Report by Tommy Doleman

Steve Burton scored a goal in each half as Floreat Athena maintained their strangehold on second place with a 3-0 win over Inglewood United at E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday.

The Yorkshire-born striker scored spectacularly inside 15 minutes before wrapping things up on the cusp of stoppage time in a commanding performance by the hosts.

Kris Gate scored in between, as Inglewood seldom tested Fraser Greenwood in the Floreat goal, the closest being late on from substitute Jacob Mustafa.

Floreat coach Glen Grostate was pleased that his team was able to show different qualities with conditions being tough at times.

“For me to expect us to be perfect every week would be harsh, but when you’ve got players coming in and out of form it’s important to get the result,” he said.

“At the end of the day we’ve just got to keep winning and the clean sheet today was great.

“Inglewood are a good side and today could have been a banana skin but we did our job and got the three points.”

Grostate also praised his charges for maintaining their high standards despite the gap between them and leaders Bayswater still standing at eight points.

“We’re running out of games, but if we finish second, keep Perth off our tails and having won the Night Series it’s a super successful season,” he said.

“We’ve already had 14 wins, had a great season and on a normal day that may have been enough. Bayswater, though, have had an unbelievable season.

“The boys continue to perform week in, week out and I feel sorry for them that they’re not going to get the rewards they deserve, but we’ve only lost twice and I can’t ask much more.

Floreat controlled proceedings from the off; Bobby Wilson with a header over the bar from 6m out inside seven minutes.

They got their reward when Burton scored acrobatically at the back post with an unstoppable volley past Aleks Vrteski.

“He’s a big boy and did well to hook his leg around it,” Grostate said on Burton’s super strike.

“He’s played at a good level, is a good finisher and knows what to do in front of goal.”

Inglewood’s best chance of the half came just before the break, as David Micevski’s free kick was delected over.

Dennis Galan then produced a brilliant last-ditch challenge to deny Micevski again before Gate doubled Athena’s lead.

Ludo Boi sent in a corner and Gate managed to divert home via a post and a defender on the line.

Greenwood then had to be alert to deny Mustafa with eight minutes remaining before Burton nonchalantly headed into the bottom corner from Wilson’s long ball forward.

The win keeps Floreat six points clear of third-placed Perth, who they face next week with ambitions of holding onto their top two spot.

“Perth are a good side. It’s going to be a great battle and always is when we play them,” Grostate said.

“But I feel we have the stocks to win, and whatever happens, we feel we can keep going and continue to give it a real good shake.”

Floreat Athena 3 (Burton 15mins, 90’, Gate 76’)
Inglewood United 0
Saturday August 9, 2015
E&D Litis Stadium
Local kick-off: 3:00pm
 
Floreat Athena: GK: Fraser GREENWOOD, 2. Blair GOVAN, 3. Jack ALLEN, 4. Aryn WILLIAMS, 5. Bobby WILSON, 6. Clayton ARNEZ (11. Dennis GALAN 60’) 8. Jon STYNES, 12. Kris GATE (20. Lewis MCMAHON 76’), 14. Ludovic BOI, 18. Phil ARNOLD, 19. Steve BURTON.
Substitutes not used: RGK: Dejan ALEKSIC, 15. Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 17. Callum FRANSZ
Yellow Cards: Arnold 49’, Allen 54’,
Red Cards: Nil
 
Inglewood United: GK: Aleks VRTESKI, 2. Rikki SMITH, 7. Kenny KEOGH, 8. Scott WITSCHGE, 10. David MICEVSKI, 11. David SESAY (18. Jason COLLI 60’), 12. Tim GOULD, 13. Jovo PAVLOVIC, 14. Jarrad MCNALLY (3. Mark BARNETT 86’), 17. Ryan SARDI, 23. Andrija JUKIC (20. Jacob MUSTAFA 80’)
Substitutes not used: 22. David PANAIA, 24. Jordan HOWELL
Yellow Cards: McNally 14’, Pavlovic 62’, Gould 68’
Red Cards: Nil