The 2013 Division 2 Amateur League season ended in dramatic fashion at a packed Bradwood Park, as a last minute penalty won the game and ultimately clinched the title for the traveling Modbury Jets.
A large crowd of visiting Modbury supporters begun to build on the far side of the pitch in the lead up to kick off. Conditions at Bradwood Park were near perfect for football, with the sun out on what was a wet pitch. Stirling had nothing to play for as promotion hopes were dashed the previous week but to their credit they were determined to fight for the win and ultimately have a say in which team would take the title and be promoted. The Aces had to slightly reshuffle their line-up from the previous week, as playmaker Josh Lushington was forced to miss the clash due to work commitments. This then pushed Daniel Wilby up front and put Ryan Gore onto the right side of midfield.
In the opening minutes Stirling came out hardest and quickly took the lead within five minutes from a long ball which was flicked on by Wilby to Adam Gore at the back post, who volleyed the ball into the net from close range. The Jets looked to be in shock after the Aces took the early lead which also helped silence the vocal Modbury crowd. The goal then lifted the Jets as they needed nothing less than a win to take the title. The added intensity created a number physical challenges and put more pressure of the back four of Simon Dawe, Josh Goldsworthy, James Laughton and Jean-Pierre Bastouil. Modbury then equalised part way through the half, with a move down the right hand side as a low cross was calmly slotted past a stranded Danny Prince. Following the goal, Coach Alan Evans made a tactical change by switching R. Gore and Bastouil for the remainder of the game. Unfortunately goal scorer A. Gore limped from the field and was replaced by Martin Nitschke after friendly fire in the box from the Gore brothers. The Aces were on the back foot for the remainder of the half as both teams put in a number of late challenges which would have been punished by another referee on another day. The teams went into the break locked at 1-1.
After the break the both teams begun the half at a similar pace as playmakers Matt Hawthorn and Tim Cookes started pulling the strings in the center of the midfield. Stirling then took the lead after some good build up play allowed Sean Lang to pick up the ball and dribble to the edge of the box. His tame shot ended up landing in the muddy goal mouth right in front of the keeper and subsequently went through his legs as the ball skidded through. The Stirling and travelling Cougar crowd celebrated as Modbury once again trailed. However Modbury again hit back 15 minutes later after a dubious off side decision in which the referee and linesman discussed the decision for some time before awarding the goal to the visitors. Not long after Lang was unlucky not to put Stirling ahead from a free header in the six yard box, which ended up straight in the keeper’s arms. This was Lang’s last involvement as he was replaced by Richard Dawes up front. The game was being stretched as Modbury were looking for a winning goal, while Stirling were hitting on the counter. Banter between the Cougar’s and Jets supporters continued throughout the game giving the game a great atmosphere. In the dying seconds of the game as a Modbury player fell in the box and was awarded a penalty. With the league title hanging on this kick, the Modbury opponent calmly curled the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Seconds after the restart the final whistle blew and the Jets players and fans celebrated. Stirling left the field disappointed having believed they earned at least a draw and were unlucky to go down 3-2.
Stirling will be aiming to come back stronger next season and return back to the premier division in 2015. Stirling District Football Club’s senior presentation night will be held on the 27th of September at the clubrooms. Stirling Districts Twilight competition starts on the 15th and 16th of October. For senior and junior team submissions please contact stirlingfc@gmail.com, or stirlingfcjunior@gmail.com.