Report by Peter Simcox

Striker Jamie Eames scored the winner as Floreat Athena ground out a hard fought 2-1 win against Stirling Lions in a National Premier Leagues WA Rivalry Round match at E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday.

The English striker’s goal, which came moments after Daniel Micevski had levelled for the Lions, was fair reward for his role in an impressive partnership with fellow import striker Lewis McMahon, who had opened the scoring on the hour.

Pictured: Stirling's David Micevski takes on Mark Walsh. Photo: Peter Simcox.

“We showed a lot of heart and character in the second half, and it showed in the end with a good result,” Eames said.

“It’s nice to pop up with the winner but I thought we gave them to much room in the first half and we really weren’t in it. But we made a few changes at the break and it paid off.”

It has been a tumultuous time at Floreat in recent weeks with two coaches moving on. But interim coach Glenn Grostate feels the players are working hard to turn around the club’s fortunes.

“We were really struggling in the first half and they played well but we made a few adjustments at half-time and we showed some fight after the break and got our rewards,” Grostate said.

“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs at this football club. But I’m finding they’re a great bunch of lads and are fighting for each other and I’m really proud of them all.”

The visitors ran the show in the first half with keeper Tom Dixon keeping his side in the game with some stunning saves. He had to be alert after only six minutes when Clayton Arnez’s cross picked out the unmarked Hayden Doyle, who’s first-time shot was well saved by the Floreat custodian.

It was one-way traffic with the Lions dominating. Phil Arnold and Dean Evans saw shots flash over the top before Dixon saved superbly to deny Miki Vujacic’s free-kick and Jovo Pavlovic’s follow up shot went wide.

The Lions were again on top at the start of the second half and when Vujacic’s corner was punched clear by Dixon it fell to Andy Brown, whose volley crashed off a post and away to safety.

Floreat began to settle with Ludovic Boi and Aryn Williams taking control in the middle of the park and they went close to the opener on 56 minutes. Eames slipped the ball into McMahon, whose shot was superbly saved by Aleks Vrteski.

Moments later Jack Allen burst into the penalty area and was one-on-one with Vrteski but the Lions custodian stood tall to deny him. The pressure was rewarded with the opening goal on the hour.

A ball over the top from Williams sent on McMahon, who held off Brown before sublimely lobbing Vrteski.

The visitors needed to hit back immediately and 10 minutes later Arnez broke down the right and cut back the ball back to Doyle, who fired wide from 8m.

But Stirling were level on 77 minutes. Brown won the ball in the middle of the park and fed Evans, who played in substitute Moses Kalau down the left. His cross found Daniel Micevski, who fired low past Dixon.

Floreat’s response was instant. Allen’s ball over the top sent Eames racing clear and he finished past Vrteski.

With the Lions pressing late, Floreat had their backs to the wall but 17-year-old Kye Douglas, who was making his debut in the first team, skipper Callum Fransz and Mark Walsh stood firm at the back.

Floreat Athena 2 (McMahon 60’, Eames 78’)
Stirling Lions 1 (Daniel Micevski 77’)
Sunday 29th June 2014
E&D Litis Stadium, Mount Hawthorn
Attendance: 250
Referee: Mathew Cheeseman
Assistant: Ammar Timour and Scott Ferguson
 
Floreat Athena: GK Tom DIXON, 2 Blair GOVAN, 3 Jack ALLEN, 8 Kye DOUGLAS,  9 Jamie EAMES, 10 Aryn WILLIAMS, 14 Ludovic BOI, 17 Callum FRANSZ, 15 Andrew SCALDAFERRO,  20 Lewis MCMAHON, 33 Mark WALSH
Substitutes not used: RGK Yousari GHARASALLAH, 12 John THORNLEY, 13 Jordan DOROPOULOS, 16 Ashley CORKER, 19 Shane NUNES
Yellow cards: Allen 61’

Stirling Lions: GK Aleks VRTESKI, 2 Rikki SMITH, 4 Jovo PAVLOVIC, 5 Dean EVANS, 6 Hayden DOYLE, 7 Miki VUJACIC (15 Moses KALAU 71’), 8 Andrew BROWN,  9 Daniel MICEVSKI, 10 David MICEVSKI, 11 Phil ARNOLD (13 Jack SALTER 71’), 14 Clayton ARNEZ (3 Ali GHOULAMI 83’)
Substitutes not used: RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 12 Daniel DOLS
Yellow cards: Nil