Ten-man Floreat Athena scored late against Armadale to steal a point in a 1-1 draw and move into fifth position on the All Flags State Premier League ladder with only two rounds remaining.

Benny Kouakou had the chance to steal the win with almost the last kick of the game at Alfred Skeet Reserve having already scored with a fantastic effort that completely wrong-footed Cyril Sharrock in goals.

Ludo Boi, who was named in the State team to play Perth Glory midweek in the Call to Arms Cup, played a sumptuous through ball to the winger and was sure Kouakou scored the winner.

“At training he puts them away all the time,” he said. “I think everybody thought he had it in because he’s a good finisher but it was just one of those days.”

Armadale opened the scoring in the 69th minute through Danny Richman, who reacted before everyone else after Rhys Loxley’s effort from range was miss-hit.

Richman controlled the ball and spun away from his marker, finishing smartly to give the home side the lead.

Two minutes later, Floreat’s problems were compounded with the sending off of Jack Allen, who received his first yellow for a late challenge then made an offensive gesture to a supporter, forcing referee Josh Mannella to give the defender his second yellow within seconds.

But the visitors did not drop their heads and were rewarded in the 81st minute when Kouakou scored from just outside the area with a finish into the top corner of the goal.

The opening 45 minutes were forgetful with neither team taking the half chances they fashioned. Armadale had started the brighter but an injury to captain Louie Bake in the 22nd minute saw the home side lose their edge and Floreat played their way back into the game.

The second half started much better with both teams creating more chances and the pace of the game visibly quicker. As the game opened up, Alex Clarke had a toe poke saved by Brad Eiffe on 58 minutes, three minutes after Rav Kuppusamy had tested the Floreat keeper for the first time all match with a decent effort just inside the area.

Both teams were down to 10 men in injury time as Armadale substitute Callum Barry was stretchered off holding his knee and grimacing in pain. Two minutes into injury time and Floreat substitute Bobby Wilson hit the crossbar with a header after the home side had failed to clear a corner kick.

A minute later and Sharrock made a marvellous save to deny Boi from a floating header across goal, with Nathan Costello blocking a follow up shot from Kouakou on the line.

In the eighth minute of injury time Kouakou went one on one with Sharrock but sprayed his shot wide of the mark.

Armadale coach Lee Bamber is looking to the future with this young Armadale squad and admitted a few players needed to come in for the start of next season.

“Top of the shopping list is a new striker,” he said. “We had one in Jack Salter, who I thought was fantastic for us, but he had to go back to New Zealand.

“We did talk before he went, and if he does come back to Australia he told me that Armadale would be his first port of call.”

Armadale SC 1 (Richman 69’)
Floreat Athena 1 (Kouakou 81’)
Saturday 17 August, 2013
Alfred Skeet, Armadale
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Josh Mannella

Armadale: 1. Cyril SHAMROCK, 2. Daniel RICHMAN, 4. Nathan COSTELLO, 5. Billy QUINNCROFT, 6. Lance LOUVIE, 8. Louie BAKE (7. Rav KUPPUSAMY 22’), 10. Rhys LOXLEY, 11. Callum POTTON, 12. Alex CLARKE (3. Jackson BEALEY 69’), 13. Sam LOVELESS, 17. Brandon CATCHPOLE (18. Callum BARRY 82’)
Substitutes not used: 16. Jack BAMBER, 71. Ellis HAWKSWORTH
Yellow cards: Louvie 23’, Catchpole 74’, Quinncroft 79’
Red cards: Nil

Floreat: 99. Brad EIFFE, 3. Jack ALLEN, 5. Cameron YORKE, 6. Mark PRITCHARD, 8. Aryn WILLIAMS, 10. Cisco JORQUERA (15. Andrew XYDAS 79’), 11. Benny KOUAKOU, 14. Ludo BOI, 17. Callum FRANSZ, 19. Mark BENNET (2. Bobby WILSON 64’), 20. David HEAGNEY (18. Sam BARBAS 84’)
Substitutes not used: 98. Jordan BARBAS
Yellow cards: Williams 12’, Fransz 43’, Allen 71’, 71’
Red cards: Allen 71’