Report by Peter Simcox

Pictured above: Floreat celebrate the win. Photo: Peter Simcox.

Floreat Athena won the 2015 PS4 National Premier Leagues WA Night Series Final with a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Cockburn City at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday.  

Lewis McMahon had given Floreat the lead midway through the second half but a late equaliser from Cockburn striker Rory Paterson sent the teams to penalties.

Athena were indebted to substitute keeper Nicholas Felekis, who denied Paterson to win the shoot-out.

Athena coach Glen Grostate was thrilled for Felekis, who had replaced Fraser Greenwood at half time, after the former Perth Glory Youth keeper broke a finger.

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"It’s a blow for Fraser breaking his finger, but hats off to Nicholas," Grostate said. "He's a Division Two amateur keeper, who doesn’t train.

"I thought he was great for us tonight when he came on.”

Grostate said they were lucky to still be in the game after a good first half performance from Cockburn, but he was proud of his side's battling display.

“They were good early and we had to fight hard to stay in the game, but we’re a new group and we’ve decided whatever happens tonight we would stick to our plan," he said. "We were strong and the team bond we have is fantastic.

“Aryn (Williams) was outstanding at the back for us today. He was rock solid for me and we’re really pleased to get the win and look forward to the new league season.”

English striker McMahon said his side had to dig deep but their second-half performance was top draw, creating the better clear-cut chances. 

“I thought both sides had a fair crack at it and we're happy to come out on top," McMahon said.

“The goal was well created, Blair (Govan) did ever so well down the left and I was lucky enough to put it past Curtis Aspden.”

There was a big crowd on hand at kick off and it was Cockburn who dominated the early exchanges.

Conor Kavanagh and Devon Gibson fired wide, before on 20 minutes Williams got back with a last ditch tackle to deny Cockburn striker Liam Murray.

Cockburn skipper Eamon McNelis was pulling the strings in the middle of the park as they continued to dominate, while Williams was outstanding at the heart of the Floreat defence.

After the early onslaught Floreat steadied and on the half hour they had a strong penalty claim turned down by referee David Bruce, after Floreat skipper Ludovic Boi was bundled down in the box by Euen Grant.

Floreat ended the half the better and Gibson had to be alert to get back to deny Kris Gate, before Blair Govan’s curling shot flashed just wide of the post.

Floreat made a double change at half time with injured keeper Greenwood replaced by Felekis, while Bobby Wilson replaced the injured Kris Gate. 

They started the second half as they finished the first, and were rewarded with the opener on 56 minutes.

Robbie Gaspar began the move playing Govan down the left-hand channel, and his low-cross was turned home by McMahon from 8m.

After dominating, Cockburn were now chasing the game but Floreat were in no mood to let it slip, and Felekis saved well to deny Paterson’s glancing header on 79 minutes.

With Cockburn pushing men forward they almost conceded a second on 86 minutes, but Curtis Aspden saved low from Boi’s shot.

The Cockburn custodian then saved Tom Allen’s shot from the edge of the penalty area.

It looked all over, but in the second minute of stoppage time Cockburn found the equaliser. 

Kavanagh’s free kick fell to Gibson, whose shot was saved by Felekis, but Paterson was quickest to react to fire home the rebound from close-range. 

There was still time for Floreat to win it and Clayton Arnez’s deep cross picked out McMahon at the back post. His header beat Aspden but Jonathan Corness cleared the ball off the line, and it was off to the penalty shoot-out.

All players converted their spot kicks but with the tenth penalty Felekis saved to win it for Floreat.

After the game Boi was presented with the ‘Robbie Dunn Medal’ as the best player on the ground.   

PS4 National Premier League WA Night Series Final
Cockburn City 1 (Paterson 92 mins)
Floreat Athena 1 (McMahon 56 mins)
Saturday 21^st March 2015
Venue: Percy Doyle Reserve, Duncraig
Referee: David Bruce
Assistants: Stuart Muldoon and Tom Dowle
Fourth Official: Matt Southern

Cockburn City: GK Curtis ASPDEN, 3 Jonathan CORNESS, 4 Euen GRANT, 5 Alan CARROLL, 6 Craig TONE (16 Julian TELES 81’), 7 Friday ZICO (13 Blake ADAMS 75’), 8 Liam MURRAY (10 Rory PATERSON 66’), 11 Devon GIBSON, 12 Fiesal ZAW, 14 Conor KAVANAGH, 17 Eamon MCNELIS (c)
Subs not used: RGK Dejan ALEKSIC, 2 Josh KUSER
Yellow Cards: Nil

Floreat Athena: GK Fraser GREENWOOD (RGK Nicholas FELEKIS 46’), 2 Blair GOVAN (15 Anthony BAFOBUSHA 76’),  3 Jack ALLEN, 4 Aryn WILLIAMS, 6 Clayton ARNEZ, 8 Robbie GASPAR, 11 Dennis GALAN, 12 Kris GATE (5 Bobby WILSON 46’), 14 Ludovic BOI (c), 16 Ashley CORKER, 20 Lewis MCMAHON
Subs not used: 9 Ryan PETORIUS, 10 Andrew SCALDARERRO
Yellow Cards: Govan 24’, Gaspar 83’