Report by Peter Simcox

Bayswater City made it back-to-back Night Series Final victories when they beat fellow National Premier Leagues WA side Floreat Athena 2-0 at Dorrien Gardens last night.

Goals either side of half-time from striker Steve Burton were the difference in an entertaining game played in front of a big crowd.

Bayswater skipper Trent Kay was understandably delighted with the result and praised Floreat for their role in a tense contest.

“Floreat played well and made it difficult for us but I thought we deserved the win in the end,” Kay said. “We looked good going forward and kept it tight at the back.”

The captain said Bayswater’s aim was to reproduce their Night Series form in the new NPL WA season, which kicks off next weekend.

“It’s great for the club to go back-to-back in this competition but it doesn’t stop there,” he said. “We’re looking to continue our form into the new NPL season and look to go back-to-back in that too.”

It was a bright opening with both sides going close in the opening five minutes. First Bayswater midfielder Todd Howarth picked out James Isaia, whose cross from the left was headed wide by Burton, then two minutes later Floreat striker David Heagney played in Ludovic Boi, whose long-range shot was saved by Devon Spence.

Floreat, who were looking for their first Night Series win since 2011, took the game to Bayswater. Ashley Corker’s shot from the edge of the penalty area on the quarter hour flashed over the top and Callum Fransz did likewise from a free-kick five minutes later.

As the half neared its end, ended Bayswater began to dictate terms and Yousri Gharsallah had to be alert to tip over Mark Walsh’s attempted clearance from Isaia’s cross. The pressure was rewarded on 39 minutes with the lead.

Burton raced into the penalty area and fell under a tackle from Corker and referee David Costello pointed straight to the penalty spot. It looked a little harsh but a pull of the shirt from the Floreat midfielder was the decision. Burton sent Gharsallah the wrong way to give Bayswater the lead at the break.

Bayswater were fast out of the blocks in the second half and went close again four minutes in. Isaia played in Burton and the former Crawley Town striker’s shot crashed off the foot of the post before his follow-up shot was deflected wide by Walsh.

It was still anyone’s game and Floreat went close to the equaliser on 53 minutes. Aryn Williams sent second half substitute Jamie Eames racing clear but Spence was out bravely to save at the feet of the striker.

The decisive second goal came just before the hour mark. Jamie Coyne picked out the overlapping Adam Bachiller, whose cross to the back post found Burton, who headed past Gharsallah.

It could have been 3-0 on 68 minutes. Danny Dixon’s low cross from the left was fired wide of the target by Paul McCarthy from close-range.

To Floreat’s credit, they continued to press Bayswater. Heagney headed straight at Spence from Boi’s free-kick on 75 minutes, before Boi’s rasping shot late crashed off the crossbar and away to safety.    

Bayswater assistant coach Stewart Moses conceded that Floreat had been a tough nut to crack.

“It’s a Grand Final and both sides went for it,” Moses said. “But credit to them, they set up pretty well and we found it difficult to break them down in the first half.

 “(In the) second half we moved the ball a lot quicker, and we scored a great second goal. Now we move on to the new NPL season next week against Armadale.”

Football West Night Series Final
Bayswater City 2 (Burton 40’, 58’)
Floreat Athena 0
Saturday 1st March 2014
Dorrien Gardens, West Perth

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 3 Adam BACHILLER, 6 Todd HOWARTH, 8 Paul MCCARTHY, 12 Steve BURTON (2 Declan HARGREAVES 86’), 13 Trent KAY (C), 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie COYNE, 18 James ISAIA (5 Andy REALE 90’), 21 Adrian CACERES (14 Danny DIXON 54’), 23 Chris SALDARIS
Subs not used: RGK Joel DRISCOLL, 4 John KEARNEY
Yellow cards: Saldaris 35’, McCarthy 43’, Spence 80’

Floreat Athena: GK Yousri GHARSALLAH, 2 Blair GOVAN, 5 Cameron YORKE (3 Jack ALLEN 68’), 6 Aryn WILLIAMS, 8 Zedenick BEZDEK, 11 David HEAGNEY, 12 Mark WALSH, 14 Ludovic BOI (C), 16 Mwasna MUSONDA (15 Jamie EAMES 46’), 17 Callum FRANSZ, 23 Ashley CORKER
Substitutes: RGK Tom DIXON, 18 Andrew SCADAFERRO, 19 Sam BARBAS
Yellow cards: Corker 39’, Boi 71’

Attendance: 800

Referee: David Costello
Assistants: Mathew Cheeseman and Stuart Muldoon
Fourth Official: David Bruce