Report by Sarah Smit

Photo by Jonny Warrington

Floreat Athena bounced back from their disappointing loss to bottom club Stirling last week with an incident-packed 3-2 win over Rockingham City at SafeRad Stadium on Saturday.

In an at times scrappy opening half, Floreat's Nicholas Ambrogio opened the scoring on 15 minutes only for James Millard to level for the home team.

But just before half-time Floreat captain Dean Evans drove forward from his own half to near the Rockingham 18-yard box, before crossing to Jonathan Stynes to neatly nod in it in.

Both teams smoothed out wrinkles in their play in the second half, becoming more cautious and passing around while waiting patiently for openings.

Then with 25 minutes remaining Floreat stretched their lead after Phillip Arnold forced the ball past Rockingham goalkeeper Cyril Sharrock.

City striker James Harmer narrowed Floreat's lead on 83 minutes but Rockingham couldn’t quite force a draw.

With two minutes to play a sickening clash of heads left Rockingham's Riley Van Dieken and Chris Saldaris of Floreat on the ground.

The incident, which raised the temperature of the home crowd, resulted in Saldaris able to continue but Van Dieken forced off for medical attention.

City coach Cameron Lord said he was concerned about the possibility of a Van Dieken suffering concussion. The 19-year-old is a major doubt for Rockingham's FFA Cup trip to UWA Nedladns on Monday and could miss next Saturday's home league meeting with Balcatta.

Star player: Jonathan Stynes (Floreat Athena)

Rockingham City 2 (James Millard, 30min, James Harmer 83)
Floreat Athena 3 (Nicholas Ambrogio 15, Jonathan Stynes 44, Phillip Arnold, 65)

Saturday, June 1
SafeRad Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Michal Jasinski
Assistant referees: Aaron Softley, Arvin Shanmuganathan

Rockingham City: 1. Cyril SHARROK, 3. Justis BRADLEY, 5. Harry COLLINS, 7. James MILLARD, 9. Sam McKEARN (6. Blake SOKOLOWKI, 27), 10. James HARMER (c), 11. Riley VAN DIEKEN 12. Lydon HODGKISS 13. Jarred MORT, 15. Shaz RAMLEE (4. Mitch FIRTH, 59), 23. Victor BRAUNER (8. Jason POTTIER, 27)
Substitutes not used: 18. Michael FARMER, 14. Ryan KENNEDY
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Riley Van Dieken, 43

Floreat Athena: 2. Marco SANTALUCIA, 3. Tristian COLLI, 4. Adrian MADASCHI (19. Louis ROSSI, 59), 6. Jesse FULLER, 8. Jonathan STYNES (29. Jack PAINTER-ANDREWS, 90+4), 9. Robert PETKOV, 15. Christopher SALDARIS, 17. Dean EVANS (c), 18. Phillip ARNOLD (33. Tyler HOLDEN, 31), 10. Nicholas AMBROGIO, 23. Jordan BARBAS (GK)
Substitutes not used: 1. Jason SALDARIS, 31. Jacob STUBBERFIELD
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil