Floreat's midfield dominance rewarded
Report by Tristan Wheeler
A dominant midfield display from Dean Evans and Jackson Morgan led Floreat to a 2-0 away win over a luckless Mandurah City on Saturday in round 10 of the PS4 NPLWA.
After a closely contested first half, Floreat took advantage of their opportunities in the second to seal a valuable victory.
Floreat coach Glenn Grostate was delighted.
“It’s always going to be a tough game when you come down here, they’re a good side and they made us work for our points today,” he said.
”We know we are undermanned, and we are just going to have to keep digging in.
“I keep saying week in, week out, if we can keep scraping out a result and stay up close to the top, when the turn of the season comes, we can bring in four or five players who have been injured, and give it a good shake on the way down the hill.”I’d happy with where we are now with a full squad, let alone a half squad.”
Mandurah coach Doug Hesketh was disappointed with the result, but felt his side played well in the first half, sticking to the tactics they had planned and not conceding.
Mandurah started brightly, having their first shot fly over the bar in the 3rd minute from Mitchell Morrin.
Dean Evans had his attempt on goal in the 14th minute, hitting a curling shot that was saved by Mandurah keeper Bradley Eiffe.
Morrin had a second opportunity in the 24th, controlling a Jeffrey Bright cross, but only managing to hit the ball over the bar.
Evans continued to threaten and had a placed shot tipped wide by Eiffe in the 25th.
Despite each side having a few good chances in the first half, the quality of the final ball was lacking. Grostate acknowledged this, and said it was one of the changes he encouraged in the half time break.
Floreat began to dominate in the second half, with Kristopher Gate going close in the 57th minute, but his curling shot was saved by Eiffe.
Evans sent Zelfy Nazary clean through on the 60th, and he was fouled by Eiffe, earning Floreat a penalty. Evans duly converted in the 61st, giving his team a 1-0 lead.
Evans threatened again in the 67th, forcing Eiffe into a save with a volley streaking towards the net. He turned provider in the 81st, flicking a cross onto the head of Jonathon Stynes, who turned it home to seal the game.
The win takes Floreat to within a point of leaders Sorrento, while Mandurah is yet to record a win for the year.
Mandurah City 0
Floreat Athena 2 (Evans 61 mins, Stynes 81)
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Securitas Protect Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00 pm
Referee:
Assistant Referees:
Mandurah City: 1. Bradley EIFFE, 2.Oliver MCGEE, 3.Jeffrey BRIGHT, 4.Matthew STARES, 5. Thomas STRAKER, 6. Oscar THOMPSON, 7.Jack EADES, 9.Craig TONE, 11.Joseph O’BRIEN 12. Mitchell MORRIN, (13. Mitchell FIRTH 13), 17. Oriol FERNANDEZ (16. Slade RULE 70).
Substitutes not used: 21. Cyril SHARROCK, 10. Jordan RHODES, 14. Lance LOUVIE.
Yellow Cards: Eiffe 60, McGee 60.
Red Cards: nil.
Floreat Athena: 2. Shaun TIMMINS, 4. Andrew SCALDAFERRO (20. Joe TWEATS 88), 6. Jesse FULLER, 8. Jonathon STYNES, 10. Kristopher GATE, 12. Jackson MORGAN, 13. Zelfy NAZARY, 16. Ryan MALTON, 17. Dean EVANS, 23. Jordan BARBAS.
Substitutes not used: 3. Patiente ILAHAMBAYE, 11. Juma AWAKA, 33. Ali NAZARY, 99. Aidan HOLLOWAY.
Yellow Cards: nil.
Red Cards: nil.
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