Report by Chris Caldwell

Photo courtesy Vince Caratozzolo

Second-placed Inglewood United’s three-game losing run in all competitions ended when they picked up what could be a vital point against Floreat Athena at E&D Litis Stadium on Saturday.

Neither side managed to repeat the sensational goal scoring exploits witnessed between them in the FFA Cup on Monday, which saw Athena triumph 9-2.

Mark Pritchard’s sixth-minute penalty was cancelled out by a Jonathan Stynes’ first half injury-time strike to keep the scores locked at 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes.

In the closing stages, both had a player see red when Scott Blackmore received two yellow cards in the space of 11 minutes and Lewis McMahon was dismissed following a fracas after the final whistle.

And while the draw means Inglewood have fallen five points behind champions and leaders, Bayswater City, skipper, David Cyrus believes Saturday’s point could be a stepping stone to a return to form for his side.

“It’s a great turnaround for us, getting the team spirit back after that result in the cup,” he said.

“The boys did really well to get the point, but it’s great for us. Everyone has a blip in the season and hopefully that was ours.

“We set the standards high and that point could make a difference coming into the final half of the season. That point just might make a difference for us.”

Inglewood arrived started brightly with Pritchard and Ash Rosindale combining to earn a penalty when the latter was felled by keeper, Jason Saldaris, allowing Pritchard to score from the spot.

Floreat responded well from the early set-back, McMahon clipping the crossbar with a curled free kick from 20m, while Stynes and new signing Dean Evans both had shots blocked in the box.

The first half didn’t really burst into life until the final minute when United broke from a Floreat corner, only for Calum O’Connell’s goal-bound shot to be blocked on the line by Blair Govan.

Stynes was on the counterattack and knocked home the rebound from Philip Arnold’s saved shot.

The second half got off to the same start as the first until the final 10 minutes.

Blackmore was sent for an early bath, Christopher Saldaris and McMahon both headed over before Ludovic Boi had the winner taken away from him in injury time by a well-placed Inglewood defender.

While pleased by his side’s overall performance, Floreat chief Glen Grostate was disappointed by the final result.

“I think we dominated 80 minutes of that and what’s good for us is that we’re now finding that against big teams like Inglewood, we’re taking control and getting on top of them,” he said.

“We kept the ball really well, we played good possession football and, you know what - we were comfortable and Dean Evans, on debut, was superb.

“For me, it’s only up for us. We’re very happy to be in the FFA Cup, we’re happy with the way we’re playing, we’re not happy with the result because we feel we could have taken the three points comfortably.”

Floreat Athena 1 (Stynes, 45+2min)
Inglewood United 1 (Pritchard 6min pen)
Saturday, June 11, 2016
E&D Litis Stadium
Kick-off 3pm
Referee: Josh Mannella
Assistant referees: Alex Novatsis and Julian Serra

Floreat Athena: 1. Jason SALDARIS, 3. Blair GOVAN, 5. Bobby WILSON, 8. Jonathan SYNES, 10. Kris GATE (Andrew SCALDAFERRO 82), 11. Dennis GALAN, 14. Ludovic BOI (Cpt), 15. Christopher SALDARIS, 17. Dean Evans, 18. Philip ARNOLD, 19. Lewis MCMAHON.
Substitutes not used: 2. Kyle DOUGLAS, 12. Nathan SCULLY, 13. Aaron DELANEY, 23. Jordan BARBAS.
Yellow cards: J Saldaris 4, Boi 37, McMahon 69, Evans 90+2, Wilson 90+4.
Red cards: McMahon FT

Inglewood United: 1. Alex DUNN, 3. David CYRUS (Cpt, Scott WITSCHEGE 81), 4. Scott BLACKMORE, 5. Adam TONG (Brian WOODALL 75), 6. Calum O’CONNELL, 8. Jason BARRERA, 10. Ash ROSINDALE (Slobodan VULIN 70), 11. John MIGAS, 14. Mark PRITCHARD, 17. Tim ROBERTSON, 18. Jason COLLI.
Substitutes not used: 13. Josh PEREIRA, 20. Scott WALLIS.
Yellow cards: Cyrus 50, Migas 65, Blackmore 70, 81.
Red cards: Blackmore 81.