21.02.2010

Report by Chris Correia

Western Knights recruit Paul Van Dongen has scored an injury-time winner to send his side through to the Semi Finals of the Bam Creative Night Series after a pulsating 2-1 win at E&D Litis Stadium.

The match seemed destined for a penalty shootout to decide who would go through to the next stage of the pre-season competition, but the former Canning City captain stepped up when it counted most to send an expert header into the back of the net past Athena ‘keeper Alex Dunn.

Stuart Montgomery and Daniel Micevski gave the Knights a promising start with early shots on goal that tested Dunn in the opening stages.

It didn't take long for the first goal to be scored, when Montgomery's deflected free kick somehow went into the back of the net after richocheting off an Athena player and travelling through a sea of players to bamboozle Dunn as he trailed back towards goal moments too late.

Floreat star John Migas tried to lift his side with a low drive in the first half, but Knights ‘keeper Frazer Siddall was equal to the task.

Defender James Isaia was lively for Athena, stepping up at set pieces and proving to be somewhat of a dead ball specialist, causing the Knights defence all kinds of problems.

His first effort curled around the wall and into the right goalpost, before another set piece moments later went towards the bottom left of the goal before Siddall's fingertip save helped the ball out for a corner.

A quick-fire David Micevski effort looked promising but travelled just wide of the near post as the 2009 Gold Medal winner tried to double his side's advantage.

Johnny Mirco tried hard to equalise just before half time, with his initial shot blocked by Siddall and the follow-up effort from a tight angle on the left missed the target altogether.

Isaia then rose to the occasion in the second half to bring Floreat on level terms, with a clinical header at the back post rocketing past Siddall.

Both sides had chances to win it right at the end, with Migas just missing a set piece by inches in the closing stages and substitute Anthony Campbell blasting his effort from close range way over the crossbar.

Van Dongen then brought the Athena crowd to a standstill when his header of a Floreat defender went to right into the top corner of the net, looping over Dunn to secure victory.

Check out www.footballwest. n Monday afternoon for all the match highlights and post match interview with Knights coach Paul Price.

Floreat Athena: GK Alex DUNN, 3 James ISAIA, 4 Julian MADASCHI, 5 John MIRCO, 8 Adam BACHILLER, 9 Daniel NEIDERBERGER, 12 Branimir MIKULIC, 13 John MIGAS, 15 Paul VATISTAS, 16 Jovo PAVLOVIC, 22 Dean APELGREN

Substitutes not used: RGK Simon MADASCHI, 2 Jarad SMITH, 6 Milorad VUJACIC, 10 Jason BARRERA, 18 Mo ATAK

Western Knights: GK Frazer SIDDALL, 2 Garth LECKY, 3 Duncan HIND, 4 Paul VAN DONGEN, 5 Dave ANNALL, 7 Daniel MICEVSKI, 8 Daniel TRIM, 9 Simon VERSAICO, 10 David MICEVSKI, 12 Daanial FRANCIS (15 Francis ODONG 50'), 19 Stuart MONTGOMERY

Substitutes not used: RGK Grant HEARD, 11 Anthony CAMPBELL, 13 Marco WARMT-MURRAY, 14 Ryan SHACKLETON