Forrestfield surprise on league debut
Report by Navrin Secker
Newly promoted Forrestfield United put up a strong fight to hold Floreat Athena to a 1-1 draw in round one of the National Premier Leagues WA at Wildlife Safari Stadium on Friday night.
This comes despite Athena defeating Forrestfield 5-1 during the Night Series and taking out the Night Series title.
United’s Hasani Sinclair opened the scoring with a header in the 50th minute to put Forrestfield ahead, before Floreat's Hamza Hina equalised in the 80th minute.
United coach Rod Banjac was pleased with the solidarity his side displayed.
“We performed as one,” he said.
“What pleased me the most was that the boys supported each other. This didn’t come as a coincidence, we dominated the game for most of the period and we were well prepared.”
The first half was relatively even, with both sides struggling to create many clear-cut chances.
Forrestfield came close to scoring early on through Jordan Hart, but his header from the back post was off target.
A yellow card for Forrestfield debutant Tom Southgate in the middle of the half-handed Floreat a free kick, which was dealt with by Goalkeeper Luke Martino.
Floreat’s frustration was visible as Christopher Saldaris and Marco Santa Lucia both received yellow cards before the end of the half.
The second half burst into life as Floreat captain Jason Saldaris made an astonishing triple save to keep Floreat on level terms.
However, a Sinclair header put Forrestfield into the lead, with the home side running to celebrate in front of the vocal home supporters.
Forrestfield were the dominant side throughout the second half and had a second goal disallowed for offside.
Floreat striker Phillip Arnold looked as though he could influence the result, with his physicality and aerial ability causing problems for the home side.
Despite the presence of Arnold in the box, Hina equalized from an Athena corner, capitalizing on a loose ball to slot home through a sea of bodies.
While Floreat were back on level terms, a wild challenge from Saldaris earned him a second yellow card and left the away side with 10 men.
Forrestfield pushed for a winner, but Floreat were able to hold on and see out the game as a draw.
Coach Howard Tweats was disappointed with the way his Floreat side performed, and believes they have a lot to improve on.
“We need better ball retention, more link play, movement, the whole shooting match really,” he said.
Forrestfield United 1 (Sinclair 50min)
Floreat Athena 1 (Hina 80min)
Friday, February 23, 2018
Wildlife Safari Stadium
Referee: Stuart Muldoon
Assistant Referees: Ammar Timour, Jatin Lodhia
Forrestfield United: 1. Luke MARTINO, 2. Tom SOUTHGATE, 4. Mark BARNETT (8. Mitchell CROCKER 70’), 5. Scott BARKER, 9. Hasani SINCLAIR, 10. Jordan HART (7. Callum ROBERTS 66’), 11. Liam MERIGAN, 12. Callum DOBBS, 16. Thomas JEBB, 17. Jamie DUNCAN (15. Josh APPLEBY 57’), 23. Rhys LOXLEY
Substitutes not used: 14. Benjamin ROGERS, 18. Benjamin PARRY
Yellow cards: Southgate 28’
Red Cards: Nil
Floreat Athena: 1. Jason SALDARIS, 4. Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 5. Marco SANTA LUCIA, 6. Jesse FullER, 8. Keylon POLLARD (2. Juma AWAKA 73’), 9. Carlo COELHO (20. Joseph TWEATS 63’), 10. Calvin WHITNEY, 11. Dennis GALAN, 15. Christopher SALDARIS, 18. Phillip ARNOLD (13. Liam HUDSON 86), 33. Hamza HINA
Substitutes not used: 12. Ethan KORRIDGE, 23. Jordan BARBAS
Yellow Cards: C. Saldaris 35’, Santa Lucia 41’
Red Cards: C. Saldaris 82’
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