Report by Aidan Shaw

Bayswater City joined Inglewood United at the top of the table after a 3-2 win over Floreat Athena in round 10 of the PS4 NPL WA at Finance 365 Stadium on Saturday.

The home side put in a strong first half performance to lead 2-0 at the break before Floreat fought back, forcing them to grind out the three points.

Bayswater’s Chris Coyne said his side adapted superbly to a change in formation, but could have ended the contest earlier.

“I’m proud of the players, they’ve worked their socks off for a good hard fought three points,” he said.

“Two goals up, I think it could’ve been three or four and its goodnight Vienna. Credit to Floreat, they worked hard for 90 minutes.”

The home side started proceedings stronger, dominating possession and creating several chances in the opening 15 minutes.

Floreat had their first real chance of the match in the 17th minute when Kris Gate found time and space outside the area, but his powerful shot went over the crossbar.

Bayswater continued to look strong and opened their account in the 25th minute.

Brian Farrell beat his marker convincingly on the left and made a good run into the box before passing across the face of goal, where Jason Mirco  was on hand to tap home.

The home side doubled their lead in similar fashion five minutes later, this time with Farrell as the scorer and David Heagney the provider.

Jon Stynes nearly pulled one back for Floreat in the 33rd minute when his left-footed shot on the run was saved well by Devon Spence.

Bayswater could have ended the contest in the 48th minute following some more good build-up play down the left wing.

Sam Mitchinson’s cross picked out Heagney who took a touch, but his close-range shot rebounded off the upright.

In the 63rd minute, substitute Robert Gaspar scored a spectacular long-range free kick to put Floreat back in the match.

Bayswater restored their two goal lead in the 70th minute, when the ball found the net following a goalmouth scramble and was awarded as an own goal by officials.

Floreat fought hard to get back in the game, and again reduced the deficit in the last minute.

Ludo Boi made a great run into the box and picked out Stynes, who fired home confidently.

The visitors pressed hard in stoppage time but were unable to equalise.

Floreat coach Glen Grostate said he was happy with his side’s fighting performance, but acknowledged a lack of squad depth.

“If some of my players are not in form, they still have to perform, I’ve got no luxury of making changes,” he said.

“It just goes to show my boys have got heart and they fight, we showed great character with the resources we had.”

The result sees Bayswater join Inglewood at the top of the table, trailing only by goal difference, while Floreat drop one place to seventh.

Bayswater City 3 (Mirco 25, Farrell 30, OG 70)
Floreat Athena 2 (Gaspar 63, Stynes 90)
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Finance 365 Stadium
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Mihal Jasinski
Assistant referees: Brendan Skinner, Ammar Timour

Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 5. Andrew REALE, 6. Todd HOWARTH, 7. Hayden DOYLE (14. Lawrence SHURUMA 71), 10. Jason MIRCO (23. Andrija JUKIC 86), 13. Trent KAY (c), 15. Brian FARRELL, 16. Jamie COYNE, 20. Sam MITCHINSON, 21. David HEAGNEY (12. Steve BURTON 83), 22. Nathan COSTELLO
Substitutes not used: RGK Fraser GREENWOOD, 2. Jack JONES
Yellow cards: Spence 34’, Heagney 75’, Shuruma 81’
Red cards: nil

Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 3. Blair GOVAN, 5. Bobby WILSON, 8. Jonathan STYNES, 10. Kris GATE, 11. Dennis GALAN (6. Clayton ARNEZ 46), 13. Aaron DELANY (20. Robert GASPAR 46), 14. Ludovic BOI (c), 15. Christopher SALDARIS, 18. Phillip ARNOLD, 19. Lewis MCMAHON
Substitutes not used: RGK Dejan ALEKSIC, 2. Kye DOUGLAS, 4. Andrew SCALDAFERRO
Yellow cards: C Saldaris 23’, Arnold 43’, Wilson 70’, Arnez 74’
Red cards: nil