Athena survive Stirling surge

Report by Tommy Doleman

Ludovic Boi scored twice as Floreat Athena edged Stirling Lions 3-2 to move within five points of the top of the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA.

The hosts dominated the first half as Boi’s pair and Phil Arnold’s tap-in gave Athena what seemed to be an unassailable 3-0 lead at the break.

David Micevski’s screamer set Stirling alight in the final 10 minutes, but they left their run a little too late, despite pulling another back through Airmoson Garley.

The win capped off a good week for Athena after they lifted the Cool Ridge Cup last weekend and coach Glen Grostate was relieved to hold onto the win with a Westfield FFA Cup tie against Melbourne City looming large.

“We had to come here and get the three points today even though we had one eye on Tuesday night,” he said.

“It was important to win today to keep pushing for the finals and with the top two in Perth and Inglewood losing today it’s definitely game on.”

Grostate also said his players were full of belief and confident they can cause their A-League opponents some problems in what will be a tremendous night for the club.

“We’ve come into this game off the back of an unbeaten run with a trophy in the cabinet already and we’re playing good football,” he said.

“Now we get to play Melbourne City, who are one of the best teams in Australia, and we will go out there and give it a good old crack.

“They’re supposed to win. They have to win. But anything is possible in a cup game.”

The hosts were quick out of the blocks and led after just seven minutes when Jon Stynes raced down the left and squared for Arnold to score from inside goal area.

Stirling responded well, though, and their best chance came to Brodie Martin, who was unmarked but headed over 6m.

Floreat then doubled their lead when the visitors were enjoying their best spell of the game, as Boi raced onto Dean Evans’ through ball and clipped past the goalkeeper.

Six minutes before half time it was 3-0. Stynes superbly laid off another Evans pass to an onrushing Boi, who showed super technique to volley crisply into the far corner.

Stirling’s task was even harder when they reduced to 10 men on the hour mark as Blamo QuaQua was sent off for his reaction to a challenge with Blair Govan.

But Athena dropped off, seemingly with one eye on that glamour tie this week, and with nine minutes to play Micevski unleashed a contender for goal of the season.

The former Perth Glory man had his back to goal 25m out, before controlling with his chest, swiveling and volleying over a helpless Jordan Barbas.

Teeboy Kamara heightened Floreat’s anxiety in the shadows of second half stoppage time with a tap-in to further reduce the arrears.

But Floreat would hold firm to register a confidence boosting win, which puts them right in the mix for the finals positions.

Floreat Athena 3 (Arnold 7mins, Boi 24, 38)
Stirling Lions 2 (David Micevski 80, Garley 88’)
Saturday July 30, 2016
Litis Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Josh Mannella

Floreat Athena: GK. Jordan BARBAS, 2. Shaun TIMMINS (20. Robert GASPER 60’), 3. Blair GOVAN, 8. Jon STYNES (10. Kris GATE 85’), 11. Dennis GALAN, 14. Ludovic BOI, 15. Christopher SALDARIS, 17. Dean EVANS, 18. Phil ARNOLD (6. Clayton ARNEZ 45’), 19. Lewis MCMAHON, 33. Cameron YORKE.
Substitutes not used: RGK. Jason SALDARIS, 5. Bobby WILSON
Yellow cards: Arnold 41’, Timmins 51’,
Red cards: Nil

Stirling Lions: GK: John PERKINS, 3. Lukas DE LIMA (7. Milorad VUJACIC 60’), 4. Blamo QuaQua, 5. Graham DORAN, 6. Brodie MARTIN, 8. David SESAY, 9. Jamie GIBSON (17. Airmoson GARLEY 69’), 10. Daniel MICEVSKI (12. Benjamin CAMPBELL 90’), 11. David MICEVSKI, 15. Shane CASSIDY, 16. Mathiang MATHIANG.
Substitutes not used: RGK: Connor CAMPBELL, 13. William KESSEL, Armoson GARLEY
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: QuaQua 59’




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