Report by Paul J. Laverty

A Chris Saldaris goal at the death gave Floreat Athena the points in a feisty season-opener against Stirling Lions under the lights at E&D Litis Stadium on Friday.

The home-side looked like they were about to slip-up, trailing 2-1 until the 75th minute when Stirling right-back Blamo Qua Qua received a second yellow card. Floreat made the advantage count with a grandstand finish and goals from Kris Gate and Saldaris to seal a 3-2 win.

The game had started off brightly for Stirling when in the 13th minute a long ball by captain Miki Vujacic looped over the Floreat defence and David Micevski responded quickest to slot past Jason Saldaris in the Floreat goal to open the scoring.

The vocal home support and the trickery of new signing Zelfy Nazary inspired Floreat to make a quick reply with Lewis McMahon drilling home an equaliser through a crowd of bodies.

A pulsating end-to-end half of football almost saw Stirling go into the break ahead as a wicked drive from Lukas De Lima was turned around the post by Jason Saldaris.

In the second-period Floreat upped the tempo but lacked cohesion in the final third to break down a resolute Stirling backline.

And Micevski made them pay with his second strike of the night, this time a glorious chip over the stranded keeper from the edge of the box to put Stirling in the driving seat.

But Stirling’s physical approach caught up with them when Qua Qua saw red, and minutes later Floreat substitute Gate expertly side-footed home an inch-perfect cross from Phillip Arnold to bring them level.

Despite suffering an onslaught of pressure, Alex Tanevski could have snatched it late-on for the visitors when clean-through only to see Jason Saldaris save his effort setting the scene for his brother Chris to stab home and take the points.

Floreat boss Glenn Grostate was delighted with his side’s start to the season.

“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “I’m happy for the boys. it was a cracking game of football.”

He also paid tribute to his nephew, Perth Glory and Socceroos star Rhys Williams, who has been assisting in training.

“He’s been massive, he’s been doing a lot of work with the defence and we’re buzzing off him,” Grostate said.

With the opening fixtures brought forward this season due to the league’s expansion, Stirling coach Rob Milevski rued his side’s lack of match-practice going into the clash which saw the visitors pick up seven bookings and a red card.

“It was a bit rushed,” he said. “This stage last year we’d had eight games - this time we’ve had three. But we’ve got quality and a good bunch of lads, so we’ll definitely climb up that ladder.”

Floreat Athena 3 (McMahon 18min, Gate 78, C. Saldaris 90+3)
Stirling Lions 2 (David Micevski 13, 73)
Friday, February 17, 2017
E&D Litis Stadium
Kick-off: 8.00pm
Referee: Steve Gregory
Assistant referees: Julian Serra, Amit Hosany
Floreat Athena: 1. Jason SALDARIS, 2. Dennis GALAN, 3. Clayton ARNEZ 6. Jesse FULLER, 8. Jonathan STYNES, 9. Lewis MCMAHON, 12. Jackson MORGAN, 13. Zelfy NAZARY, 15. Christopher SALDARIS, 17. Dean EVANS (C), 18. Phillip ARNOLD
Substitutes not used: 4. Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 10. Kristopher GATE, 20.Joe TWEATS, 23. Jordan BARBAS (RGK), 33. Cameron YORKE
Yellow cards: Morgan
Red cards: nil

Stirling Lions: 1. John PERKINS, 2. Michael PUGLIESE, 3. Alex SULESKI, 4. Blamo QUA QUA 6. Dejan SPASESKI, 7. Milorad VUJACIC (C), 9. Alex TANEVSKI 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 11. David MICEVSKI 14. Lukas DE LIMA, 16. Mathaing MATHIANG
Substitutes not used: 13. William KESSEL, 15. William PENDER, 17. Darren O’RIORDAN, 18. Hasani SINCLAIR, 20. Lance ALAVKIS (RGK)
Yellow cards: Vujacic, Mathiang, Qua Qua, Pugliese, Daniel Micevski, Spaseski
Red cards: Qua Qua