devon Spence.

Moments later Sam Mitchinson made space down the left and whipped in a great cross to Heagney whose header was well saved by Cyril Sharrock.

Bayswater started to get on top and they rewarded with the lead on 27 minutes. The lively Jason Mirco eased past his marker on the left and crossed to Heagney, who finished clinically past Sharrock.

But two minutes later Mandurah hit back. Bayswater were caught napping at a corner, Andy Brown playing the ball back to Francis on the edge of the penalty area and his shot flew past Spence.

But they weren’t level for long as Bayswater regained the lead on 40 minutes. A mix up at the back caused confusion, and the unfortunate Thompson put the ball past Sharrock and into his own net.

Mandurah went close to the equaliser early in the second half. A deep cross picked out Brown, his effort beat Spence, but Stokoe was alert to clear the ball off the line.

Moments later it was Déjà vu. This time Thompson got on the end of a corner, but his effort was cleared off the line by Bayswater skipper Trent Kay.

It was end-to-end football with the big crowd enjoying every moment. Stokoe’s diving header flashed wide for Bayswater, before Spence saved well to deny Francis.

Mandurah were pushing for the equaliser and they were thwarted again by Stokoe on 85 minutes. Craig Tone found space in the box, his shot beat Spence, but Stokoe was there again to clear the ball off the line.

But the result was put beyond doubt in stoppage time, Mirco and Heagney combined down the right, and Mirco crossed to the back post and Sam slid the ball home.

The QBE Night Series Final Man of the Match, who also takes home the Robbie Dunn medal, was won by Bayswater winger Jason Mirco.

QBE Night Series Final

Bayswater City 3 (Heagney 27 Mins, O’Goal – Thompson 40, Sam 90+1)

Mandurah City 1 (Francis 37 Mins)

Saturday February 11, 2017

Venue: Percy Doyle Reserve, Duncraig

Kick-off: 7:30pm

Referee: Adam Fielding
BAYSWATER CITY – GK Devon SPENCE, 2 Declan HARGREAVES, 6 Todd HOWARTH, 10 Jason MIRCO, 11 Devon GIBSON, 12 David STOKOE, 13 Trent KAY, 17 Bor Bor SAM, 20 Sam MITCHINSON, 21 David HEAGNEY, 23 Andrija JUKIC (9 Gustavo GIRON-MARULANDA 67’)

Subs note used: RGK Michael COHEN, 8 Giordano COLLI, 16 Ayden DRAGUN, 22 Jamie MURPHY

Yellow Cards: Hargreaves 87’, Sam 88’
MANDURAH CITY – GK Cyril SHARROCK, 2 Oliver MCGEE, 3 Jeff BRIGHT (15 Slade RULE 87’), 4 Matthew STARES, 5 Daniel DYSON (12 Jordan RHODES 63’), 6 Oscar THOMPSON, 7 Mitchell MORRIN (17 Oriol FERNANDEZ 46’), 8 Andy BROWN, 9 Ryan FRANCIS, 10 Sean TROUP, 11 Craig TONE

Subs not used: RGK Brad EIFFE, 14 Mitchell FIRTH

Yellow Cards: Thompson 25’, Francis 80’, McGee 87’