Report by Aisling Lawless

Floreat Athena continued their flying form with a 3-0 win over Sorrento at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday.

Captain Ludovic Boi opened the scoring in the 18th minute while second half goals from Andrew Scaldaferro and Jonathan Stynes completed Athena's victory.

The win lifted them into fifth position on the National Premier Leagues WA table, after Balcatta's 2-1 loss to Inglewood.

Floreat coach Glen Grostate said it was always a huge achievement to come to Sorrento and take three points.
 
“I thought all the boys put on a big shift today, there wasn’t one person that stood out above the rest, it was a team effort,” he said.
 
“After our FFA Cup win [against Inglewood] the spirits have been really high and we’ve been on a bit of a roll.
 
"But after playing four games in 12 days it will be good to take the foot off the pedal, let the boys have a bit of a break and then get back into it next week against Armadale.”

Sorrento looked to control possession early on until a Chris Gate challenge set up Boi to smash the opener into the top left corner in the 18th minute.

Floreat looked dangerous in the final third and Stynes nearly doubled their score five minutes later but was denied by the quick reflexes of keeper Alex Morgan.

Despite having chances, Sorrento couldn’t convert and in the 53rd minute Canham was unable to stretch far enough to latch onto Scott Bulloch’s cross towards goal.

They thought their luck had changed when keeper Jason Saldaris brought down Canham in the box eight minutes later but the linesman challenged the initial penalty decision and Canham was instead yellow carded.

Stynes could have doubled the visitor’s lead in the 74th minute after teammates Morgan and Brown collided, leaving an open goal, but he struck the loose ball over the net.

But three minutes later Scaldaferro found their second, sending the ball bouncing into the roof of the net with a half volley from just inside the box.

Substitute Billy Quinncroft almost got one back for the Gulls in the 89th minute but his header off Ryan Pearson’s cross was kept out by Saldaris.

Stynes then rounded off Floreat’s trio of goals with the counter attack that followed, latching onto Boi's pass across goal.

Harnwell rued the multiple missed chances his side had and didn’t think the 3-0 score line was an accurate reflection of the match.

“We had the better chances, we had a penalty given and then taken away from us,” Harnwell said.

“Then we had to push forward to try and equalise, and they just caught us on the hop at the back.”

Despite it not being an ideal debut for star signing Matt Sparrow, Harnwell said he put in a solid performance.

“He is good on the ball, he talks well and is just great experienced player.

“We are lucky to have him out here and as the games progress he’ll just get better and better for us.”

Sorrento 0
Floreat 3 (Boi 18min, Scaldaferro 72, Stynes 89)
Saturday 18th June 2016
Venue: Percy Doyle Reserve
Referee: Stuart Muldoon
Assistants: Walter Ciotti, David Johnson

Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 7. Alex MORGAN, 8. Ryan PEARSON, 9. Sean CANHAM, 10. Scott BULLOCH (20. Brad MCDONALD 77’), 11. Tim HILL, 13. Steven MCDONALD (c), 14. Matthew Sparrow, 16. Niccolo SABATINI (5. Billy QUINNCROFT 72’), 17. Reece VITTIGLIA 18. Jordan BROWN.
Substitutes not used: RGK Brynn HINDLEY, 27. Brody KENNEDY, 29. Razack GELOO.
Yellow cards: Canham 62’
Red cards: Nil

Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 3. Blair GOVAN, 4. Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 5. Bobby WILSON, 8. Jonathan STYNES, 10. Kris GATE, 13. Aaron DELANEY (11. Dennis GALAN 58’), 14. Ludovic BOI (C) (6. Clayton ARNEZ 90’), Christopher SALDARIS, 17. Dean Evans, 18. Phil ARNOLD
Substitutes not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 2. Kyle DOUGLAS, 12. Nathan SCULLY
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil