Report by Jayden Lihou

Floreat Athena have climbed up to second on the PS4 NPLWA ladder after a 4-1 victory over Subiaco at Rosalie Park on Saturday.

The scores were level at half-time but two goals in two minutes from Floreat in the second period guaranteed them all three points.

Floreat coach Glen Grostrate said he was happy with the performance of his undermanned squad.

“The three points is always fantastic, we all know that we are undermanned but we fought hard today so hats off the boys,” he said.

“Subiaco have been playing really well lately, they beat Stirling and Balcatta in recent weeks and that wouldn’t have been an easy feat, so credit to them they gave us a run but we just overtook them in the end.

“When you don’t really have a good bench, you put a lot of pressure on the starting 11, and until we get our players back every game is going to be a fight, but the boys played well today.”

The away side got off to the best possible start when striker Bobby Wilson scored in the 6th minute of the match.

After a scramble for the ball in the box, the ball fell to Wilson whose strike found the back of the net.

Subiaco equalised in the 31st minute thanks to a David Perich cross which found defender Stefan Hill who headed the ball past the keeper.

Floreat had a golden opportunity to restore their lead in the 40th minute when they were awarded a penalty after a handball in the box.

Jonathan Stynes stepped up to take the spot-kick however his effort was saved by keeper Ryan Montgomery.

The away side had to wait until 66th minute before taking the lead again when Kristopher Gate scored from just outside the box.

It only got worse for Subiaco as they conceded two minutes later when a low cross from Shaun Timmins made its way to Stynes, making no mistake.

After a long period of pressure from the home-side, Floreat removed all uncertainty of the outcome when they made it 4-1 in the 92nd minute.

Joe Tweats played a through ball to fellow substitute Andrew Scaldaferro who found the bottom corner from inside the box.

Subiaco player-coach Ian McMurray said he was very disappointed with the result but didn’t think the 4-1 score line was a fair reflection of the match.

“The boys are gutted at the moment because right from the first whistle we just never turned up today,” he said.

“At one-all it was a close affair, but a lack of concentration and the two quick goals from them killed us today.

“We are playing ECU next week, so if we go about our business like we have been in the previous two weeks I’m confident we can bounce back.”

Subiaco 1 (Hill 32min)
Floreat Athena 4 (Wilson 6min, Gate 66, Stynes 68, Scaldaferro 90+2)
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Rosalie Park
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Tom Glavovic
Assistant Referees: Joshua Nixon, Mark Watkins

Subiaco: GK. Ryan MONTGOMERY, 7. John LOCKHART (3. Ger FITZGERALD 69’), 8. Mike LAWSON, 11. Carlin FEELY, 12. Nathan SMITH, 13. Jordan CANDISH (10. Robbie HARDING 76’), 14. Ross JARMAN, 15. Henock BUTSHIRE (16. Ian MCMURRAY 64’), 17. Alex CASTIELLO 18. David PERICH, 19. Stefan HILL.
Substitutes not used: 6. Andy LESTER, 21. Nic SPECA
Yellow Cards: Perich 47min
Red Cards: nil

Floreat Athena: GK. Jordan BARBAS, 2. Shaun TIMMINS, 3. Clayton ARNEZ, 5. Bobby WILSON (20. Joe TWEATS 79’), 6. Jesse FULLER, 8. Jonathan STYNES, 10. Kristopher GATE, 11. Dennis GALAN, 12. Jackson MORGAN, 13. Zelfy NAZARY (4. Andrew SCALDAFERRO 59’), 17. Dean EVANS (C)
Substitutes not used: 16. Ryan MALTON, 33. Juma AWAKA, 99. Aidan HOLLOUAT
Yellow Cards: nil
Red Cards: nil