Report by Bobby Stamatoski

Floreat lost a coach but won three vital points as they boosted their chances of avoiding relegation from the National Premier Leagues WA on Saturday.

Coach Howard Tweats stepped down on the eve of the Round 18 clash with Joondalup United.

But Athena weren't duly affected by the Englishman's resignation as they hammered the league's bottom club 4-0 at Percy Doyle Reserve.

Floreat interim coach Fadi Maayah said: "Both teams had their chances but, especially in the second half, I was very pleased with the performance.

"Overall, I am happy with the 4-0 and the three points. We prepared for the session and we had a plan and it worked."

Dean Evans got Floreat off to a flying start wth a spectacular volley just seven minutes into the game.

It could have been worse in the first half for Joondalup if not for keeper Sam Cornwell. In for the suspended James Bosdet, Cornwell marked his first game in a couple of years with a superb penalty save from Evans low down to his right.

The visitors dominated the second half and put distance between themselves and United with three more goals in the last quarter of the game.

Evans put in a skipper's performance and doubled his and the team's tally with a fantastic free-kick that sailed into the top corner.

Jonathan Stynes added a third for Floreat with a shot in the bottom left corner nine minutes from time.

And Hamza Hilna finished the rout with a clever fourth by rounding off goalkeeper Sam Cornwell in stoppage time to pile on the misery for the hosts.

Joondalup United coach Nick Jennings felt the score wasn't a fair reflection on his team's performance.

"In all fairness, we worked hard, we huffed and puffed. They are quality. We missed a lot of opportunities but the better team won on the day," he said.

"Again I think we were victims of poor decisions and poor refereeeing which don't help but that's every week.

"I thought were unfortunate in the first half not to score, but that's the difference between top and bottom of the league."

After this result, Joondalup United remain rock bottom while Floreat, deep in trouble a month ago, are up to eighth.

Joondalup United 0
Floreat Athena 4 (Evans 7min, 68, Stynes 81, Hilna 90)
Saturday, June 23
Percy Doyle Reserve
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Julian Serra
Assistant referees: Jatin Lodhia, Stephen Muldoon         

Joondalup United: 1. Samuel CORNWELL (GK), 2. Johnny CHALMERS, 6. Sam WYNNE, 9. Lee JONES (15. Callum STOCKS 76.), 10. Elliot TATTERSALL, 7. Matthew SPARROW (C) (4. Danny O'Shea 46), 11. Anthony TAYLOR , 14. Liam MOONEY, 17. Matthew CHERRIE, 22. Jamie GIBSON, 24. Ayden DRAGUN (12. William Kessel 73)
Substitutes not used: 19. Adam BUCKLEY
Yellow cards: 6. Sam Wynne, 7. Matthew Sparrow, 2. Johnny Chalmers, 14. Liam Mooney
Red cards: Nil

Floreat Athena: 1. Jason SALDARIS, 2. Marco SANTA LUCIA, , 6. Jessie FULLER, 8. Jonothan STYNES (13.  Hamza HINA 77) 9. Robert PETKOV, 33. Philip ARNOLD, 10. Calvin WHITNEY, 11. Dennis GALAN, 15. Chris SALDARIS, (4. Andrew SCALDAFERRO 24) 16 Ryan MALTON 17. Dean EVANS
Substitutes not used: 12. Ahadi ABANDELWA, 20. Keylun POLLARD 23. Jordan BARBAS
Yellow cards: 15. Chris Saldaris
Red cards: Nil