By Bianca Niederberger

Floreat Athena responded from an early deficit to overwhelm ECU Joondalup 4-1 at the ECU Football Stadium on Saturday.

Joondalup were in front after just four minutes thanks to Danny Dixon but Lewis McMahon leveled before Ludovic Boi, Blair Goven and Andrew Scaldaferro sealed the deal.

Floreat were first to threaten when McMahon’s free-kick looked to be heading to the top top corner before goalkeeper Andy Banks got his fingertips to the ball.

But it was the home side who hit the front after just four minutes when the combination of Jon and Andy Higgins worked the ball to Dixon, who beat two men and slotted the ball past keeper Tom Dixon from a tight angle.

Floreat had plenty of chances to equalise as Jamie Eames, Boi and McMahon dictated the play without finding the target until Boi slipped away from his man and onto a loose ball in the 19th minute. He then set up McMahon, who scored from close range.

Despite the addition of ECU’s speedy Henry Durr, chances were few and far between for the home side. It was all Floreat with chance after chance going begging before a second half onslaught.

Second-half substitute Tommy Amphlett gave ECU innovation up front and early momentum – his deflected shot was turned in by Jon Stynes but was ruled out for offside - before the tide turned.

The combination of Boi and McMahon paid dividends in the 54th minute when McMahon flicked the ball into the path of Boi, who struck from close range to finally give Floreat the advantage.

Just two minutes later McMahon spotted Govan alone and in space out to the left and he timed his strike perfectly.

With Govan, McMahon and Boi continuing to put pressure on a wavering ECU defence, it was not long before they broke through again. An initial strike from Boi hit the near post and deflected out to Scaldaferro, who was able to convert from an impressive distance, sealing the game for Floreat.

ECU Joondalup  1 (Dixon 4’)
Floreat Athena 4 (McMahon 19’, Boi 54’, Goven 58’, Scaldaferro 66’)
Saturday 21st June, 2014
ECU Stadium
Attendance: approx. 120
Kick Off: 3:00pm
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistant Referees: Pedro Vasquez, Simon Hicks

ECU Joondalup: 1. Andy BANKS, 2.Ryan LOWRY, 3. Jon HIGGINS, 4. Charlie COMYN-PLATT, , 6. Jon STYNES, 7. Henry DURR, 8. Joe SMITH (5. Ryan TOWNSEND 45’), 10. Andy HIGGINS, 11. Danny DIXON, 14. Jake BENSON-COOPER (Ryan McDARBY 62’), 19. Stuart MONTGOMERY (13. Tommy AMPHLETT 45’).

Substitutes not used: 9. David FOSTER, 21. Jamie SERRA
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil

Floreat Athena: 1. Tom DIXON, 3. Jaca ALLEN, 19. Bobby WILSON, 17. Callum FRANZ, 10. Aryn WILLIAMS,5. Andrew SCALDAFERRO (6. Kye DOUGLAS 83’), 14. Ludovic BOI (8. Jordan DOROPOULOS 88’), 2. Blair GOVAN, 20. Lewis MCMAHON, 9. Jamie EAMES, 33. Mark WALSH

Substitutes not used: 99. Yousari GHARASALLAH, 16. Hakim REZAIE, 15. Josh CHIVELL
Yellow cards: Jaca ALLEN 45’, Lewis McMAHON 67’,
Red cards: Nil