Floreat Athena’s poor start to the season continued today when they were held 0-0 by Swan IC at Francis Street in round two of the Football West Premier Division. In fact they had keeper Vas Vujacic to thank for keeping a point, he made three great saves to deny the black and whites.

Athena opened the brighter and in unfamiliar colours of black and gold, and from Miki Vujacic cross on eight minutes Garin Collins was in on goal but Cory Hugo was out quick to save.

The visitors were totally dominating and the Swans defence were working overtime, on 14 minutes Raphael Insuralde and John Migas combined well, and Migas’ shot from eight-yards that looked destined for the net was blocked by David McNally.

After the early onslaught the Swans settled and their first chance came on 22 minutes Damian Scali found John Mansaray but a superb last ditch tackle from Julian Madaschi cleared the danger. Athena almost handed the lead to the Swans on 25 minutes Vas Vujacic’s attempted clearance was charged down by Scali the rebound was collected gratefully by Ante Kovacevic.

It was an open game now with chances at both ends, Dom Ando’s cross was flicked towards goal by Mansaray but Vas Vujacic saved, and then Ando had to be alert down the other end to clear an Insuralde shot of the line after good work on the left by Collins.

The Swans faithful were shouting for a penalty when Alex Cocking fell in the box after a challenge from Kovacevic but referee Mathew Cheeseman waved away the claims.

The home side finished the half the better and had the best chances of the game, on 43 minutes David Perich’s inch perfect pass sent Mansaray clear, but with only the keeper to beat the youngster blazed over. Then in first half injury-time Perich found Brendan Knox whose first time shot from 10-yards was superbly tipped over by Vas Vujacic.

Athena began the second half well, but again lacked the final ball and it was the home side that carved out the best early chance, Michael Tronchin’s ball found Perich on 53 minutes and the midfielder’s surging run took him clear, his shot beat Vujacic but went inches past the post.

The game was end-to-end with chances for both sides, first Branimir Mikulic’s 20-yard shot flicked the outside of the post on 58 minutes for the visitors, and two minutes later Scali flicked on Cory Hugo’s free kick, and Perich’s shot from four-yards was superbly saved by Vas Vujacic. 

It was anyone’s game and when Collins skipped away from Ando down the right his cross found Migas at the back post whose header was pushed around the post by the alert Cory Hugo.

Athena should have taken the lead in the 76th minute a superb ball from Adam Bachiller sent Mikulic clear on goal, his first touch was good but his weak shot was straight at Cory Hugo. Back came the Swans and from a long ball from Justin Hugo moments later, that caused panic in the Athena defence,  Alex Cocking won possession off Kovacevic and his powerful shot was again superbly saved by Vas Vujacic.

A second yellow card to Dean Aplegren meant Athena had to play the last few minutes with ten men but they still could have won it in the third minute of injury-time. A long ball into the box by Bachiller found Mickulic, the striker controlled the ball well but his snap shot flew inches past the post.

Teams

Swan IC – GK Cory Hugo, Justin Hugo, Ando, McNally, Cole, Scali, Tronchin, Perich, Mansaray, Scali, Cocking (Mason 86)

Subs not used – Agudelo, Monterosso, Paone

Floreat Athena – GK Vas Vujacic, Madaschi, Kovacevic, Mikulic, Migas, Bachiller, Collins, Aplegren, Foster (Vatistas 75), Miki Vujacic, Insuralde

Subs not used – Dunn, Contera, Pavlovic

Referee – Mathew Cheeseman 

Peter Simcox,