Report by Kelechi Osunwa

Ante Kovacevic was facing a miserable end to his time as Floreat coach before his side fought back to earn a point. Photo by Football West/FotoEnzo

Floreat Athena rallied from 3-0 down against Balcatta to earn a point in what was head coach Ante Kovacevic's final game in charge.

Kovacevic is heading back to Melbourne to become general manager of football at A-League club Western United. But his six-month spell in charge looked to be ending on a bum note as Balcatta rattled in three early goals.

Adam Zimarino’s struck twice in as many minutes before Jason Corness ghosted in with a header to make the score 3-0.

Floreat managed to change the half-time team talk when Phil Arnold fired in after a goalmouth scramble.

Liam Murray’s goal from outside the box set up a barnstorming finish and Athena completed their comeback in the last minute of stoppage time when Andrew Palmer’s near post header looped into to the far corner to send Kovacevic away on a high.

The result means Floreat have been replaced in top spot by Gwelup Croatia on goal difference.

Balcatta had the perfect start to the game when Zimarino capitalised on a defensive error to waltz into the Floreat defence and fire past the onrushing Jordan Barbas.

Moments later Zimarino made it 2-0 when he combined well with his brother Michael Zimarino and fired home from outside the area.

Just as Floreat were starting to recover they were hit with a sucker-punch in Corness’s header seconds after Floreat had failed to score from Nicholas Ambrogio’s own headed effort.

Balcatta would have looking forward a relaxing cup of tea at half-time but that was interrupted when Arnold scored to change the momentum.

Balcatta were content to sit deep and try to catch Floreat on the counter for much of the second half. But when Murray’s effort from outside the area nestled into the net, the home team found themselves penned in their penalty area.

With seconds left in the game it looked like Balcatta would hold on and claim all three points. However, Palmer managed to glance home a corner from player of the match Dean Evans to maintain Floreat’s unbeaten start to the season.

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ECU Joondalup had a day to remember as they took the derby honours with a memorable 6-1 win over Sorrento.

Andrew Higgins scored two, including a cracking left-foot finish from around 30 yards, as did Danny Hodgson, while Ben Hinshelwood and Luke Bodnar were also on target.

Cameron Teece netted for the Gulls, who had substitute Clark Keltie sent off 12 minutes from time following a mistimed tackle in midfield.

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Gwelup Croatia fell behind after only four minutes against Perth Glory before blowing away the visitors with a dominant first-half display.

Charlie Leech followed up his hat-trick from last week with the opener for Glory. However, Ndumba Makeche (2) and brothers Jon and Daniel Stynes had Gwelup 4-1 ahead by the interval.

There were no further goals after the break and the result was enough for Gwelup to go top.

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Perth SC’s stuttering start to the season continued as they slumped to a second straight home loss, going down 1-0 against Cockburn City.

The winning goal came four minutes from time. Perth keeper Ryan Montgomery saved brilliantly from Riley Woodcock, only to undo his good work by getting under the resultant corner and allowing the ball to sail over his head for Breckan Baker to seal Cockburn’s second win of the season.

The loss leaves the 2019 champions second bottom with just one point from three games.

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Angel Andres scored two in Armadale’s 4-1 win away at struggling Rockingham.

Andres struck either side of the break to put Armadale in the driving seat.

Rockingham had no answer to Armadale’s counter attacking and their frailties were on show again when Roberto De Freitas Soares scored the third.

Jason Pottier was rewarded for his perseverance as he made it 3-1. But another basic defensive error allowed Chad Nilson to net a fourth just five minutes after coming on.

Armadale are well placed after back-to-back wins, but Rockingham have now conceded 15 goals in just three matches.

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Two goals in the space of five minutes early in the second half were enough for Bayswater City to notch a first win of the season over Inglewood United.

Daryl Nicol opened the scoring on 48 minutes with a sweet curler from the edge of the area.

Then the Scot broke down the left following a pass from Gordon Smith and crossed for Gustavo Giron Marulanda to slide in and finish.

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