Floreat Athena’s mid season revival continued with a 3-0 home victory against Swan IC at E&D Litis Stadium. In a largely forgettable first half the highlights were few and far between, but the game came to life in the final ten minutes. Michael Roki’s side opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a long-range strike from James Isaia. On the stroke of half time tempers flared when Athena’s Julian Madaschi and Swans John Mansaray were involved in an incident that ended up in a melee of both teams and their coaching staff. After the break it was the home side that dominated, and if it wasn’t for Swans keeper Daniel Agudelo, who made some outstanding saves, the score line would have been worse for Paul Lincoln’s side. Jovo Pavlovic made it 2-0 tapping home from close-range in the 63rd minute and Miki Vujacic wrapped up the points 12 minutes from time.

Western Knights improved form was dented when they were beaten 3-2 by ECU Joondalup at the ECU University Arena. In perfect conditions it was the home side that opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through Craig Young, and Chris Nicholson’s side lead by that goal at the break. But the Knights hit back two minutes into the second half when David Annall levelled. It was end to end football and the home side regained the lead in the 65th minute when Garin Collins scored. Ronnie Campbell’s side were not finished yet and Annall equalised again for the Knights on 70 minutes. But they weren’t level for long; two minutes later Tommy Jones scored what turned out to be the winner for ECU.

Fremantle Spirit earned their first point at Wauhop Park this season when they held Cockburn City to a 2-2 draw in the local derby. The Cockerels were ahead in the 29th minute when Johnny Mirco fired home to continue his good goal scoring form this season. Their lead lasted only three minutes as David Rodgers levelled for Fremantle. It was a typical derby with chances at both ends, but it was Mirko Jeilcic’s side who regained the lead in the 74th minute, Dominic de Felice scoring. Again Marc Wingell’s side hit back immediately when Cockburn scored an own goal to give the Spirit their third point of the season.      

In Saturday’s late game Perth SC came away from the Hyundai Stadium with all three points after a 3-1 win against Mandurah City. The visitors hit the front on 12 minutes when David Onoforo’s shot was saved by Mike Green but Andreas Oliviera was quickest to react and scored from close-range. It was 2-0 midway through the half when Onoforo scored and Graham Normanton’s side led by that score at the break. Stuart Currie’s side battled hard in the second half and they were back in the game on 75 minutes when former Perth striker Shane Crampton was on target. But the visitors wrapped up the points five minutes later when Oliviera headed in his second to seal the victory.

In Sunday’s game Inglewood United missed the opportunity to go top of the league when they were beaten 4-2 by Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park. The Lions were ahead in the 20th minute when Jordan Rhodes’ pass sent Rory Feely clear, his initial shot was half blocked by keeper Oliver Taseski but the teenager followed up and fired home from close-range. The visitor’s hit back on 37 minutes James Sammut’s shot was cleared off the line by Chris Harland but Michael Baczynski was on hand to fire home from eight-yards. The game changed in the last five minutes of the half when the Lions added two more goals. First Feely and Rhodes combined to send Steve Porter clear and he scored low past Taseski and two minutes later Ludovic Boi added a third.  Inglewood was back in the game on the hour when Dean Evans handled in the area and Mladen Kovacevic converted from the spot. But the points were made safe for the Lions in the 66th minute when Leo Harman fired home from close-range. 

First Team
Armadale 2 (Platten 51’ Pearson 59’) Sorrento 2 (Harnwell 8’ Montgomery 30’); Floreat Athena 3 (Isaia 38’ Pavlovic 63’M.Vujacic78’) Swan IC 0; Fremantle Spirit 2 (Rodgers 31’ OG77’) Cockburn City 2 (Mirco 29’ DeFelice74’); ECU Joondalup 3 (Young 23’ Collins 65’ T.Jones72’) Western Knights 2 (Annall 47’ 70’); Mandurah City 1 (Crampton 78’) Perth SC 3(Oliveira 10’ 85’Onoforo 30’); Stirling Lions 4 (Feely 20’ Porter42’ Boi 44’ Harman 66’) Inglewood United 2 (Kovacevic 62’Baczynski 37’.
Reserves
Armadale 4 Sorrento 0; FW NTC Boys 4 Swan IC 3; Fremantle Spirit 0 Cockburn City 2; ECU Joondalup 4 Western Knights 3; Mandurah City P Perth SC P; Stirling Lions 3 Inglewood United 2.
Under 18’s
Armadale 0 Sorrento 7; Floreat Athena 3 Swan IC 0; Fremantle Spirit Cockburn City ; ECU Joondalup 3 Western Knights 2; Mandurah City P Perth SC P; Stirling Lions 2 Inglewood United 0.

Mandurah faced another one of Perth's football heavyweights in another must win encounter against Perth SC.

Perth were quickest out of the blocks dominating the early exchanges and it was Andrija Jukic and Andres Oliviera who created the first chance of the game with a neat one-two on the edge of the Mandurah penalty area. Oliviera took the return and almost got his shot on target, however, Mandurah keeper, Michael Green, was alert to the danger and was quick off his line to deflect the shot wide.

Perth kept up the pressure and went close again soon afterwards through a free-kick by Gianfranco Circatti that fizzed wide of the upright. Mandurah had failed to heed these early warnings and were 1-0 down on 12 minutes as Perth broke down the right. The ball was cut back for David Onoforo whose shot was saved by Green only for the lurking Oliviera to smash the rebound home.

Perth went further ahead midway through the first half as a long ball from their own half found Onoforo in way too much space. Green was slow coming off his line and Onoforo's deft flick looped over the head of the Mandurah custodian for a 2-0 lead to the visitors.

Mandurah were finally starting to get into the game with striker Phil O'Callaghan having their first real chance but his header from a cross by Jeff Bright went straight into the arms of Perth ‘keeper Gareth Deeg.

Shane Crampton created a chance for the home side just before the break as he made space and time to get an accurate cross to Mandurah's Bright. Bright's shot was well saved by Deeg and Perth went into the break with their 2-0 lead intact.

Mandurah came out for the second half determined to get back into the game and should have achieved it when a long ball from fullback Ryan McDarby found the head of O'Callaghan. O'Callaghan directed his header straight at Deeg, whose superb reaction save maintained Perth's two goal advantage.

Perth were still looking dangerous on the break and Greg Sharland's cross from the right found Naglieri in space only for his deft flick to be saved by Mandurah keeper Green when a goal looked a certainty.

Green was the hero for Mandurah again soon after as he went down quickly to save Naglieri's free-kick which went through a large gap in the Mandurah City defensive wall.

Mandurah did get their goal, and it was the mercurial Shane Crampton who pounced with 15 minutes to go to blast home for the hosts following a poor touch by Michael Icanovski at the heart of the Perth defence.

For the next 5 minutes it looked like Mandurah might get something out of the game, however, Perth finished the game as a contest when with ten minutes left a looping header by Oliviera beat Green for a final and well deserved score line of 3-1 to Perth.

Mandurah team: Green, Cuthbert, Bonser, Wylie, Collins G, McDarby R, Brown A, Bright, O'Callaghan, McCulloch, Crampton

Subs: Loreto for Cuthbert, Paschkewitz for McCuloch and Hesketh for Brown.

Perth SC: Deeg, Kay, Circati, Icanovski, Jukic, Howarth, Onoforo, Oliviera, Lord, Naglieri, Sharland
Subs: Madaschi (RGK), Price, Lujan, Campbell, Human

Floreat Athena moved up to second spot on the Football West Premier League table after a comprehensive 3-0 win against Swan IC at the E&D Litis Stadium.

It was a lacklustre start by both sides on a bumpy surface which wasn’t conducive to a free flowing game. The early chances were few and far between, Athena’s Miki Vujacic’s cross from the right on six minutes was inches away from James Isaia at the back post, while Damian Scali headed over from a Danyal Bennett cross for the Swans two minutes later.

Athena was the more productive going forward and should have taken the lead on 15 minutes, Miki Vujacic was again the provider, his free kick found Isaia five-yards out but he blazed over. The Swans were struggling to break down Athena’s defence which was well marshalled by Ante Kovacevic, Alex Cocking had the best chance after he was found on the edge of the box by Scali but he fired well wide. 

The game came to life in the final ten minutes of the half, with Athena taking the lead. A free kick from the half way line from Jarred Smith fell to Isaia on the edge of the box, he wasn’t closed down and his low shot flew past Daniel Agudelo into the bottom corner of the net.

It was almost 2-0 two minutes later; Smith’s great ball found Daniel Niderberger whose first time shot was superbly saved by Agudelo at full stretch. On the stroke of half time tempers flared, when Athena’s Julian Madaschi and Swans John Mansaray were involved in an incident that ended in a melee made up of both sets of players and their coaching staff. It remained 1-0 at the break to the home side.

The visitors suffered a blow at the break with Scali limping off; he was replaced by Andy O’Neill. But it was Athena who was dominating and went close to increasing their lead on 50 minutes. A free kick from Branimir Mikulic on the edge of the box was charged down by the Swans wall and Dean Apelgren’s long-range follow up shot looked destined for the top corner of the net, but Agudelo produced a stunning save to tip it around the post. 

The Swans threatened briefly when Cocking was sent clear by a long clearance from Agudelo, but the youngster delayed his shot and Jovo Pavlovic was able to block his effort. Agudelo was in the action again on the hour tipping away Apelgren’s shot from 18-yards but three minutes later Athena doubled their lead. Miki Vujacic’s corner from the left was punched by Agudelo, but it fell kindly to Pavlovic who fired home from close-range.

It was just reward for Athena and Pavlovic, who had been superb all game and Athena’s job was made a little easier when the Swans were reduced to ten men on 74 minutes. Bennett, who had only been booked two minutes earlier, was sent off by referee Taran after receiving a second yellow.

The ten man Swans rallied and Vas Vujacic had to be alert to punch clear a Dom Ando free kick off the head of Aaron Cole on 80 minutes, but the points were wrapped up sixty seconds later. A defence splitting ball from Isaia sent former Swans’ midfielder Miki Vujacic clear and he finished clinically past Agudelo to make it 3-0, and give Michael Roki’s side their eighth win of the season.

Teams
Floreat Athena – GK Vas Vujacic, Pavlovic, Madaschi, Kovacevic, Apelgren, Vatistas, Isaia (Contera 83), Miki Vujacic (Novatsis 86), Jarred Smith (Bachiller 77), Mikulic, Niederberger
Subs not used – Dunn, Migas,
Yellow Cards – Madaschi 42, Contera 91)

Swan IC – GK Agudelo, Bennett, McNally, Cole, Ando, Knox, Perich, Scali (O’Neill 45), Mansaray, Cocking, Mason
Subs not used – Hugo, Monterosso, Baczynski, Marshall
Yellow Cards – Perich 10, Scali 15, Cocking 37, Bennett 72, 74

Referee – T. Taran   

Inglewood miss out on top spot
Peter Simcox

Inglewood United missed the opportunity to go to the top of the Football West Premier League table when they were beaten 4-2 by Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park on Sunday afternoon.

The home side opened the game the better and after only 30 seconds Leo Harman found space in the box, but he fired wide. On eight minutes teenage striker Rory Feely was sent clear by Jordan Rhodes’ pass but his shot went inches past the post.

Inglewood steadied and created their first opportunity on 10 minutes Kevin Griffiths low shot was saved by Phil Straker, moments later a Mladen Kovacevic lob landed on top of the net and Michael Baczynski’s long-range shot went the wrong side of the post.

But against the run of play the Lions hit the front on 20 minutes, Jordan Rhodes’ defence splitting ball sent Rory Feely clear, his initial shot was half blocked by keeper Oliver Taseski, but the teenager followed up and fired home from close-range.

The goal seemed to kick the visitors into action and James Sammut played Baczynski in on goal but Straker was out bravely to save at the midfielder’s feet. Lee Bamber’s side continued to dominate and it was only a matter of time before they equalised. The Lions failed to clear a free kick, and Sammut’s shot was cleared off the line by Chris Harland, Baczynski was quickest to react, and he fired home from eight-yards to make it 1-1 in the 37th minute.

The game took another twist with the Lions scoring two quick goals in the last five minutes of the half. First a great move was started and finished by Steve Porter on 42 minutes, he found Rhodes who in turn found Feely, his flick sent the little midfielder in on goal and he finished low past Taseski. Then two minutes later it was 3-1, Feely was the provider again. His pass sent Ludovic Boi clear and he finished clinically past Taseski.

Inglewood showed their intensions early in the second half as they laid siege to the Lions’ goal. Mladen Kovacevic was found by a Jason Colli cross from the right, but Straker was alert to save. While Sammut’s low shot was just wide after good approach work from John Davite. The Lions hit on the counter-attack with Rhodes in the thick of the action, he was sent clear by Porter’s through ball but Taseski saved low down.

The game was end-to-end with good referring from Michael Tolmie, who let the game flow. The visitors were had a chance to get back in the game on 62 minutes when Dean Evans handled in the area and Tolmie pointed straight to the spot. Mladen Kovacevic kept his nerve sending Straker the wrong way to make it 3-2. 

With the chance to go top of the table in their sights Inglewood were now dominating, and Daniel Kovacevic headed wide two minutes later. But the Lions refused to take a backward step and they increased their lead on 66 minutes. Great work down the right from Boi, who beat Davite and crossed into the box, Taseski spilled the cross and Harman was on hand to fire home from close-range.

There were chances at both ends late in the game; Inglewood’s Kevin Griffiths’ shot was saved by Straker, while Boi’s shot on 82 minutes crashed off the woodwork for the Lions. But it was the Lions who ran out 4-2 winners to prevent Inglewood from going top of the league.

Lions Coach Michael Lyons was delighted with his team’s performance. “It was good win for us today. We’ve had to make a number of changes to the line up and we finished the game with teenagers in all defensive and attacking positions, which is good for the club in the long run,” said Lyons. “I thought Jordan Rhodes was good today, a bit of quality always shines through, and he is the sort of player we miss and were glad to have him back from his work commitments.”

Inglewood Coach Lee Bamber was disappointed with the performance of his side. “We made too many individual errors today, and they were quicker to the ball than us. It was just one of those days for us, a couple of deflections went against us, but taking nothing away from the Lions they were up for it today and deserved the win.”

Teams
Stirling Lions – GK Straker, Feely, Pugliese, Rhodes, Boi (Clevenger 87), Porter, Harman (Gedess 79) , Muir, Evans, Rutherford, Harland
Subs Not Used – Bentley, Italiano, Hesketh,

Inglewood United – GK Taseski, Pryce, Davite (Aguirre 67), Baczynski, Kevin Griffiths, Whiteside, Sammut, Colli (Picker 82) , Duncan (D. Kovacevic 45), M. Kovacevic
Subs not used – Italiano, Stamitadis

Referee – Michael Tolmie