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30.6.2018
GATE IS OPENED FOR BALCATTA
A goal from midfielder Kris Gate has given Balcatta a valuable 1-0 win against Subiaco in their relegation clash at Rosalie Park on Saturday afternoon. The Englishman’s goal on the hour gave Goran Stajic’s side back-to-back wins and moved them up to eight on the NPL-WA table. “It’s absolutely magic, we’re finally getting the rewards that we deserve. We’ve played some other matches where we have played teams off the park and haven’t got those rewards, today wasn’t necessarily a great performance by any means, but it was ok,” Stajic said. “We want to be brave, we want to keep playing a fast, fierce brand of football. We had a look at the game at half-time and you start looking to see where you can hurt the opposition. I thought the change was spot on and we got it right thankfully."
This game was vital for both sides, with only one point separating the two sides at kick off, and it showed in the first half with clear cut chances few and far between but at the break Stajic made a change at half-time with Nicholas Challot replacing Asher Nelson. Subiaco player-coach Ian McMurray also came on and both sides pressed for the winner. That goal came from Balcatta on the hour, Subiaco lost the ball in a dangerous area, and Gate took possession on the edge of the box and his shot beat Ryan Montgomery despite the Subiaco custodian getting a decent hand on the ball. Subiaco, who were on a three-game run without defeat, pressed late for the equaliser and they had a golden opportunity late, but Vasco Da Silva failed to hit the target with his injury-time header.
“It was a massive game for both club, we didn’t turn up today ... Balcatta were the better team," McMurray said. “The last 20 minutes we pushed for the goal, played a little bit more direct and tried to put some pressure on them, but they held out and it’s three points to them. The next few weeks are very important for us, playing teams in a similar position. We’ve got to start getting the points on the board."
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 3 Vasco DA SILVA, 4 Robert HARDING (15 Ignacio DOMINGUEZ 68'), 5 Manase ABANDELWA, 9 Adam CARLINO (19 Ian MCMURRAY 52') 10 Alex CASTIELLO, 12 Nathan SMITH, 13 Jonas DORLING, 14 Ross JARMAN (17 Mark PRITCHARD 70') 16 Dean APELGREN, 18 David PERICH - Subs not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 8 Jack PAINTER-ANDREWS
Balcatta: GK Kyle MCDONALD, 3 Hayden STEVENS, 4 Calum O’CONNELL, 5 Tom PELLIZZARI, 6 Kris GATE (21 Bleron MAMUDI 70'), 7 Asher NELSON (11 Nicholas CHALLOT 46'), 8 Carmelo GIUFFRE, 10 Jonathon CORNESS, 14 Lawrence SHURAMA (15 Adriano JELENOVIC 55'), 18 Robert DEL BORELLO, 20 Shubham MOKALA - Subs not used: RGK Domenico SALVODELLI, 24 Rene ALBA - Referee: Matthew Southern
30.6.2018
REDS STUN BAYSWATER
Armadale have bounced back from their defeat at Inglewood in the last round with a stunning 4-1 win against a lacklustre Bayswater at Alfred Skeet Reserve. The home side were two up at the break with Chris Jackson and Billy Quinncroft on target, before James Atkins added a third on the hour. Gian Albano gave the visitors some hope with a penalty seven minutes later but Atkins's second goal made the points safe. “In this fixture last year they thumped us 5-0 so today’s result shows we’ve come a long way and that the team is has a bit more ambition and a bit more quality,” Armadale Coach John O'Reilly said. "There’s still only five points between us and second bottom so I think a couple more wins will make it safe for us this year. Obviously, we have a few other things on our mind, with the (Belt up) cup final and the (FFA Cup) Round of 32, so we would like to put some of our upcoming games to bed so we can go to Cairns not worrying about a relegation battle.”
The visitors opened the brighter and went close to the opener on the quarter hour, Albano's first time shot at the near post saw Reds custodian Sam Hutchings produce a great reaction save to deny him. But four minutes later the home side opened the scoring, when Jackson profited from a mix up in the Bayswater defence to loop header past Devon Spence. O'Reilly's side doubled their advantage on the half hour, a ball in to the box was dealt with by Bayswater and in the goalmouth scramble Quinncroft fired home, much to the delight of the home faithful.
Armadale were on the front foot in the second half, with Bayswater looking tentative and Charlie Kenna had a perfect opportunity to make it 3-0 on 55 minutes, after Jackson found the midfielder in space in the box, but with the goal at his mercy he fired over the top. But that miss was forgotten five minutes later when Armadale added a third. Atkins was given far too much space and he raced into the box and finished low past Spence. Bayswater were staring a third defeat in a row, but they found themselves a lifeline on 67 minutes when Albano was brought down by Hutchings, and referee Josh Mannella pointed straight to the spot. Albano picked himself up to score from the resulting penalty.
But that was a s good as it got for Bayswater, and Armadale put the result beyond doubt with a fourth on 72 minutes, with Jackson cutting the ball back to Atkins who finished clinically. “We played like we were scared today, which was the most disappointing thing for me,” Bayswater Coach Chris Coyne said. "I don’t care if we lose, for me it’s not about the result, it’s about the performance and not playing with fear. The players have to be held accountable now, it’s now time for them to stand up and make sure they’re doing everything they can to win games and at the moment they’re just not doing that.”
Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 4 Nathan COSTELLO, 5 David ANNALL, 7 Charlie KENNA, 9 Billy QUINNCROFT (C), 10 Chris JACKSON (14 Milan OGNJENOVIC 82'), 11 Michael RIZIDIS (22 Ryan HASLETT 76'), 15 Ali GHOLAMI, 16 Charlie SIMPSON, 17 James ATKINS, 21 Beau RAHIM (3 Delan DE SILVA 88') - Subs not used: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 18 Brad GRIEPL
Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 4 Arran MAPLESTON (20 Giovdano COLLI 68'), 6 Todd HOWARTH, 10 Jason MIRCO, 12 David STOKOE, 13 Trent KAY (C), 17 Gian ALBANO, 18 Brent GRIFFITHS, 23 Andrija JUKIC (15 Jordan POKLER 59'), 26 Paul LLOYD, 30 Moses KALAU (19 Luka NINKOVIC 11') - Subs not used: RGK Luke HUTCHINSON, 24 Jake SARDELIC - Referee: Josh Mannella
30.6.2018
JACKS BEAT NINE MEN LIONS
ECU Joondalup kept their NPL WA top-four hopes alive after a 3-0 win against a nine-man Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park. Tommy Amphlett gave the visitors the lead early on before Dhuors Chol and Dean Cummings were sent off in the space of six minutes midway through the first half. A brace from Daryl Nicol after the break made sure ECU claimed their first win at Macedonia Park since 2004 and the win could have been by more if not for Stirling keeper Lance Alavakis, who pulled off a number of fine saves. “A good win today, but if I’m going to be critical we should have put seven or eight past them,” Ecu Coach Dale McCulloch said. “Really pleased with the discipline of the boys in the second half. It would have been quite easy for the referee to send one of ours off to even it up, but the lads were very good and we ran out easy winners in the end.”
ECU knew a win was vital if they were to have any chance of catching the teams above them and they made the perfect start with a goal after only two minutes. A long throw by Adam Tong was flicked on by Gordon Smith, the ball fell to Amphlett and he finished past Alavakis. It was almost two moments later, Nicol racing clear but his shot on the run was well saved by the Lions keeper. The Lions settled and should have levelled on eight minutes. Steve Sokol was sent clear, but former Stirling keeper Johnny Perkins stood tall to deny him. But the game took a twist on 26 minutes when Chol was shown a straight red card by referee Michal Jasinski after a tackle on Nicol, and it went from bad to worse when Cummings followed him to the changing rooms six minutes later. The nine men managed to hold on until half-time, although they had Alavakis to thank. The keeper pulled of a string of fine stops, the best a stunning reaction save from a deflection off his skipper Darren O’Riordan on the stroke of the interval.
But five minutes into the second half the visitors doubled their lead. Another Tong long throw picked out Nicol at the front post, who lost his marker to score from close range. The visitors went close to a third on the hour. Sam Pollard played Nicol through, he cut inside his marker and his low shot beat Alavakis but crashed off the base of the post and away to safety. The Lions went close themselves when substitute Alex Tanevski was sent clear. He rounded Perkins but Tong got back with a great last-ditch tackle to deny him. And despite squandering a number of chances the visitors wrapped up the points nine minutes from time. Brad McDonald picked out Nicol in the box, and he turned his marker and finished clinically past Alavakis for goal number 17 for the season for the Scottish striker. “I thought the referee ruined the game today simple as that,” Lions Coach Keegan Ashley said. “Nine against eleven is extremely hard, put saying that I was proud the way the players battled and fought the game out.”
Stirling Lions: GK Lance ALAVAKIS, 2 David MOLINARI, 3 Darren O’RIORDAN, 4 Alex SULESKI, 5 Liam HENDERSON (13 David FILIPPOU 82’), 6 Dhuors CHOL, 7 Dean CUMMINGS, 9 Daniel MICEVSKI (11 Alex TANEVSKI 35’), 10 David MICEVSKI, 12 Daniel HEPWORTH, 14 Steve SOKOL (19 Zane CASELLA 75’) - Subs not used: RGK Ben CAMPBELL, 15 Joey PERKINS - Red cards: Chol 26, Cummings 32
ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 3 Ross MILLARD (17 Sam POLLARD 10), 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Adam TONG, 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Andy HIGGINS,13 Tommy AMPHLETT (7 Lukas DE LIMA 51), 15 Kieron STALLARD (12 Ryan MCDARBY 82), 16 Brad MCDONALD, 18 Tom HOUGH - Subs not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 14 Ethan BROOKS - Referee: Michal Jasinski
30.6.2018
INGLEWOOD MARCH ON
Inglewood United made it seven games without defeat after a hard fought 2-1 win against Sorrento at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday afternoon. Kenny Keogh gave Inglewood the lead in the first half, before Cameron Teece equalising for Sorrento minutes later. But they won the points when David Cyrus scored before half time, the win moved them to within four points of leaders Perth Glory. "I thought we deserved to win, we totally dominated possession and our movement and rotations were superb today, probably the best all season," Inglewood Coach Andy Keogh said. "The lads are in good spirit, we’re just ticking along nicely and taking each game as it comes and waiting to see what happens above us.”
Inglewood looked impressive from the start and their early pressure was a rewarded with the lead on 28 minutes. Jamie Murphy's low cross found the unmarked Keogh at the far post who made no mistake from close-range. But the home side were level three minutes later, Alex Dunn's short goal kick was intercepted by the alert Teece, who raced into goal, rounded the keeper to score. But the visitors regained the lead on 37 minutes, Ellis Healing's corner picked out Cyrus at the back post, and he rose highest to head past James Morgan.
Inglewood controlled possession in the second half and were lively on the counter attack and could have scored more goals had they been in better form in front of goal, but their missed chances almost came back to haunt them when referee Steven Gregory spotted a hand ball in the box on 73 minutes, and the Sorrento players weren’t happy as Jack Salter fired home in the aftermath, but the referee had already blown for the spot kick. Jordan Roberts stook responsibility and stepped up to take the spot kick but Dunn guessed the right way to save superbly to give Inglewood the points.
Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 6 Daryl PLATTEN, 8 Scott WITCHGE, 10 Jordan ROBERTS, 11 Tim HILL, 16 Chris BALAZS, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA, 19 Jack SALTER, 21 Godwin Darkwa, 22 Danny JONES, 23 Cameron TEECE - Subs not used: RGK Anastasis FARSALEAS, 3 Jaxon TEMATA, 7 Alex MORGAN, 13 Steve MCDONALD, 20 Conor SHIMMIN
Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 2 Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS, 3 David CYRUS, 7 Kenny KEOGH, 8 Jason BARRERA, 9 Alex SALMON, 11 Ellis HEALING, 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie MURPHY, 19 Connor BECSI, 23 Brian WOODALL - Subs not used: 4 Scott BLACKMORE, 5 Scott ROBERTSON, 6 Miki VUJACIC, 10 Ash ROSINDALE, 12 Feisal ZAW - Referee: Steven Gregory
30.6.2018
ROBINSON BAGS FOUR AS COCKERELS THRASH JOONDALUP
Cockburn City maintained their second spot on the NPL-WA table after a 7-0 thrashing of bottom of the table Joondalup United at Dalmatinac Park. Daniel Robinson was the hero for the Cockerels bagging four, with Harry O’Brien, Anthony Skorich, and Luccas Mello also on target, while it went from bad to worse for the visitors when they played the second half with ten men after Sam Wynne was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. “Playing against the bottom team is always a banana skin but I felt we were professional and comfortable before they had a player sent off,” Cockburn City Coach Scott Miller said. “We dominated a game that we should dominate, in past seasons we’ve probably struggled when we have been the favourites, this year we’ve kind of embraced that. People pencil you in for three points because Joondalup are at the bottom, but no one ever gives you the three points.”
Joondalup went close to the opener early when a looping cross wasn’t dealt with by Cockburn goalkeeper Luke Radonich, but Wynne’s volley failed to find the target. The home side then started to take control and they should have opened the scoring when O’Brien ran in on goal, but despite being under no pressure he failed to find the target from close range. But the midfielder soon made up for that miss, when he scored on 11 minutes. A volley from the edge of the box was well saved by Joondalup keeper James Bosdet, but O’Brien was quickest to react to the rebound to score.
It was 2-0 on the half hour, Robinson racing clear from a great through ball to finish with aplomb past Bosdet. Despite being two goals down the visitors were still in the game but they were dealt a huge blow in the final minute of the first half when Wynne was showed a second yellow card by referee Joshua Nixon and sent off Cockburn took control after the break and made their numerical advantage count, when they extended their lead six minutes in. A corner found Mello on the edge of the box and he volleyed towards goal, but Skorich got the final touch past Bosdet. It was 4-0 seven minutes later, Robinson finishing after Bosdet could only parry O’Brien’s effort. Robinson completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot on 81 minutes, before late goals from Mello and Robinson rounded off a convincing 7-0 win.
Cockburn City: GK Luke RADONICH, 4 Euen GRANT, 7 Luccas MELLO, 8 Cameron EDWARDS, 9 Julian TELES, 10 David ARAYA (18 Adam ANFUSO 61’), 11 Harry O’BRIEN, 15 Daniel SANTICH, 16 Daniel ROBINSON, 17 Jesse LAZZARO (13 Blake ADAMS 63’), 19 Anthony SKORICH (12 Ryan PRATT 80’) – Subs not used: RGK Ryan BARKER
Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 2 Johnny CHALMERS, 4 Danny O’SHEA, 6 Sam WYNNE, 10 Elliot TATTERSALL, 11 Anthony TAYLOR, 12 William KESSEL, 14 Liam MOONEY, 17 Matthew CHERRIE (19 Adam BUCKLEY 68’), 22 Jamie GIBSON (9 Lee JONES 61’), 24 Ayden DRAGUN (15 Callum STOCKS 59) – Subs not used: 41 Johann MORITZ SILVER - Red cards: Wynne 44 - Referee: Joshua Nixon
30.6.2018
PERTH KEEP TABS OF TOP FOUR WITH WIN AT FORRESTFIELD
Perth SC kept themselves in the mix for the top four finals after a 3-1 win against Forrestfield United at the Wildlife Safari Stadium on Saturday evening. Gustavo Catarcione gave the visitors the lead on 11 minutes, but Hasani Sinclair levelled for the hosts three minutes later. But a brace from Matthew Milenkovic after the break was enough and the win keeps them two points behind fourth placed Inglewood. “It was an important win, we have now closed the gap on fourth-placed Bayswater to just three points,” Perth Coach Ramon Falzon said. “We are four points behind Cockburn, but we will win next week and make the gap just one point.”
The visitors were ahead on 11 minutes, young midfielder Kristian Santich won the ball off Mitchell Crocker before sending Catarcione clear wit ha great through ball, and he rounded Forrestfield keeper Luke Martino and rolled the ball into an empty net. But the home side had an immediate response, Jordan Hart’s cross was headed home by Sinclair. The home side pressed for a second but despite creating a number of chances they failed to take them.
Perth made a formation change at the break and it worked, and five minutes in they regained the lead. Richard Howles made space down the flank and crossed to Milenkovic who headed home. The visitors continued to push forward and Howles and Paul Zimarino both had efforts well saved by Martino. Forrestfield went close to the equaliser on 70 minutes, Crocker’s long-shot was well saved by the alert Francis Soale.
But eight minutes later Perth added a third. Frank Furfaro raced in to the box, his shot was saved by Martino, and Milenkovic fired home the rebound from close-range. “I thought we played really well tonight, we had a tough opposition and the boys rose to the occasion,” Forrestfield Coach Rod Banjac said. “In the first half I thought we dominated, we created chances and structured our build-ups sensibly, but unfortunately didn’t capitalise and lacked that cutting edge. Obviously, the boys ran out of a bit of steam at the end and we are on the losing end again, which is not a pleasant feeling.”
Forrestfield United: GK Luke MARTINO, 2. Josh KOTIO (17. Albert LUW 76’), 3 Wilbert TSHABANGU, 4 Jamie DUNCAN, 5 Scott BARKER, 8. Mitchell CROCKER, 9 Hasani SINCLAIR, 10 Jordan HART (12 Callum DOBBS 68’), 11 Liam MERIGAN, 14 Leslie MARI, 23 Rhys LOXLEY (7 Ben ROGERS 88’) – Subs not used: RGK Benjamin PARRY
Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE (GK), 5. Niccolo SABATINI, 6 Harley ORR, 8 Tom KING (2 Alex SILLA 43’), 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE (17. Frank FURFARO 76’), 11 Mathew MILENKOVIC, 13 Rocco PIZZATA, 16 Kieran COLWELL, 18 Richard HOWLES, 20 Paul ZIMARINO (10 Nicholas AMBROGIO 87’) – Subs not used: RGK Malek KUC 22. Adam ZIMARINO - Referee: Julian Serra
30.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND TWELVE – REVIEW
It was another exciting round in the State League Division One and league leaders Gwelup Croatia had to fight to the final minute to beat Mandurah City 4-3 in a thriller at Wishart Street. The home side were ahead on three minutes, Alex Clarke racing on to a through ball to finish. But Mandurah hit back and levelled when Joey O’Brien was brought down in the box and he picked himself up to convert the resulting penalty. They were ahead when a ball into the box wasn’t dealt with and Jeff Bright fired home. But after half time the home side levelled Benny Kouakou was brought down and the referee pointed to the spot, and David Heagney stepped up saw his penalty saved, but he was quickest to the rebound to score. But Mandurah were not done and they regained the lead moments later, a cross into the box was turned into his own net by Cameron Yorke. It looked like Mandurah would leave with the points, but in the final minute a cross into the box was nodded down by Bobby Wilson and Heagney fired home in the goalmouth scramble. But we weren’t finished and in the second minute of stoppage time Kouakou pinched the ball off a Mandurah defender and raced clear, but he was pulled back in the box by Oriol Fernandez, who was sent off and the referee awarded another penalty. Kouakou picked himself up to fire home the spot kick to win it. “Once again it wasn’t a polished performance by us and luck to get the 3 points. Will work hard this week at training to improve things,” Gwelup Coach Taki Nicolaidis said. “We rode our luck two weeks in row, but we got the result and I can’t wait to get our full squad back available next week.”
Rockingham City were also made to fight all the way after a 2-1 win against Joondalup City at Lark Hill. The visitors were ahead at the break with Sam McCracken scoring from the penalty spot, but Rockingham hit back after the break. First Matt Brooks levelled two minutes into the second half, before James Harmer popped up on the hour to win it for Cameron Lord’s side. “I’m delighted to get the three points against a well-drilled Joondalup City,” Lord said. “Our intensity and tempo, with our quality, won us the game in the second half. We were disappointed with our first half performance, but the reaction after half time was first class and we were well deserved winners. We have come from behind to win games the past two weeks now, which shows the character of our playing group.”
The return to South West Phoenix for Morley Windmills assistant coach Mauro Marchione didn't go to plan after the home side ran out 3-0 winners at WML Stadium. It was a tight first half with the wind causing both sides problems and the home side hit the from when Bright Ababio’s cross picked out Jayden Prosser at the back post who volleyed home. The home side continued to press and were rewarded with a second when James McCleary was brought down in the box by ?? and he was sent off, and Jack Eades scored from the spot. Eades had another opportunity from the spot after Lee Stewart was brought down, but his effort crashed off the crossbar. But they did add a third to wrap up the points when Eades’ crossed to Stewart who volleyed home to seal the three points. “It was a good game from the whole side and everyone stuck to their jobs and got the desired result,” Ababio explained. “We have been written off in most games and especially this one against a good side like Morley. Good results in our last two games and we will like to keep that going, which we should if we keep playing like we have in the last two games.”
Stewart echoed Ababio’s comments. “It was a very up and down first half of the season for us and as a team we know that we can’t afford to keep on letting close games slip away from us, so it was very pleasing that after a fairly even first half we were able to get ourselves on top after half time and in the end win comfortably against a Morley side who have had a few impressive wins themselves lately,” he said. “I thought our defence were brilliant on Saturday, that’s probably the quietest game our keeper has had all year in goals and as a team we worked extremely hard to break down their attacks. We now need to show some consistency with regards to picking up points and we will be aiming to get ourselves on a run of good results and move up this league table.”
It was another tight affair at Nash Field where Western Knights edged out Dianella White Eagles 1-0 in the traditional derby. The only goal of the game came when David Murphy was brought down in the box and Steve Burton converted the resulting penalty. “It was a good win for us today, and I thought we dominated the match from start to finish and probably could have had a few more goals and made it a bit more comfortable for ourselves but we got the three points in a game that we needed to win and in a game that means a lot for the club,” defender Graham Tough said. “We now sit third with some big games coming up in the next few weeks and we will be looking to go on a run and keep the pressure on the team's above.”
In the final game it was all-square in the local derby, as UWA Nedlands and Fremantle City fought out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the UWA Sports Park. All the action came late in this one, the home side opened the scoring 13 minutes from time, when substitute Mordecai Kuma eased past his marker after a great build to score past Struan Herd. The doubled their lead two minutes later when a ball into the box was turned into own net by Josh Wade. Fremantle threw caution to the wind and went for it and pulled one back six minutes from time when Callum Roberts swept the ball home after Alec Robinson’s nod down. Then with time running out the visitors levelled, Ben Reynolds started the move who found Robinson, who in turn picked out Wade Farmer who finished from close-range to salvage a point. “I thought it was a very even game we created better chances first half and probably just shaded it, and second half we missed a clear chance to go ahead but failed to take it, and after that they (UWA) were well on top and grabbed two goals to go ahead,” Fremantle Coach Marc Anthony said. “But we showed great character to fight back and get a result although a draw doesn't help us much. We don’t play now until 31 July which is a good thing as our lads looks tired and jaded.” – Ashfield had the bye this week.
30.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND TWELVE – REVIEW
Olympic Kingsway scored two late goals to draw 2-2 with Wanneroo City in the top of the table local derby at Wanneroo Reserve. The home side started brightly but were reduced to ten men when skipper Ashley Corker was sent off on 20 minutes, and they held on till half time, with Olympic having most of possession. After the break Wanneroo sat back and hit on the counter attack and 10 minutes in thee ten men hit the front. Some neat build up play ended with Scott Johnstone who made no mistake at the near post. They doubled their lead three minutes later, Johnstone and Matt Franken combined to set up Jamie Stewart who finished clinically across Todd Hoyle. It looked like the home side would hold on, especially when Olympics’ leading scorer Danny Hodgson was forced off with a dislocated shoulder, but four minutes from time Ryan Francis pulled one back with a snap shot from just inside the box.
Wanneroo were out on their feet and Olympic were throwing everything at them and in stoppage time they levelled, this time Daniel Corbett firing home to give both sides a share of the spoils. “We took a while to get going but when we did we looked sharp moved the ball around well, when they went down to ten men, they all sat behind the ball and we battered them, but we conceded two sloppy goals but we battled and showed great character in the team and came away with a deserved point.” Wanneroo Coach Tim Kantor said it was a bitter blow for his side to let it slip late. “Ten men for 70 minutes and two goals up into injury time was a Herculean effort by our lads and they rightfully felt gutted after the game,” he said. “This is an amazing group of lads and they showed yesterday that they have the belief and will to push Kingsway all the way to the end. We will dust ourselves off and our focus now turns to Curtin away next week where three points will be vital.”
Swan United were the benefactors in that result, closing the gap to four points on the leaders after a 3-2 win against Quinns at Gumblossom Park. The visitors were ahead when a deep cross from left found John Monterosso, who played it across the face of goal to Gavin Knight to score from five meters. They doubled their lead when a ball over the top sent Knight clear, he cut inside his marker and drilled a low shot into the corner of the net. The home side found a life line five minutes before half time, with Gareth Hamilton scoring a penalty after a handball in the box. Quinns cane out strong after half time and created some good chances and deservedly levelled when Callum Lack was sent clear and he found Craig Tooley who scored. But with eight minutes remaining the Swans won it, Monterosso hitting a diagonal ball into the box and Brennan Borzecki headed home at the back post. “We were cruising at 2-0 and then they got a penalty that gave them hope,” Swan keeper Joey Smith said. “We came out in the second half a different side and I didn't play well myself but the team showed great character to keep battling to get a late goal.”
Balga moved to fourth spot after a 2-0 win against bottom of the table Canning City at Burrendah Reserve on Sunday afternoon. Balga had a number of first half chances, the best one being Igor Novakovic's freekick from a distance being tipped over by the home keeper. But on 70 minutes Balga hit the front, with Nahom Michael calmly slotting past the keeper. Balga added a second on 83 minute, when Novakovic found Michael on the wing, he cut inside his marker and curled his shot into the top right-hand corner. “It was hard fought game against Canning, and their two or three additions have really brought some steel to their side,” Balga coach Aleks Vrteski said. “They were hard to break down and tried to frustrate us and go on the counter attack. In the end we did enough to win with a wonder strike from Nahom Michael.”
In the other games Shamrock Rovers and Curtin University drew 2-2 at Harold Rossiter Reserve. Rovers were ahead a ball from the left sent Peter Smith racing clear and he finished well into the bottom left corner. But Curtin restored parity with Jordan Dinga scoring and both sides had good chances. But it was the home side who regained the lead when a long ball was flicked on to Ivwa Simble who got down the left and crossed to John McNeil who made no mistake. But Curtin hit back again with Mark Donnelly scoring to give both sides a share of the spoils. “I thought the first half was quite lacklustre but the second half had a great intensity,” Rovers’ Martin Launders said. “I was a good game with both teams having enough chances in the game to win it.”
In the final game Gosnells City have won the local derby beating Kelmscott 2-1 at Frye Park. Chris Holland gave the visitors the lead but the home side hit back. Some good lead up play ended with Lynden Pywell, whose shot was well saved, but Arthur Gaye slotted home the rebound. But Gosnells won it when Justin Obek scored to give them their fourth win of the season. “We didn’t play to our best today but still came away with the result,” Gosnells Coach Brad Rushton said. “Kelmscott fought hard and you could clearly see from the start both teams needed the points. But when you don’t play well enough and you come away with the result then you know, the team are now heading in the right direction.” - - Murdoch University Melville had the bye this week.
29.6.2018
NPL-WA ROUND NINETEEN PREVIEW
There are only eight weeks to go in the NPL-WA and it's tight at the top and bottom of the table. Perth Glory led the way but there is only eight points separating the top five, so the title is still up for grabs. It's the same at the foot of the table, with Joondalup United looking certainties for the drop, only two points separate Armadale in seventh to Balcatta in 13th, so with three sides being relegated it's a big month of football ahead. This week's Footballwa.net 'Match of the Round' looks at the fight at the foot of the table, as Subiaco host Balcatta at Rosalie Park. Balcatta broke a six game losing streak last week, with a 2-0 win against Forrestfield United, while Subiaco scored late to draw 1-1 at home to Perth, making it three games without defeat, and with only one point separating the two sides it's a huge game on Saturday. The last time these two sides met at the venue was in round 21 last season when the home side ran out 2-0 winners Alex Castiello gave Subiaco the lead in the first half before Ian McMurray sealed victory just after the hour.
Balcatta coach Goran Stajic was delighted with the way his side performed last week and they showed they are up for the fight. "It was a great win for the club and one thing Balcatta are becoming very good at is fighting, retaining and recruiting young players that are of high quality,” he explained. “The resilience and maturity this young squad has displayed all season and lead by our experienced Captain Callum O’Connell it is a testament to everyone on the climb. As we know football can be fickle at times and not always fair but last week and I dare say on several more occasions throughout the year we deserved the win.” The Coach had some big decisions to make last week in his selection, but he said he got it right. “From the outside they may look BIG but from the inside we are ALL in this together whether on the park, bench or in the stands. The comradery and competition for places is something that I have been working on throughout the season, in saying that you are only as good as your last game or training session,” Stajic said.
“The new recruits are now four games in and settled into our style of play perfectly and it’s so pleasing that they are getting the recognition they deserve. It’s never easy leaving a club and coming into a new club and starting again but thankfully for us they have impacted the scoreboard and complimented the entire squad with their performances.” Stajic said Saturday is a massive game for both sides, and he is looking forward to it. "A result is vital for both clubs, last time we played exceptionally well and dealt with their strengths winning the game 2-1. The most important thing now is to keep going and to be consistent,” he said. “We will assess the players at training and make the best selections for Subiaco who I believe are a solid team, one of the most competitive teams in our league. For us to win we will need to continue with our resilient mindset but also ensure we keep exploiting the opposition weaknesses continually.”
Subiaco player/coach Ian McMurray said his side were superb in last week's draw against Perth and showed great character to fight back to earn a point late. "Last Saturday was a tough match against a good Perth side. The character we showed, especially after we went a goal down was tremendous,” he explained. “We never gave up and every player gave their all and to get the goal near the end was reward for our efforts. We have belief in our squad and the last few the results has shown that and as well as that, the confidence is growing which we look to take into Saturday.” McMurray said the season looks like going down to the wire, and with three going down this season all the games are important. "The league table is extremely tight from 13th to 7th so every match we play has to be treated like a cup final, especially with the proposed three teams being relegated,” he said.
“It looks like an exciting end to the season and with that many teams around the same points, it looks like there will be a few exciting battles ahead.” Subiaco have been on a good run in recent weeks and McMurray said they are hoping it continues on Saturday against a good Balcatta side. "We have an important four weeks of football ahead of us, but we will take care of it one week at a time, starting Saturday,” he said. “Our boys are looking forward to the match, especially playing Rosalie. We're undefeated in three here and its, as I’m sure they (Balcatta) will know, a tough place to come. It's an enormous match for both teams involved, but our boys are focused and will be prepared for the job in hand.”
League leaders Perth Glory head back home on Saturday when they host Floreat Athena at Ashfield Arena on Sunday afternoon. John Gibson's side have been superb this season, and jumped to the top after a win at ECU Joondalup, their first ever win against the northern suburbs club. Floreat coach Howard Tweats resigned last week due to work commitments, but stand in coach Fadi Ma’ayah guided the side to a big win at Joondalup United, and skipper Dean Evans said it was a great performance. “It was good to bounce back especially after having a 1-0 loss to Perth the week before,” he said. “Every game is important for the club as we know there’s a big battle between about six clubs all in and around the relegation zone, but was a good result for the boys and gaining a bit of momentum going into the Glory game.” Evans, who played in the A-League for the Glory, said Sunday is a huge challenge against a side who are playing well, but they are looking forward to it. "Look to be honest it’s not really a surprise for me that there at the top of the league, they deserve to be there after the results they've had this year so full credit to Gibbo and there group,” he said. “It will be a massive challenge for our boys as we've seen with their results, they get a lot of their goals towards the later end of games so we know we will have to be at our best for the entire game. I have every confidence in our group that if we can turn up and put in a solid 90 minute performance then we are more than capable of getting a positive result.”
Forrestfield United return to the jungle on Saturday evening when they host Perth SC at the Wildlife Safari Stadium. (7pm) Perth lost ground on the leaders after conceding late at Subiaco last week, and head to Hartfield Park for the first time in the NPL. Forrestfield were disappointing in last week’s loss at Balcatta, and winger Rhys Loxley said it just wasn’t their day. "I thought we really struggled to implement our playing style against Balcatta last weekend, which is a credit to their game plan,” he explained. “However, they were desperate for a result and I think their effort and intensity throughout the game reflected that. We weren't able to match them for large periods and as a result, we were outplayed. We now need to focus on how we have been successful in the past and try to implement that style of play in the coming weeks.” The home side will be missing defender Jamie Street, who was sent off last week, and coach Rod Banjac, who is serving a four game ban. Loxley said they are happy to be back home in front of their supporters and said they owe them one after last week poor display. "This week represents a different challenge all together. We are up against the biggest club in the state and that in itself is enough motivation to strive for a positive result,” he said. “We have the added bonus of playing in front of our fans who have been outstanding all throughout the season in getting us over the line on numerous occasions. We owe them a good performance after a below par by our standards and I'm sure the boys will be up for the challenge.”
Cockburn City sit second on the table and this week they host bottom of the table Joondalup United. Joondalup were beaten by Floreat last week, and time is running out for Nick Jennings' side, but they continue to be competitive and will have experienced keeper James Bosdet back from suspension for this one. Cockburn's win at Bayswater was a good response, after a defeat against ECU, and Anthony Skorich returned to the side and said it was well-deserved win. "It was a big win against a good side, and it was good to get back to winning ways,” he said. “In the first 15 minutes they had a couple of chances but after that we started playing really well, and scored the goal and took control of the match, it was a really good team effort.” Skorich said they can't take Joondalup lightly, and if they do they will find themselves in trouble. “We defiantly won’t be taking them lightly, we will treat it as any game, as we’ve seen in the past,” he said. “They defeated Inglewood and have been close in a lot of games this year to other teams, we’ll take it like every game we have approached this year and keep fighting to win the league.”
Both Stirling Lions and ECU Joondalup were beaten last week, and they will look to get back in the winners' circle when the pair meet at Macedonia Park on Saturday. ECU were well beaten at home by Glory, while the Lions lost 1-2 to Sorrento. Midfielder David Micevski said they had the chances to take something from the game, and were disappointed in the result. "We started poorly for the first 25 minutes and we deservedly found ourselves two goals down,” he explained. “Although we did come back into the game and had the better of the second half, you can’t give teams a two goal lead and expect to get something from the game.” Micevski said Saturday is huge, especially with it being so tight at the bottom, and he is confident they can get a positive result. "Every game from now is important considering how tight the table is from 7th down and getting three points this week against ECU will be much needed,” he said. “ECU are a strong side and to get anything from the match we have to produce a 90 minute performance all around the park as we’ve shown in patches this season we are capable of.”
Bayswater City will be looking to bounce back from their loss against Cockburn City last week when they make the trip to Alfred Skeet Reserve to take on Armadale. The 1-2 defeat against Cockburn ended their seven game winning streak, and Coach Chris Coyne will be looking for a response from his side in this one. Armadale went down 2-3 at Inglewood, a game that will be remembered for the sportsmanship of the Armadale team, but the result could come back to haunt them at the end of the season. The final game will have an impact on both the top and bottom of the table when Sorrento host Inglewood United at Percy Doyle Reserve. Both sides are coming off big wins, Sorrento won for only the second time on the road this season last week at Stirling, and Jamie Harnwell's side will be looking for a repeat in this one to move away from the drop zone, while Inglewood beat Armadale 3-2 to make it six games without defeat. Inglewood keeper Alex Dunn has been in outstanding form between the sticks, and he said the win last week was well-deserved. “It was a hard fought win in the end, it was a game of two halves,” he explained. “In the second half Armadale throw a lot at us and I thought we dealt with it ok, and was disappointing to concede a sloppy goal which led to them getting back into the game. Whilst it wasn’t the best performance in second half we bank the points and move on.” Dunn said 'Windy Hill' is never an easy place to go and get a result, and even more this season with the Gulls fighting at the wrong end of the table, but he is confident they can get the job done. "As I’ve always said there is never an easy game against Sorrento, they are obviously working hard to move their way up the table so it’s going to be no different,” the keeper said. “But having said that we have discussed our goals come the end of the season and we need to push on if we are going to achieve that.”
29.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND TWELVE – PREVIEW
It's week 12 of the State League Division One and the footballwa.net 'Match of the Round' takes us to the UWA Sports Park where UWA host Fremantle City in the Derby. UWA scored late to earn a 3-3 draw with Morley Windmills last week, while Fremantle were beaten 1-2 at home by Rockingham City, so both sides will be looking for the three points in this one. The last time these teams met at the venue was in round 13 last season when UWA ran out 3-0 winners, with Lloyd Prout bagging a brace. UWA defender Joshua Marocchi said the game last week was entertaining for the crowd, and to score late to earn a point was important for their season. "Morley was a tough encounter, they had a good start to the game and have some good options going forward,” he explained. “We conceded early, but responded well, dominating possession just lacking the finishing. Was the story of the day, they would go ahead and we would try equalise. In the end I thought it was a fair result for our endeavors, we need to tighten a few things up down back.”
The defender said they need to start getting more consistent, but they have been in most games this season, but need to but in a 90 minute performance. “Bar the game against Dianella, we are always there or there about,” he said. “Defensive we haven’t excelled at times, but we have a more balanced side now and are working hard each week. For us it comes down to focusing the full 90 minutes and working as a unit. If we keep playing the way we have been, the goals will start to come too.” Marocchi said Saturday’s game should be entertaining with both sides liking to play the ball on the ground, but they have been a bit of a bogey side to them but he hopes to change that on Saturday. “Freo have had the wood on us this year, so we would like nothing better than a win at home,” he said. “They possess some great players, and marshalled by Alec (Robinson) at the back they are well organised. We need to play within our structures and utilise our attacking outlets, try to get forward a little quicker also. It should be a tough, physical encounter, and our boys will be ready.”
Fremantle’s Alec Robinson said last week’s defeat was disappointing, but they did have chance to take something from the match. “It was a tough result last week and felt we were good enough to get something from the game,” he said. “I thought we played some good football and missed a few chances, they took there’s and that’s the difference come the end of the season. The last 20 minutes we had to go more direct and forced a few good saves and last ditch blocks from them. If we perform like that week in week out we will win a lot more than we lose.” The top of the table is tight and Robinson knows a few wins on the bounce will see them move closer to the leaders, and they are working hard to achieve that. “Our aim is to have a better second half of the season,” he said. “If we manage to turn a few poor results in our opinion around we hope to be in the mix as it is very tight at the top.” The striker said they are determined to bounce back and what a game to it in – a derby. “UWA is the start of the second half of the season, and we will be going there looking for a positive result,” Robinson said. “They’re always a good footballing side but having beaten them twice already this year we will be disappointed with anything less than three points.”
Rockingham City maintained the pressure on Gwelup with a hard fought win at Fremantle and this week they host Joondalup City at Hilton Reserve. Joondalup earned a good point at Ashfield last week in a 2-2 draw moving them out of the drop zone. Rockingham Coach Cameron Lord was delighted the way his players went about their business last week, against a good Fremantle side. “It was important for us to not only get back to winning ways, but perform to the levels we have shown in recent weeks,” he explained. “We have worked hard to turn a seven point gap between us and Gwelup into three, but it is now so important for us to be consistent in everything we do and not throw away our hard work with complacency in our performances.” Lord said Saturday will be another tough test, after Joondalup pushed them all the way in the first meeting. “We know that any game in this league is a challenge, and you have to truly earn your points. Saturday will be no different against Joondalup who certainly gave us a game in Round one,” he said. “We know as always that if we turn up and perform we are capable of taking the three points and that will certainly be our aim on Saturday. However, we need to, again, play to our full capacity if we want to achieve what we want out of the game.”
In other games leaders Gwelup Croatia host Mandurah City at Wishart Street. Gwelup bounced back from back-to-back defeats with a win against Western Knights, while Mandurah were beaten at home by Dianella the result dropping them back in the relegation zone. South West Phoenix have home ground advantage, when they host Morley Windmills at WML Stadium. It’s a return to Bunbury for former Phoenix coach Mauro Marchione, whose side drew 3-3 against UWA-Nedlands last week, while the Phoenix are coming off the bye. In the final game traditional rivals Western Knights and Dianella White Eagles meet at Nash Field. The Knights were beaten at Gwelup last week, while Dianella beat Mandurah to move level with the Knights on the table, with Scott Newland on target. He said it was a huge win for the club, and it’s always nice to get on the scoreboard. “Yes it was great to get on the score sheet and help the team to a very important win, where all the lads worked very hard especially at the back who I thought were really solid today and made it hard for Mandurah to create any real clear cut chances on goal,” he said. “Although I think we need to improve creating more chances for ourselves but I’m sure that will come and we’ll be working to improve on that this week in training. This win will hopefully give us the momentum to go forward now and get as many points on the table possible.” Newland said it’s a big game and said he’s heard about the rivalry and he’s looking forward to it. “It certainly is a huge game, and as you said against a traditional rival which to be honest I don’t know much about having never played against them and being new to this division,” he said. “But we’ll be going into this game like any other ready, fighting and putting 100 per cent into everything we do with lots of confidence that we can win this game and close the gap at the top of the table.” – Ashfield have the bye this week.
29.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND TWELVE – PREVIEW
It’s week 12 of the State League Division Two and the Footballwa.net ‘Match of the Round’ takes us to Wanneroo Reserve for the top of the table clash between Wanneroo City and Olympic Kingsway. Wanneroo came home from Shamrock Rovers with a big win last week, while Olympic were made to work hard in beating Curtin University to remain top of the table. This game is going to be a cracker, with Wanneroo unbeaten at home, while Olympic are unbeaten on the road. The last time these two sides met at the venue was in round 15 last season when they visitors ran out 3-1 winners. Youngster Mella Loding opening the scoring for Kingsway before Nathan Thorp added a second. Liam Murray pulled one back for the hosts, but Marc Eldridge added a third to seal the win for Kingsway.
Wanneroo coach Tim Kantor said it was a good performance from his side and they scored four good goals. “Yes it was a good win on the road last week with four well-constructed goals,” he said. “I think they key is being able to get a consistent starting 11 week in week out and we have been fortunate that we have been able to do that over the last 5-6 weeks.” Wanneroo are unbeaten at home and Kantor said they are looking at making their ground a fortress. “Our record at home has been excellent, having scored 15 and conceding only a couple and we are hopeful of that trend continuing on Saturday,” he explained. “Our pitch certainly suits our style of play but we will have to be at our absolute best to keep our unbeaten record at home intact.”
The coach said Saturday’s game is a huge test, but his players are looking forward to the challenge. “These are the games that you measure yourself against, and Kingsway have been the benchmark all season and have an outstanding defensive record having only conceded five goals in half a season,” Kantor said. “We on the other hand have scored the most goals so far so it’s going to be a cracking game. We’ve won our last six so we go into the game with confidence and momentum. We will certainly give them the respect that they deserve but we will go into the game with no fear and will continue to try and play positive attacking football and I guess at 5 o’clock we will know where we are at. Everyone at the Club is really looking forward to the game as I’m sure Kingsway are as well. Should be a cracker and hope to see a decent crowd for what I’m sure will be an entertaining game.”
Olympics’ Danny Hodgson has been scoring goals for fun this season, and the English striker is the clubs leading scorer, and he scored the only goal in their 1-0 win against Curtin University last week. “We played well for most of the game but the last 15 minutes we lost our shape and were on the back foot,” he said. “But once again the boys showed a lot of character to grind out a win.” Olympic coach Graham Normanton has got a great squad together this season and with Kingsway growing on and off the pitch Hodgson said things look bright for the club. “The goal from the start of the seasons was to win the league. We knew it was going to be tough as there is some good teams in the league who are also contenders,” he said. “We have to admit we have dropped points which could have given us more of a gap at the top of the table but everyone within the club is delighted that we are unbeaten as it sets us up great for the second half of the season.”
Hodgson said Saturday will be their biggest test of the season, and they are all looking forward to it. “This week’s game is massive. We had a good win at home against them at the start of the season, and if we get the win it will give us a bigger gap at the top which is what we want,” he said. “We showed all season that we mean business and I’m coincident that we can come away with the three points. Wanneroo have had some good win as of late so we know that it’s going to be a tough game.”
Swan United have lost back-to-back games and face another tough task this week when they visit Gumblossom Park to take on Quinns. The home side were also beaten last week at Gosnells, and they will be looking to hit back this week. Likewise Swan, and their two defeats has left them six points behind the leaders and keeper Joey Smith said they had chances to win both games. “Yes we could've won both games, and had the chances to do so,” he said. “But we just haven't put the ball in the back of the net the last few weeks.” The keeper said Saturday will be a tough test but they are looking forward to the challenge. “This is a massive game for us as a team and a club,” Smith explained. “We need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible and stay up and around the leaders.”
In other games Shamrock Rovers host Curtin University at Harold Rossiter Reserve, while Canning City host Balga at Burrendah Reserve on Sunday. In the final game it’s a local derby when Gosnells City visit Frye Park to take on Kelmscott Roos. Gosnells were big winners last week against Quinns and Jordan Parfitt said it was a good performance. “It was a great day out for us, we didn’t know much about Quinns going into the game but we knew we would have to dig deep and produce a good performance for the fans and for ourselves,” he explained. “It was a grind in the first half, but we led 1-0, and in the second half our pressure paid off getting three more, well played to Quinns it was a good game.” Parfitt is expecting a tough game on Saturday and said they will be looking for three points. “It’s a massive game this week, we know they (Kelmscott) will come out firing, in the big games like these any team can produce a great performance,” he said. “It’s more important because after this game there is a two week break so to go into the break with an extra three points will be massive, hopefully it’s a great game.” – Murdoch University Melville have the bye this week.
29.6.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND ELEVEN – PREVIEW
After last week’s cup round we're back to league action in the Belt up Sunday Amateur Premier Division and the Footballwa.net 'Match of the Round' takes us to Chichester Park where Kingsley host Ellenbrook United. In the last round Kingsley came home from Belmont with a 5-1 win, while Ellenbrook edged out Wembley at home. The last time these two sides met at the venue was in round three last season when Kingsley ran out 4-0 winners. Ellenbrook striker Matty Clarke was on target in their win against Wembley, to move them to sixth on the table – Unfortunately no one from the Ellenbrook was available for a comment for the preview.
Kingsley Head coach Steven Dimitrovich said the win in the last league game at Belmont was important after their defeat against North Perth. “It was good to finally get a win against Belmont after two successive defeats in the league,” he explained. “It was pleasing for the fact that the way we have been training and playing finally game together and we were able to control the game from start to finish.” The gap between third placed Kingsway and North Perth is only six points, so Dimitrovich said they need to keep on winning to keep in touch with them. “The league table is tight and even though six points looks like a lot as we’ve seen this year that can quickly be made up with all teams able to take points off each other,” he said. “So all we can do is keep trying to win our games and hope that results go our way and the pressure is on North Perth now to maintain top spot.” Dimitrovich said Ellenbrook have started the season well, and they will need to be their best to get the points. "Ellenbrook game this week won’t be easy by any stretch as looking at their results since Brad Hassle took charge,” he said. “They seem to be very competitive especially away from home where they haven’t lost yet so hopefully we can keep our good home form up and get the win.”
League Leaders North Perth United hit the road this week when they travel to Rosalie Park to take on Subiaco. The home side were beaten last time out, going down 2-0 to Hammersley Rovers, but they need the points as they sit second bottom of the table. North Perth lead the league by one point, and in the last round they fought out a 4-2 win against Jaguars, and Coach Alex Carter said it was a good game. "Jags pushed us all the way. They have a lot of talented players but lucky for me so do we,” he said. “In the end our discipline to sticking to the game plan got us over the line." Carter said the week off last week will help them, and he despite their lowly position he is expecting a tough game at Rosalie Park. "A week off competitive football is quite unusual so it’s up to the boys to show the right attitude and prepare themselves in the right manner,” he said. “Subi will throw up their own challenges as have every opposition we have faced this year. We have rested a few legs but to be honest a fair few could have done with the hit out.”
In other games Kwinana United will be looking for three points when they host Hamersley Rovers at Kelly Park, while bottom of the table Southern Spirit host second placed Leeming Strikers at Watsons Reserve. Jaguars FC entertain Belmont Villa at Herb Graham Recreation Centre. In the final game UWA-Nedlands make the trip to take on Wembley Downs at Butlers Wembley have struggled this season, and will be hoping home ground advantage can help them collect three vital points. UWA on the other hand sit fourth on the table and are coming of a hard fought win against Southern Spirit, and head coach Arthur Hiemstra said they were made to work for the points. "We made it needlessly difficult for ourselves by not taking our chances and putting the game to bed in the second half,” the coach said. “But credit to Southern Spirit who kept going and put us on the back foot for the last part of the game." Hiemstra said although Wembley are at the bottom of the table they have a good squad and is expecting a tough game. “It’s great to be reunited with Wembley in this league, the last time we played them was when we were both in division three,” he explained. “There is only three points separating us so am expecting a very close contest and we will need to bring our A-game in order to get a result.”
24.6.2018
DE SILVA A NO-SHOW AT CENTRAL COAST
Central Coast Mariners look almost certain to lose playmaker Daniel De Silva after the A-League outfit began its pre-season without him. De Silva still has two years on his contract but was only lured to Gosford by the prospect of working under his former youth international coach Paul Okon.
With Mike Mulvey now installed at the helm of last season's wooden spooners, the 21-year old attacking midfielder is expected to cut ties. A move by Melbourne City for the youngster fell through but it is understood his agent, former Socceroo Vince Grella, is canvassing other options in the A-League and abroad.
24.6.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR CUP - ROUND THREE – REVIEW
The Belt-up Amateur Cup took centre stage on Sunday with eight great ties across the metropolitan area, and in Footballwa.net Match of the Round’ Division two side Cracovia White Eagles has come to an end after they were beaten 1-0 by Division One league leaders Joondalup United at the Cracovia Sporting Complex. . The only goal of the game came five minutes from time, when Josh Kennedy Edwards received the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal, then cut inside finished low into the bottom left corner of the net through a crowd of players missing everyone. “Really happy with a dominating performance good to keep a clean sheet but we need to be better in front of goal,” he said. “We scored a the right time, it looked like the keeper was blind sighted but still managed to come close to getting a hand on it, but with some of the lads cramping, glad no extra time was needed.”
Premier League leaders Leeming Strikers were given an almighty scare at Division One side Ballajura, eventually running out 10-9 winners on penalties, after it ended 1-1 at full time at Kingfisher Park. Ballajura took the lead on the hour, and it looked like a surprise was in the making, put in stoppage time Leeming levelled. A free kick was met by Karl Gorman who headed in at the front post. In the shoot-out it was equal, and when Leeming keeper Jordan Jones fired his penalty home, and Ballajura missed their last spot kick it saw Leeming home. “Over the 120 minutes we did enough to win it but once Ballajura got that goal early in second half, they had something to hold onto and credit to them they really dug in and their supporters got right behind them and made it a really good cup atmosphere,” Leeming Coach David Palin said. “They will feel hard done by being seconds away from going through in 90 minutes but credit to our lads we kept going to the end and got the goal. Once penalties come into it, it’s a coin toss and were happy it fell in our favour and we will look forward to seeing who we get in the Quarter Final.”
Jaguar FC came from two goals down to beat fellow Premier League side Belmont Villa at Herb Graham Recreation Centre. Belmont were ahead early, with a well worked free kick from Ryan Baxter. The visitors doubled their lead just before half time, when Patrick Barry spotted the home keeper off his line and lobbed the ball over home from 28 meters. The Jags pressed after the break but they couldn’t find a way to goal, and things went from bad-to-worse for them when Tony Kur was shown a straight red card. But the ten men hit back and they reduced the margin when a through ball from skipper Juma Wade sent full back Martin Gorong, away beating his marker before cutting the ball back to Michael Wantee who made no mistakes from five meters. It looked like the Jags had run out of time but in the final minute they levelled. A long-range free from Michael Wantee curled around the wall and into the bottom corner to send the game into extra time. It was a bitter blow for Belmont, and Jags were flying and they hit the front for the first time in the match, Wade’s ball sent Ali Elhassan clear to score. The win was secured when Belmont failed to clear a corner and the ball landed to Elhassan which unleashing a screamer to grab his second of the game, and see the Jags into the quarter final.
In other games Division Three side Westnam United beat Division Four side Woodvale 5-1 at Timberlane Park, while Division One side Stirling Panthers beat Division Two side Perth Hills United 4-2 at Yulma Reserve. Premier League side Hamersley Rovers edged out Division Two side East Perth 1-0 at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium. The goal came from a good move from the back, with some nice one touch football and the ball was slipped in behind the defender for Tom Clarke, whose low cross found Dave Morris, who lost his marker to fire home at the back post. “We made hard work of it and was a typical slog fest cup tie. We had the majority of the ball and several chances to put the game to bed second half,” Morris said. “We lacked a bit of finesse in final third but without looking in danger of conceding ourselves. They kept pushing to the final whistle, it wasn’t the prettiest of games but it’s a big win which takes us into the quarter-final draw.”
There was another all Premier League clash at Watson’s Reserve where Wembley Downs beat Southern Spirit 4-0, with goals from Matt Deveraux, Juraj Garba an own goal and Gary McCarthy and an own goal. “It was a great win for us after losing to Ellenbrook, it was a long wait to put things right,” Wembley Coach Sully Sullivan said. “The lads were excellent and we were clinical in front of goal for once, so it was a great result and we look forward to the next round.” In the final game Premier League Kingsley beat Division Three side Olympic Kingsway 3-0 at Kingsway Reserve on Saturday evening. The visitors were ahead on the half hour, a ball over the top from Sean Johnson sent Jayden Drummond clear, he took a touch inside passed the centre half and slid it into the bottom corner.
They doubled their lead nine minutes later. Lee Thomas found Drummond on the left, he eased past his marker and crossed to David Ashworth who headed home. They wrapped up the tie 15 minutes from time, Drummond added his second finishing well from the edge of the box via the post. “The game played out exactly how we expected a bit frantic in the first 20, then we dictated from there on in,” Drummond said. “There was some good football being played and thought we deserved the 3-0 win, fair play to the Kingsway lads they’re not a bad side but we pinned them back early and kept them there, Just need to keep this momentum going now in both the league and the cup.” Here are the Amateur Reserves Cup third round results - Kwinana United 2 Joondalup United 1, Yanchep United 0 Leeming Strikers 3, Ellenbrook United 0 Kingsley 3, Maccabi 1 UWA-Nedlands 2, North Perth United 0 Hamersley Rovers 4, Subiaco 2 Emerald FC 1, Southern Spirit/Gosnells City P Wembley Downs P, Stirling Panthers 1 Warnbro Strikers 4
23.6.2018
GLORY GO TOP AFTER EIGHT GOAL THRILLER
Perth Glory moved to the top of the NPLWA table after an exciting 5-3 win against ECU Joondalup at the ECU Football Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Michael Domfeh put them ahead in the first minute, before an own goal from Luca Bodnar levelled for the home side. Yacoub Mustafa regained the lead for the visitors after the break and then ECU were reduced to ten men with defender Cian Hirrell shown a second yellow card. But in a dramatic final seven minutes there were five more goals, Michael McDougall bagged a brace with Bayley Brown-Montgomery adding the other for the Glory, with Daryl Nicol and Ethan Brooks scoring for ECU, to end a thriller.
“Pleased with the performance, especially with a number of players from our roster missing, and delighted for 17-year-old Zayd Farah who made his debut for us today,” Glory coach John Gibson said. “But we’re not getting carried away, we conceded three really soft goals today, and we lost focus which isn’t like us, but it’s fantastic to come here and get a result. We are not focused on our league positions, we still have eight rounds to go, but today as a collective we did really well, and we’re looking forward to the rest of the season and improving our game in certain areas.”
Glory were ahead in the first minute, McDougall threaded a neat ball into Domfeh, and the striker finished well past Johnny Perkins. But ten minutes later the home side were level in comical circumstances. There looked like danger when Bodnar passed back to keeper Jackson Lee, who slipped and the ball rolled past him into an empty net. The visitors thought they had regained the lead on seven minutes later, McDougall lost his marker, and shot from long-range, but Perkins produced a great save at full stretch to deny him.
The visitors hit the front again on 70 minutes, a short corner caught ECU napping and the ball into the box picked out the unmarked Mustafa whose looping header beat Perkins. Things went from bad to worse for ECU seven minutes later when Hirrell was shown a second yellow card by referee Adam Fielding and was sent off, much to the displeasure of the home supporters. But three minutes from time the Glory added a third. Henry Hore’s free kick found the unmarked McDougall to score.
It looked game over, but the players had other ideas. Second half substitute Brown-Montgomery made it 4-1 sixty second later, and Nicol pulled one back for ECU in the next minute. McDougall then added his second to make it 5-2 in the third minute of stoppage time before ECU substitute Brooks scored a minute later to make it 5-3. “Two players going for the ball, in my day that was a tackle,” ECU Coach Dale McCulloch said. “We are just looking for consistency, and we didn’t get it today. But that’s not why we lost the game, when you defend like we did today at set-pieces you don’t win games, we need to be better than that.”
ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 2 Cian HIRRELL, 3 Kieron STALLARD, 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 7 Cameron MURRAY (15 Adam TONG 75’), 8 Brad MCDONALD (17 Liam MURRAY 87’), 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Andy HIGGINS,13 Tommy AMPHLETT (16 Ethan BROOKS 73’) - Subs not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 12 Ryan MCDARBY - Red Card: Hirrell 77’
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luca BODNAR, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Daniel WALSH, 5 Harry QUIGLEY, 6 Zayd FARAH, 7 Chok DAU (13 Ollie ANNIS 91’), 8 Henry HORE, 9 Michael DOMFEH (12 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY 76’), 10 Michael MCDOUGALL (15 Aidan EDWARDS 94’), 11 Yacoub MUSTAFA - Subs not used: RGK Nicholas SPECA, 14 Nic MCDONALD - Referee: Adam Fielding
23.6.2018
COCKERELS DO THE DOUBLE OVER BAYSWATER
Cockburn City bounced back from last week defeat against ECU Joondalup to beat league leaders Bayswater City 2-1 Frank Drago Reserve, and complete the double over Chris Coyne’s side. Harry O’Brien scored a brace for Cockburn either side of half time to secure the three points, while Bayswater’s Paul Lloyd missed a second half penalty. They eventually scored a consolation goal late in stoppage time, but the defeat means Bayswater lose top spot on the NPLWA table. “It was very important for us to win today,” Cockburn Coach Scott Miller said. “We probably rode our luck a little bit at the start, if I’m honest, I thought they were very good in the first 20 or 25 minutes. But once we got away with that I thought we came into the game and I thought we were outstanding in transition today, and Harry O’Brien with two great finishes.”
Both sides were beaten last week so it was important for them to bounce back and it was the home side who opened the brighter, and they went close to the opener on 23 minutes. The lively Gian Albano raced down the flank and got to the bye-line and his cut back found Luke Ninkovic, who failed to find the target from five meters. It had been backs to the wall for the Cockerels but they survived and started to get in the game, and four minutes later they hit the front. Luccas Mello’s cross picked out O’Brien at the back post, and the former Perth Glory winger volleyed home past Devon Spence.
The home side were well on top at the start of the second half, and created number of good chances, but they were unable to take them. Then against the run of play on 68 minutes Cockburn added a second. A quick counter attack saw Mello play a great diagonal ball to O’Brien, who controlled the ball and found the top corner of the net from the edge of the box. Bayswater weren’t finished and five minutes later second half substitute Salmon was brought down by Cockburn keeper Luke Radonich, and referee Steven Gregory pointed to the spot and booked the Cockburn custodian.
Lloyd stepped up to take the resulting penalty, but the former Western Knights winger blazed over the top. It wasn’t Bayswater’s day but they continue to press and scored a consolation goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Salmon lost his marker to head home a corner, but it was too little too late. “Off the top of my head there was six or seven clear chances today that we should have scored, and obviously Lloydy missing the penalty as well,” Bayswater Coach Chris Coyne said. “But credit where credit is due to Cockburn today, but we need to have a hard look at ourselves and buck our ideas up if we have got any ideas of winning the league.”
Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 5 Adam HARRIS (23 Andrija JUKIC 37’), 6 Todd HOWARTH, 8 Paul MCCARTHY (4 Arran MAPLESTON 77’), 10 Jason MIRCO (22 Luke SALMON 56’), 11 Ryan PEARSON, 12 David STOKOE, 13 Trent KAY, 17 Gian ALBANO, 19 Luka NINKOVIC, 26 Paul LLOYD – Subs not used: 24 Jake SARDELIC, 25 Luke HUTCHINSON
Cockburn City: GK Luke RADONICH, 4 Euen GRANT, 7 Luccas MELLO (12 Ryan PRATT 80’), 8 Cameron EDWARDS, 9 Julian TELES, 10 David ARAYA, 11 Harry O’BRIEN, 12 Ryan PRATT, 14 Daniel SANTICH, 16 Daniel ROBINSON, 17 Jesse LAZZARO, 19 Anthony SKORICH (18 Adam ANFUSO 91’) -Subs not used: RGK Ryan BARKER, 13 Blake ADAMS - Referee: Steven Gregory
23.6.2018
FLOREAT END A DIFFICULT WEEK WITH A WIN
After their Coach Howard Tweats resigned in midweek, Floreat Athena have bounced back with a solid 4-0 win on the road against Joondalup United at Percy Doyle Reserve. Dean Evans gave the visitors the lead at the break, and then he had a penalty saved by debutant keeper Sam Cornwell. But after the break Evans added the second before further goals from Jon Stynes and Hamza Hina gave them the points and moved them to eight on the table. "Both teams had their chances, but especially in the second half, I was very pleased with the performance,” a delighted Floreat interim coach Fadi Ma’ayah said. “Overall, I am happy with the 4-0 scoreline and the three points. We prepared well for the game, and we had a plan and it worked."
Floreat made the perfect start and were ahead on six minutes, Evans was found on the edge of the box and his volley flew into the net giving Cornwell no chance. The home side were giving as good as they got and went close themselves moments later, Jamie Gibson cut in from the left and his shot whistled past the post. Gibson was in again on the half hour, this time he was found by Lee Jones, but his effort failed to find the target. But Floreat had the perfect opportunity to double their lead before the break when referee Julian Serra pointed to the spot after a foul from Matt Sparrow. Evans stepped up to take the resulting penalty but Cornwell guessed the right way to make a great save.
The home side suffered a blow at half time losing skipper Sparrow with injury, and Floreat began to take control and it wasn’t a surprise when they doubled their lead just after the hour. Evans’ stunning free kick from the edge of the box gave Cornwell no chance. Joondalup went close to reducing the lead moments later Gibson’s volley beat Jason Saldaris but crashed off the post. Floreat added a third in controversial circumstances eight minutes from time. Joondalup were convinced their player was fouled, but the referee waved play on, and the ball fell to Stynes, who finished well. The visitors put the icing on the cake in the last minute, Hina was sent clear and he rounded Cornwell to fire into an empty net. "In all fairness, we worked hard, we huffed and puffed, but they are quality. We missed a lot of opportunities but the better team won on the day," Joondalup Coach Nick Jennings said. “Again I think we were victims of poor decisions and poor refereeing which don't help but that's every week, and I thought were unfortunate in the first half not to score, but that's the difference between top and bottom of the league."
Joondalup United: GK Samuel CORNWELL, 2 Johnny CHALMERS, 6 Sam WYNNE, 9 Lee JONES (15 Callum STOCKS 76’), 10 Elliot TATTERSALL, 7 Matthew SPARROW (C) 11 Anthony TAYLOR, 14 Liam MOONEY, 17 Matthew CHERRIE, 22 Jamie GIBSON, 24 Ayden DRAGUN - Subs not used: 19 Adam BUCKLEY, 15 Callum STOCKS, 4 Danny O'Shea, 12 William Kessel
Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 2 Marco SANTA LUCIA, 6 Jessie FULLER, 8 Jon STYNES (13 Hamza HINA 77’) 9 Robert PETKOV (33 Philip ARNOLD 58’) 10 Calvin WHITNEY, 11 Dennis GALAN, 15 Chris SALDARIS, (4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO 24’) 16 Ryan MALTON, 17 Dean EVANS - Subs not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 12 Ahadi ABANDELWA, 20 Keylun POLLARD - Referee: Julian Serra
23.6.2018
SUPER SUB CLARKE EARNS SUBIACO A POINT
A goal in the final minute from Subiaco substitute Matthew Clarke has given them a share of the spoils after a 1-1 draw against Perth SC at Rosalie Park on Saturday afternoon. The visitors were ahead early with Paul Zimarino on target, and it looked like it would be the winner until Clarke popped up to score. “I thought we showed great character last week against Joondalup United to come back and we did the same again today,” Subiaco player/coach Ian McMurray said. “The boys worked extremely hard, and I told the boys beforehand that we have to believe in ourselves and we did that for the 90 minutes today."
Perth, who were coming off four straight wins, started the brighter and were a head on 12 minutes. A great through ball from Nick Ambrogio sent Zimarino in on goal and the midfielder finished with aplomb past Ryan Montgomery. Subiaco thought they had levelled on 20 minutes, when McMurray scored but referee Joshua Nixon disallowed the goal for offside, it was a close call with striker convinced he was onside. But Perth creating the better chances and they went close to doubling their lead on the half hour, Niccolo Sabatini found himself one-on-one with Montgomery, who stood tall to save.
Subiaco were on the front foot after the break and had Perth on the back foot, and Francis Soale had to be alert on the hour to tip over Jackson Dongray’s cross shot. Perth striker Gustavo Catarcione came off the bench and started to cause the Subiaco defence problems, and he was twice denied by the alert Montgomery. It looked like Perth had done enough for the points, but Clarke had other ideas. Anthony Topini’s shot was well saved by Soale, but the rebound fell to Clarke and he made no mistake to give them a point. “I don’t think its bad luck, I think it’s our fault,” Perth coach Ramon Falzon said. “When you dominate the game for so long in possession you need to translate it into chances and into goals.”
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 3 Vasco DA SILVA (4 Robert HARDING 62’), 5 Manase ABANDELWA, 6 Jackson DONGRAY, 9 Adam CARLINO, 12 Nathan SMITH, 13 Jonas DORLING (8 Mathew CLARKE 80’), 15 Anthony TOPINI, 16 Dean APELGREN, 17 Alex CASTIELLO, 19 Ian MCMURRAY (14 Ross JARMAN 60’) - Subs not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 2 Nathan HARDIE
Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE, 2 Alex SILLA, 5 Niccolo SABITINI (9 Gustavo CATARCIONE 62’), 6 Harley ORR, 10 Nicholas AMBROGIO, 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 13 Rocco PIZZATA, 16 Kieran COLWELL, 18 Richard HOWLES (17 Frank FURFARO 74’), 20 Paul ZIMARINO - Subs not used: RGK Daniel PASSARELLI, 14 Kristan SANTICH, 19 George FESTA - Referee: Joshua Nixon
23.6.2018
WILD AT THE DOUBLE FOR BALCATTA
Balcatta striker Alex Wild has scored a brace to hand the home side their first win in six games after 2-0 win against Forrestfield United at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday. The former Bayswater City and Joondalup United striker scored both goals in the first half to hand Goran Stajic’s side the points, and it went from bad to worse for the visitors when defender Jamie Street was sent off. “It’s good to see the boys are getting what they deserve,” Balcatta coach Stajic said. “We have been copping it but we know what we are doing, but we are not far off, I have no doubt we will be up there come the end of the season and I’m so pleased for the club, because it’s a great club. We are a really young group, we are only going to grow and get better.”
Both sides were desperate for the three points at kick off and it was the home side who made the perfect start. Wild raced on to a through ball and lobbed the oncoming Luke Martino to open the scoring. Forrestfield hit back and Street headed wide, before Balcatta custodian Kyle McDonald produced a great save to deny Rhys Loxley. But the home side still looked dangerous, with Asher Nelson and Lawrence Shuruma a constant threat. The pair combined on 23 minutes as Balcatta went close to a second, but Wild’s close-range shot was well blocked by some desperate Forrestfield defending. But seven minutes later the striker made no mistake to double the home sides lead, racing into the box to score past Martino.
It was almost 3-0 in the shadows of half time, Tom Pellizzari rising highest but his header crashed off the crossbar. It was a tighter second half but clear cut chances were few and far between, but Forrestfield still looked dangerous and were getting on top, but that all changed on 66 minutes when they were reduced to ten men, after Street was shown a straight red card by referee David Bruce after a dangerous tackle. Balcatta saw the game out to collect a vital three points and close the gap to the rest of the teams before them at the foot of the table.
Balcatta: GK Kyle MCDONALD, 3 Hayden STEVENS, 4 Calum O’CONNELL, 5 Tom PELLIZZARI, 7 Asher NELSON (11 Nicholas CHALLOT 55’), 8 Carmelo GIUFFRE, 9 Alex WILD, 10 Jonathon CORNESS, 14 Lawrence SHURUMA (6 Kris GATE 86’), 18 Robert DEL BORELLO, 20 Shubham MOKALA - Subs not used: RGK Domenico SALVODELLI, 15 Adriano JELENOVIC, 21 Bleron MAMUDI
Forrestfield United: GK Luke MARTINO, 2 Tom SOUTHGATE, 3 WILBERT TSHABANGU, 4 Leslie MARI (14. Antoine LEMARIE 46’), 5 Scott BARKER, 6 Kristian DESPOTOVSKI (Jordan HART 55’), 9 Hasani SINCLAIR, 11 Liam MERIGAN, 12 Callum DOBBS (8 Mitchell CROCKER 61’), 15 Jamie Street, 23 Rhys LOXLEY - Subs not used: rgk Benjamin PARRY - Red cards: Street 66’ - Referee: David Bruce
23.6.2018
REDS HAND INGLEWOOD THE POINTS
Fair play in football is not dead, and it came to the fore on Saturday as Inglewood United beat Armadale 3-2 at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium. Kenny Keogh put the home side in control at the break, and Brian Woodall doubled their lead with 17 minutes to play. Josh Kuser pulled one back five minutes later before leading scorer Chris Jackson levelled with a controversial equaliser, after scoring from a throw in back to the keeper after the ball had been played out for an injury. But after conversations with his players Armadale coach John O'Reilly advised his team to let Inglewood score to re-do the wrong of Jackson's equaliser, and it proved to be the winner.
"I've got a lot of respect for the game. In that instance, if that had happened to us I would have been fuming," O'Reilly said. "When you're losing 2-1 and the ladder is as close as it is, you don't want to give anything away. But my conscience got the better of me. I spoke to my captain and he agreed. Yes it was a bizarre moment, which happens in football from time to time. I think we did the right thing at the end of the day, but it also took momentum away from us as we were pushing for that equaliser and to give the opposition a reason to want to beat us may have gone against us. Last week we played below our standard and we got a win, and its frustrating when we come to one of the top four teams, put in a solid performance, carve out good opportunities to win and not be able to put the finish on it. It's really gutting."
The home side were in control early and were rewarded on 11 minutes when Keogh finished well from the right to angle between Hutchings and his near post. He was in again a few minutes later, this time his shot that stung the ‘keeper’s gloves. Armadale hit back and Jackson went close to levelling, but his effort flashed over the top, before James Atkins’ shot hit the post. Inglewood finished the half the better and fired inches wide after good approach work with Salmon. Then in the shadows of half time Salmon had a shot saved by Hutchings.
Armadale opened the second half well and Inglewood custodian Alex Dunn had to be alert to hold on Jackson’s powerful shot, and soon after the English striker beat Dunn, but Connor Becsi’s cleared the ball off the line. But on 72 minutes Woodall doubled the home sides lead, rolling into the net after being played through by Salmon. But four minutes later the home side were back in the game, Kuser finishing at the back post.
But on 76 minutes the game took a strange twist. Keogh went down injured and, as the visitors returned possession to Dunn, Jackson stole in to equalise into an unguarded net. There was uproar from the Inglewood players, but Armadale quickly recognised the error and Hutchings rolled the ball across his own line after collecting Salmon’s shot from the kick-off, in a great sporting decision. Salmon could have added his name to the scoresheet in stoppage time but his effort came back off the upright after going clear of the defence.
Inglewood United: GK Alex Dunn, 2 Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS (5 Scott ROBERTSON 70'), 3 David CYRUS, 7 Kenny KEOGH, 8 Jason BARRERA, 9 Alex SALMON, 11 Ellis HEALING (10 Ashley ROSINDALE 58'), 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie MURPHY, 19 Conor BESCI, 23 Brian WOODALL (6 Miki VUJACIC 85') - Subs not used: 4 Scott BLACKMORE, 12 Feisal ZAW.
Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 2 Joshua KUSER, 4 Nathan COSTELLO, 5 David ANNALL, 10 Chris JACKSON, 11 Michael RIZIDIS, 15 Ali GHOLAMI (14 Milan OGNJENOVIC 84'), 16 Charlie SIMPSON, 20 Friday ZICO (17 James ATKINS 45'), 21 Beau RAHIM, 22 Ryan HASLETT (18 Brad GRIEPL 90') - Subs not used: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 3 Delan DE SILVA - Referee: Tom Glavovic
23.6.2018
GULLS BACK IN BUISNESS
Sorrento jumped out of the relegation zone after a 2-1 win against Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park. Jack Salter gave the Gulls the lead, before Cameron Teece doubled their lead against his former club. Steve Sokol gave the Lions hope before half time, and despite pressing late they couldn’t find the equaliser. "I’m really pleased with the win,” Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell said. “I thought in the first half we should have been three or four goals up and the game should have been over, but second half we knew they would come out, we dug in, defended well and limited them to pretty few opportunities."
It was a vital game for both sides and it was the visitors who opened brightly, and Teece’s long-range shot was well saved by Lance Alavakis. But on 17 minutes the visitors hit the front, the lively Scott Witschge cross to Salter, and the New Zealander volleyed home from close-range. The Lions were struggling to cope with the Gulls and they had Alavakis to thank for keeping them in the game. First he saved well to deny Danny Jones, who was sent clear by Witschge, and from the resulting corner he pulled off a great reaction save to thwart Teece. But he could do anything though when Sorrento added a second on 35 minutes. Teece cut in from right and finished clinically past Alavakis from the edge of the box. The Lions need a lift and they found it two minutes later, a scramble in the penalty area ended with Sokol firing home from close-range.
The Lions were on the front foot in the second half and Alex Tanevski went close early. The Gulls looked dangerous on the counter attack and Witschge shot crashed off the post. The home side had two penalties claims turned down by referee Josh Mannella and despite their efforts, the home side couldn’t find a breakthrough and it ended at 2-1. Stirling coach Keegan Ashley was disappointed with the result, which marked his side’s fifth consecutive loss. “I thought the boys worked hard, fought it out,” he said. “We were denied an obvious penalty, but we’ll just keep pushing on.”
Stirling Lions: GK Lance ALAVAKIS, 2 David MOLINARI, 5 Liam HENDERSON, 6 Dhuors CHOL, 8 Dejan SPASESKI (19 Zane CASELLA 81’), 10 David MICEVSKI, 11 Alex TANEVSKI (13 David FILIPPOU 91’), 14 Steve SOKOL, 15 Nathan DE ABREU, 16 Nicholas ASHLEY, 17 Abu DULLEH (12 Daniel HEPWORTH 76’) – Subs: RGK Pasquale GIOFFRE, 18 Joey PERKINS,
Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 3 Jaxon TEMATA, 6 Daryl PLATTEN, 8 Scott WITSCHGE, 11 Tim HILL, 16 Chris BALAZS, 18 Jordan BROWN, 19 Jack SALTER (7 Alex MORGAN 91’), 21 Godwin DARKWA (10 Jordan ROBERTS 70’), 22 Danny JONES, 23 Cameron TEECE (17 Reece VITTIGLIA 65’) – Subs: RGK Anastasis FARSALEAS, 13 Steve MCDONALD – Referee: Josh Mannella
23.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND ELEVEN – REVIEW
State League Division One league leaders Gwelup Croatia are back in the winner’s circle after a 2-1 win in the Croatian Derby against Western Knights in Week 11 at Wishart Street on Saturday. After back-to-back defeats Gwelup were desperate and they were ahead on the half hour. James Sammut's corner picked out Noah Shamaki, whose header went in off the upright. The visitors went close to the equaliser just before half time, Dean Hurley pinched the pocket of the Gwelup defender but his shot was well saved by Gwelup custodian Riley Stephenson. The Knights were on the front foot after the break and went close again on the hour, Steve Burton got around his marker and crossed from the bye-line to Josh Cortez, who with the goal at his mercy blazed over the top. But moments later that miss was forgotten as the Knights levelled, Burton losing his marker to head home a free kick. The Knights went close to the lead when Burton played in Jonty Turner, whose shot from the angle was well saved by the alert Stephenson.
It looked like the points would be shared, but six minutes from time the home side won it, David Heagney was found on the edge of the box, and his shot flew past Sam Stone. The Knights had the opportunity to take a share of the spoils late, when Burton's deft chip beat Stephenson, but the crossbar came the rescue of the Gwelup keeper. “It wasn’t the best performance over 90 minutes but we’ll take the three points,” Gwelup coach Taki Nicolaidis said. “It was pretty much a game of two halves today, I thought we were quite disciplined and played the ball quite well in the first-half, but in the second-half they came out and put us under a bit of pressure but we put our bodies on the line when it counted. We’ve dropped points in the last two games, so it was important today that we maintained out position at the top.”
Rockingham City kept the pressure on the leaders after a come from behind 2-1 win against Fremantle City at Hilton Park. The home side were ahead when Callum Roberts scored, but the visitors hit straight back and levelled two minutes later. A quick counter attack saw James Harmer race down the flank, and his cross found Koty Millard at the back post who volleyed home. But Cameron Lord's side found the equaliser, when a corner was played to the back post and Josh MacKinder fired across goal for Millard to tap home for his second. "A thoroughly deserved win, and a much-needed win after the disappointing draw last week. We got back to the levels we have shown in recent weeks and were rewarded for some of the football that we try play," Lord said. "Fremantle are a big, strong team and you can see why they are where they are in the league, but we had to withstand a long-throw and set-piece onslaught towards the end, but we got rewarded for continuously trying to play our game."
UWA-Nedlands and Morley Windmills fought out a six goal thriller at the UAW Sports Park. Morley’s Italian striker Niccola Gazzola opened the scoring, but the home side were level five minutes before half time when Conor Devlin scored from the spot after Alex Kretowicz was brought down in the box. But before the break Morley regained their lead, Devlin turning the ball into his own net. After the break Luke Randazzo fired just wide, but they were level when Devlin curling shot flashed past Yousri Gharsallah. But moments latter Morley regained the lead second half substitute Darren Francis heading home from close-range. It looked like Morley had the points but in stoppage time Kretowicz eased past a number of defenders before finishing clinically to earn UWA a point.
In other games Dianella White Eagles have bounced back from back-to-back defeats with a 1-0 win against Mandurah City at Securitas Protect Stadium. The only goal of the game came when a ball from the right found Yves Mwali, who beat a player and played into Scott Newland who received the ball on the edge of the box, swiveled and drilled it into the top of the net. “I thought we were deserved winners, we tried to play football but unfortunately the pitched didn't help,” Eagles Coach Salv Todaro said. “We competed extremely well and always had Mandurah under pressure when they went forward. Pleasing aspect was that we gave a starting debut to 17 year Derrick Data and a debut off the bench for 16 year old Filip Minic.” In the final game Ashfield and Joondalup City drew 2-2 at Ashfield Reserve. Dan Tait gave the hosts the lead, before Jonny Hulme levelled after been sent one-on-one with the keeper. Ashfield regained the lead though Kevin Ashwood, but City restored parity to earn a point when Jamie Gardiner cut inside his marker to score. “I think we deserved a better result than a draw,” Hulme said. “All the lads played really well and we dominated the game at times, but we gave away two sloppy goals.” – South West Phoenix had the bye this week.
23.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND ELEVEN – REVIEW
Olympic Kingsway maintained their lead at the top of the State League Division Two after a hard fought 1-0 win against Curtin University at Kingsway Reserve. The only goal of the game came in the second half from top goal scorer Danny Hodgson. The English striker’s long-range free kick went over the wall and right into the top corner. “The first half of the game is the best we’ve played all season although it was 0-0 at half time I think we’d had about 90% if the possession,” Hodgson said. “The second half they made it hard for us and we didn’t create as many chances as we wanted. Overall it was a good win against a good side I’m sure that they’ll take points off good teams in the second half of the season.”
Wanneroo City are still two points behind the leaders after a comprehensive 4-1 win against bottom of the table Shamrock Rovers at Harold Rossiter Reserve. The home side did hit the front early and led 1-0 at the break and a shock looked on the cards. But after the break City took control. They were level five minutes in, Scott Johnston fired home from an acute angle. They were ahead when impressive combination play between Connor Lynch and Jamie Stewart saw Stewart brought down 20 yards out. Stewart stepped up and scored with a stunning curling and dipping free kick. It was 3-1 on the hour when some great build up play involving four or five players ended with Ash Corker whose long range shot flew into the net giving the keeper no chance. Youngster Flynn Nolan came on and with his second touch of the game lobbed the keeper superb from long-range to round off the scoring. “We are getting better and better each week and now our attention turns to Kingsway who are still undefeated,” Wanneroo Coach Tim Kantor said. “The lads have been waiting for this game for 10 weeks and whilst we will show them the respect they deserve we will go into the game with no fear and some momentum. Should be a cracking game.”
Murdoch University Melville closed the gap on Swan United after beating them 3-1 at Murdoch Uni Synthetic Arena. We were very pleased with the whole performance. I thought we created a huge number of chances and totally outplayed Swan,” Coach Gavin Brown said. “As well as scoring three, we also hit the post in each half and the bar, as well as missing a couple of one vs ones. Our young boys stood up against a very experienced team who have been getting great results, so it was a big result for us and I thought Amel Dzaferovic was outstanding.” The home side were a head when a stunning volley from Dean Thurston gave Joey Smith no chance. The Swans were level when a mix up at the back ended in an own goal. But MUM were on top and the woodwork came to Swans rescue on three occasion. But they did regain their lead when Matt Sljivic lobbed the keeper. They made sure of the points after the break with Simon El Chami on target. “This was a very important game for both sides and i think our desire and work rate reflected that,” Christian Long added. “We played the ball around well and with pace, creating some good chances for ourselves. Our hard work paid off in the end and I think the result is a fair reflection of the game.”
Balga are up to fifth after a 3-1 win against Kelmscott Roos at Frye Park. Kris Spaseski went close to the opener early for the visitors, after he was sent clear by Nahom Michael, he rounded the keeper but fired wide. A minute later Vinnie Longo picked out new signing Igor Novakovic, who shot flashed inches past the post. It was one-way traffic and on 12 minutes Spaseski sent Longo, with only the keeper to beat, but Kristian Usedo stood tall to make a great save. The Kelmscott keeper was keeping his side in the game with great saves to deny Michael and Novakovic but there was nothing he could do when Balga hit the front on 22 minutes. Jason Stepanovski's corner was head back across goal by Novakovic, and in the goal mouth scramble Michael scored. But the home side hit back and levelled, Lynden Pywell was sent clear and he finished well past Jordan Howell. Both sides had chances after the break, but it was Balga who regained the lead, Longo pass set up Michael whose shot from just inside the box on an angle went in off the post. Balga put the icing on the cake six minutes from time, Michael crossed to Spaseski who calmly finished.
In the final game Quinns good run came to an end after they were beaten 4-0 by Gosnells City at Walter Padbury Reserve. The home side were ahead when Komando Sikazwe volleyed home from eight meters. It was 2-0 when Chris Holland played in Jordan Parfitt, who held off his marker, rounded the keeper to score. New Coach Brad Ruston must have been delighted the way his players were performing and it got better when they added a third. Parfitt found Dan Stone on the right, and he skipped into the box rounded the keeper to score. They added a fourth when Stone eased down the flank and cut inside the penalty area and finished clinically to seal a good win for the home side. “It was a massive three points for us today and well deserved, and I did say we were confident of beating them, but 4-0 was even a slight shock to me,” Holland explained. “It’s been a long time coming we were due to thrash a team and unfortunately for Quinns it was them.” – Canning City had the bye.
22.6.2018
SPIRANOVIC JOINS HIGH-PROFILE GLORY SIGNINGS
New Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic continues to add depth to his new-look backline with the signing of former Socceroos defender Matthew Spiranovic. Defence was a much-needed focus for Popovic after Glory leaked 50 goals last season, the second worst record in the A-League.
Spiranovic, who has signed a one-year deal, is the third defender signed by Popovic since his arrival. The 29-year old centre-back joins fellow defenders Tomislav Mrcela, formerly of South Korean club Jeonnam Dragons, and Ivan Franjic, who has represented Australia on 20 occasions.
Spiranovic has 35 Socceroos appearances to his name, the most recent of which was Australia’s 2-0 loss to Japan last August. He was member of the 2015 Asian Cup winning side under Ange Postecoglou and started in the 2-1 final win over South Korea.
"I'm really happy to have signed with Perth Glory, it's great to be back in Australia playing football," Spiranovic said. "It's fair to say Popovic has had a big influence on my decision to come to the club, he's a fantastic coach with a winning mentality."
A product of the Australian Institute of Sport, Spiranovic played four seasons with Bundesliga side FC Nurnberg from 2007. He has since played for Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan), Al Arabi (Qatar), Western Sydney Wanderers (Australia) and Hangzhou Greentown (Japan).
22.6.2018
SAINSBURY: WE SHOWED TRUE AUSSIE SPIRIT
Trent Sainsbury says his side showed “Aussie spirit” in their 1-1 World Cup draw with Denmark in Samara tonight. The Socceroos are ranked 36th in the world and took it to the Danes, ranked 12th, in the second match of group C.
Australia now turn their attentions to Peru in Sochi next week when the Socceroos need to win to reach the knockout stages. Sainsbury is aware of the flair Peru possess, but has taken confidence out of their games against France and Denmark.
“Out there on the pitch, we showed that true Aussie spirit, we won’t go down without trying,” Sainsbury said post-match. “Not many people gave us a chance going into this World Cup, but the belief amongst the group has always been strong.”
“We know our qualities, we’ve been together for a long time. The ability that the boys have, everyone knows it and we just need to get that little bit of luck going our way. I’m disappointed we didn’t draw to France and I’m disappointed we didn’t beat Denmark, but we’ll take the point and move on.”
Sainsbury also heaped praise on the traveling Australian fans for their support in Russia 2018. “The Peruvian fans are amazing and it’d be nice to see our fans against theirs,” he said. “It’s been pretty crazy, it makes you proud to be an Aussie, at the end, also seeing the sea of gold, it was nice.”
22.6.2018
NPL-WA ROUND EIGHTEEN PREVIEW
It's week 18 of the NPL-WA and this week 'Match of the Round' takes us to the ECU Football Stadium where ECU Joondalup host the inform Perth Glory. Both sides are coming off big wins last week, the Glory made it seven games unbeaten with a 6-1 win against Forrestfield United, while ECU got back in the winner’s circle after two straight defeats, with a 4-2 win at Cockburn City. The last time these two sides met at the venue a late goal from Glory striker Joe Knowles gave them 1-1 draw. Shane Pickering turned home Sam Pollard’s free kick early for the home side, and it looked like that would be enough for Dale McCulloch’s side, but Knowles had the last word firing home to share the spoils.
Many people have been waiting for the Glory youngsters to slip up, but this season they are playing well and finding the consistency that has been missing in other seasons. Defender Walter Scott, who made his A-League debut for the club last season, has been a rock at the back and he said last week’s win was a good team performance. "Last week was a great result against a really strong team,” he said. “We were unhappy we couldn’t keep a clean sheet, but very satisfied with the performance.” Scott, whose hard running, both in defence and attack, is one of many Glory players who have impressed this season, and Scott said Head coach John Gibson deserves a great deal of credit for the work he has put into the program. "We are really pleased to have started to find consistency with our performances and results,” he said. “We owe Gibbo a great deal, he sacrifices so much for us, and has taught copious amounts about football. It has been a long process as you said and it’s good to see it paying off.” A trip to ECU is never ease, and the Glory have never won at the Campus, and Scott said they will be doing all they can to change that on Saturday. "ECU are a very strong side, who on their day can beat anyone,” he explained. “It will be a great test this weekend, we want the three points. All the boys are very excited and prepared for an extremely competitive fixture.”
ECU's big win last week saw them move to within five points of a top four finals spot, and Scottish striker Gordon Smith, who missed the game due to suspension, said they went to Cockburn with a game plan and get it spot on. "It was a massive win against Cockburn, who have been flying this season,” he said. “We were the better team from start to finish and managed to take our chances, which we have failed to do in previous games when on top.” Smith said an unsettled side has hurt ECU this season, but they are now getting the squad fit and competition for places is intense. "With boys coming back from injury’s we are close to full strength which can hopefully lead to a good run of results and push us up the league,” he said. “We put a marker down last week and it’s up to us to maintain it now.” Smith is well aware the talent the Glory have in their squad, but he said the Jacks are determined to keep their push up the table in motion and are looking for the three points on Saturday. "Glory will be a tough game, they have a lot of exciting young players who can hurt you given the space and time,” he explained. “But we are looking to get back to back wins and push on and will be doing everything we can to make that happen.”
Inglewood United produced a tremendous performance last week to beat league leaders Bayswater City and this week they host Armadale at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium. With Kenny Keogh back in the dugout Inglewood showed they are not to be forgotten in the title race, and they will need all their fighting spirit against an Armadale side are on the up. The Reds have reached the State League Cup Final and moved up to seventh after a big win against Stirling Lions, and midfielder Ali Gholami said it was a great win especially after conceded an early goal. "We fell behind early, but credit to the boys, we never gave up and showed our character by coming from behind to win the game,” he said. “It was also a nice way to bounce back from our loss to Perth the week before.” The former Perth Glory and Cockburn midfielder said Saturday is a huge test against a side who are on a five game unbeaten run, but they will go with a game plan and look for a positive result. "We are aware of Inglewood’s quality, however we just focus on ourselves, and we go into every game looking for a positive result,” he said. “In our last game we came away with a point at home, considering we lost a man early in the second half to a red card. But we take each game as it comes, but it should be an interesting match.”
League leaders Bayswater City return home this week when they host third placed Cockburn City at Frank Drago Reserve. Cockburn were surprisingly beaten last week by ECU, but they were missing experienced trio Euen Grant, Ruben Tristao and Anthony Skorich, all are expected to return on Saturday. Bayswater's seven game winning streak came to an end last week at Inglewood, and central defender David Stokoe said the game could have gone either way, and they did have their chances. "I thought the game was quite close, we both had chances but some days it’s just doesn’t go your way,” he said. “I thought we started well, but in the end Inglewood deserved the win.” Cockburn beat Bayswater in the first meeting this season, but Stokoe said the squad is stronger now, and the players are all determined to bounce back this week and get the three points. "Cockburn are always really hard to play against. I’ve played under Scott (Miller) before and know how well drilled his teams are and how they are especially hard to break down,” he explained. “It’s a great game to have after a defeat as you have to play your best to get any kind of result against them and hopefully we can reach those levels again after last week.”
Perth are moving in the right direction after a mid-season slump, and this week they travel to Rosalie Park to take on Subiaco. Ian McMurray's side are coming off two vital wins against ECU and Joondalup United, and they are hard to beat this season, and the Scotsman will be hoping to one over one of his former clubs. Perth head into this game after a hard fought win at Floreat Athena last week, the three points kept them in fourth spot, only seven points behind the leaders. The return of WA State keeper Francis Soale to the starting line-up has been a huge catalyst in the resurgence of Perth's fortunes, and he said last week wasn't their best performance, but they fought it out and got the rewards. "It did turn into a bit of a dog fight last weekend,” he said. “But it in the end we probably wanted it a bit more and deservedly came away with the win and a clean sheet which is all that matters to us moving into this stage of the season.” Soale said Subiaco have showed this season they are hard to beat, and he knows Saturday will be another huge test. "Subiaco have had a few decent results of late which is nice for them,” he said. “From our perspective we’re improving with each game since our little mid-season dip. We’re just about back to having a full complement of players, trainings lifted a gear, and we’ll be ready to come out swinging on Saturday.”
Sorrento moved back in to the winners-circle last week with a hard fought home win against Balcatta, and this week they travel to Macedonia Park to take on Stirling Lions. Keegan Ashley's side have slipped off the pace in recent weeks and were well beaten at Armadale last week, a loss which saw them slip to eighth on the table. Cameron Teece's goal last week was a huge lift for the Gulls and Coach Jamie Harnwell said it was a well-deserved win and much needed win. "Last week was a very important victory for the club. Again we had some good chances but didn't take them and I thought we would get punished for that after giving away a penalty,” he explained. “But credit to James Morgan though, he made a great save to keep it 0-0 and Cameron Teece showed the goal scoring instincts he possesses by nodding in such a valuable goal.” Harnwell said they haven't had the luck this season, but it's no excuse, and after last week’s win they need to start to get on a good run of results starting Saturday against a good Lions side. "We've certainly not had the rub of the green on a number of occasions but I'm also a big believer that if you continue to do things well and professionally the luck will take care of itself,” he said. “We know that Stirling will be hurting after last week's game and be desperate to make amends so we will have to be up for the game again and match their work rate and aggression in the first instance.”
Balcatta need to start to get results if they are not to get left behind at the foot of the table, and this week they host Forrestfield United at Grindleford Reserve. The loss at Sorrento dropped Goran Stajic's side to second bottom of the table, but they are only four points off Saturday's opponents so it's a vital game for them. Forrestfield are coming off a heavy loss at Glory last week, which ended a good run of form, and new central defender Jamie Street said it was just one of those days. "It was a disappointing result overall, losing is never nice but 6-1 was hard to take,” he said. “Glory are flying and turning teams over but we were within a chance of getting a result, we did well for 41 minutes but conceding two goals just before half time made it hard even with the early goal we scored in the second half.” Street, who has returned to WA after playing a number of seasons in the UK, said Saturday is a big game for both sides, but he is confident they can get the job done. "It’s a huge game on Saturday against Balcatta, we are full of confidence, each game is huge at the minute with the table being so tight and everyone fighting to stay in the league,” the defender said. “We’ve been doing things right recently and hopefully we can prove that the defeat on the weekend was just a little hiccup. We’re taking it week game by game.”
In the final game bottom of the table Joondalup United host Floreat Athena at Percy Doyle Reserve. Both these sides are coming of defeats last week, Floreat were beaten at home by Perth, while Joondalup let a lead slip to lose at Subiaco. Keeper James Bosdet thought they dominated for large periods of the game and said they deserved something from the game, but errors cost them. "I feel like a broken record. We didn’t deserve to lose the game, we played really well in parts but again come away with no points,” he said. “The ref didn’t help again and has killed us with the penalty call at 2-1, but we are used to decisions going against us being a smaller club.” Bosdet said over the past month they have been in every game for long periods, but their profligacy in front of goal has cost them, but he knows if they put in a 90 plus minute performance they can get the points on Saturday. "We always think we can win most games, and apart from two games this season we have been in every game until mistakes have cost us,” the keeper explained. “We will see what happens this week, hopefully the boys can put in another good performance and we can get a fair referee.”
22.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND ELEVEN – PREVIEW
It's week ten of the State League Division One and this week’s Football.net 'Match of the Round' takes us to Wishart Street for the Croatian derby as Gwelup Croatia host Western Knights. The Knights are coming off the bye, while Gwelup were beaten at Morley Windmills, and suffering back-to-back defeats. For the Knights the bye probably came at the right time, a good run of form ended with defeat at UWA, but they bounced back with a tough 2-1 win against Morley the following week. Defender Graham Tough said it was a good to have the week off and get ready for some big games coming up. “The bye came at a time where we had a few lads with knocks so it meant they had a bit of time to recover,” he said. “But after a good hard fought win against Morley you want to get back out there straight away and keep the ball rolling.” The Knights struggled earlier in the season, losing the opening two games but Tough said they are now starting to hit their straps. “Every game from now on in is a cup final if we want to win the league. We are under no illusions that this league is a tough league with four points separating the top six,” he said. “Everyone can beat anyone in the league which makes it interesting for the neutral and makes every point gained that more valuable.” Tough said they are all looking forward to the Derby, and he said should be a great game and a big crowd on hand to watch. “Saturday’s game is huge, for the players, the fans, the committee and the volunteers,” he said. “It's the games that you want to play in as a player and I dare say there will be a feisty atmosphere on Saturday with so much on the line for both teams. We will be more than ready and up for this derby match and we are confident as a team to come away with the points.”
After the euphoria of reaching the last 32 of the FFA Cup, Gwelup have struggled, and last week’s loss at Morley was disappointing especially after taking the lead, and defender Cameron Yorke said they had chances to win it. “We go out to win every game and so to come away with nothing was very disappointing,” he said. “We felt overall we did enough to win the game, so we now we need to move on and focus on the game this weekend, and make sure we come away with the 3 points.” It's been a huge month for Gwelup in league and cup, securing a spot in the Belt-Up State League Cup against Armadale, and Yorke said it's huge for everyone involved at the club. "We've had a fantastic start to the season, and before the game against Rockingham we were undefeated in all competitions,” he said. “That's been down to the work ethic and determination of the whole group and so we are looking to go on another run like that for the second half of the season. We're all stoked to have made the final and it can't come soon enough for us.” Yorke said they need to get back to winning ways in the league, and he knows Saturday is a huge game for both clubs but a win is huge for Gwelup. "It is a big game and there's probably a bit more pressure on us given the last couple of results haven't gone our way,” the defender said. “We have the quality and experience to beat anyone on our day so we just need to go out there and do our jobs, and the result will take care of itself. Everyone is up for it and we want to finish the first half of the season with a win.’
Rockingham City lost a chance to close the game on leaders Gwelup after a 1-1 draw at home to the Phoenix. This week they travel to Hilton Reserve to take on fourth placed Fremantle City. Both sides are level on points, and Fremantle are coming off a 2-1 win at Dianella last week, so this one should be a cracker. Rockingham’s Jason Pottier said it was really disappointing especially after the win at Gwelup the week before. “It was really disappointing not to come out with all three points last Saturday, we definitely had the chances to win the game in the first half but we didn’t play anywhere near our best,” he said. “It was hard to take especially after showing how well we can play in the Gwelup game.” Pottier is expecting another tough encounter at Fremantle on Saturday, and he said it’s tight at the table of the table with only four points separating the top six. “It’s another huge game for the club this weekend against Fremantle,” he said. “I know a few boys there and I think they have the quality to be up there this season, but I know if we play anywhere near our best I know we have enough to get the win. So it’s definitely a game we want to win if we want to win the league this year.”
In other games Mandurah City and Dianella White Eagles meet at Securitas Protect Stadium, with both side looking to bounce back defeats last week. Morley Windmills will be on a high after beating Gwelup last week, take on UWA Nedlands at the UWA Sports Park. UWA will be determined to bounce back after their loss against Ashfield at the same venue last week. In the final game Ashfield host Joondalup City at the Ashfield Arena. Ashfield are coming off an impressive 2-0 win at UWA, while Joondalup edged out Mandurah 3-2. Joondalup winger Jonny Hulme said it was good to get to winning ways after their first win since round three. “It was a great win for the team we left it late but managed to get the three points which was really important,” he said. “We’ve been playing well and we’re just getting unlucky with the results but I’m sure we can start getting some more wins.” Hulme said Saturday is a tough test against a good Ashfield side but he said new coach Peter Dearlove and the players are looking forward to the challenge. “We’re all really looking forward to the game this week coming off the back of the win last week we’ve got a confidence boost so it will be a challenge,” he said. “But we’re going to be looking to get something out of this game we’ve got some quality players and I think we can pull it off.” – South West Phoenix have the bye
22.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND ELEVEN – PREVIEW
The Round ten State league Division Two Footballwa.net ‘Match of the Week’ takes us to Walter Padbury Reserve where Gosnells City entertain Quinns. Both sides are coming off completely different results, Quinns thrashed Canning City, while Gosnells were beaten 1-3 at Curtin University. Quinn’s striker Craig Tooley said the win last week against Canning was good, especially after their loss against Wanneroo. “It’s always good to bounce back after a defeat,” he said. “We were disappointed after the loss against Wanneroo, so to win and get a few goals on the scoresheet as well was pleasing.” Tooley said Gosnells will be up for Saturday’s game especially with a new coach in charge. “We know ourselves how much a new coach can influence a squad,” he said. “We saw what happened when we got a new manager and it gives everyone a lift, so we won’t be taking anything for granted when we travel down to Gosnells this weekend.”
Gosnells new signing Chris Holland said it good to be back home and looking forward to helping them up the table. “I’ve always been a Gosnells fan and couldn’t believe they went down last season, so as soon as the opportunity came to sign it was a no brainer,” he said. “I’ll do my best to ensure we stay up this season and push for promotion next year. The time was right to leave Fremantle after a small injury I found myself dropping down the pecking order and with Gosnells struggling for a striker the fit was perfect.” Holland made his debut last week in the loss at Curtin and was on the scoreboard, but he said they should have taken something from the game. “Yes it really was a game of two halves we completely dominated the first half, after my goal I don’t remember Curtin having one decent shot or our keeper having anything to do,” he said.
“There goal was a defensive error, but fair play to Curtin second half they were the better team and came out with purpose and deserved the win, we are still gelling together after a few new additions mid-season.” This week’s game is another big test for Brad Rushton’s side, with Quinns in good form, but Holland said they have worked hard this week on the track and are looking forward to the game. “Quinns are going to be well organised and physical, we know that, though they are the ones traveling to Gosnells which is a hard place to take points as we showed against Swan two weeks ago,” he said. “We have our game plan set up and we want nothing but a win from Saturday and I’m confident we can get that with hard work and the great support we have down at Gosnells.”
League leaders Olympic Kingsway head back home this week when they host Curtin University at Kingsway Reserve. Curtin University won 3-1 at home to Gosnells City, while Danny
Hodgson’s goal gave Olympic a 1-0 win in the top of the table clash at Swan. The striker said it was a hard fought win. “It was a great win, and puts us a few points clear at the top but it’s one game at a time,” he said. “I think we deserved the win, and we’re the only team unbeaten in league now so every team is going to want to be the first team to beat us. Swan was a hard place to get the points but again we showed character and got the job done.” Hodgson said the players are looking forward to get back home this week. “The boys are up for the game, we know every team is going to come to try win and not hold back,” he said. “We’ve been training really well over the last few weeks and the win on the weekend has made a good environment around the club. Back on our home pitch this week so I’m confident we’ll play some nice football and get the three points.”
In other games Murdoch University host Swan United at Murdoch University. MUM are coming off a 2-0 win at Kelmscott last week, while Swan were beaten for the first time this season by Kingsway. Wanneroo make the trip to Harold Rossiter Reserve to take on Shamrock Rovers looking to maintain their push at the top of the table. They beat Balga last week and sit only two points from Kingsway, while Shamrock are coming off the bye. In the final game Kelmscott Roos host Balga at Frye Park. Balga were beaten by Wanneroo, while Kelmscott were edged out by MUM, and Kelmscott coach Aron Beattie said they deserved something from the game. “The loss last week is hard to take but in a good way, we lost the game but deserved something from it with the way the lads performed the passing and movement of the ball was fantastic we just couldn’t put our chances away,” he said. “Melville did with their two penalties, but I do have to say that it was a great game to be a part of both sides played really entertaining football and I knew the crowd really enjoyed themselves.” Beattie said they are looking forward to the game on Saturday against a good Balga side. “I’m looking forward to this week’s match against another top quality team in Balga, just as much as the players,” he explained. “For me I’m looking for consistency from my boys, from week to week we are up and down and you can’t do that in this league and I know Balga will be just as hungry for the three points after a loss last week and they are knocking on the door of the top four so we have to be at our very best to get anything out of the game.” – Canning City have the bye this week.
22.6.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR CUP - ROUND THREE – PREVIEW
It's round three of the Belt-Up Amateur Cup on Sunday and the Footballwa.net 'Match of the Round' takes us to the Cracovia Sporting Complex, where second round giant killers Cracovia White Eagles from Division Two host Division One league leaders Joondalup United. Joondalup reached Sunday's game after a 4-0 win against Bassendean Caledonians and Coach Ben Williams said despite the scoreline it was a tight game. “I thought Bassendean were very organised and physical side,” he said. “They made us work hard for our win and our fitness showed in the end.” Williams side sit top of the league, but he said Division One this season is very competitive, and the top of league is tight. "This year there are some very good sides Stirling are great, very good organized team, we beat them in added time in a game that was very evenly matched,” he explained. “Quinns seem to be doing very well and we were beaten away by them great striker and young fit team full of running, while Gosnells, who we play next round, have also done very well almost going under the radar early on. The league is going to be very close and could be won on the head to head games between the top sides which are six pointers the way the table looks.”
The coach is expecting another tough encounter against Cracovia, but hopes they can make the last eight. “Cracovia are in good form this year coming of big win against North Beach, and they seem to score a lot of goals, and I have seen the forward Jacob Wemyss has 19 goals already this year so we will need to pay him attention,” Williams said. “We have often struggled at Cracovia’s ground over last few seasons winning only once in three tries so I'm sure we will have to be at our best Sunday and get back to winning ways after a lack luster performance last weekend which we struggled to get out of third gear and were made pay by Perth Royals taking nothing away from Royals who definitely deserved a share of the points. I’m looking forward to the cup game and hope both our First and Reserves can progress to the last eight.”
Cracovia stunned cup holders Kwinana United in the last round and top goalscorer Jacob Wemyss said it gave the club a huge boost. "Beating Kwinana was a huge confidence boost for the team,” he said. “We had them chasing most of the game so it was good for us to know that we can play and win against higher division teams.” They currently sit seventh in Division Two and are coming off a big win against league leaders North Perth last week, and Wemyss said it was a good performance. "After having our game the week before North Beach called off for bad weather I think all the boys were pretty pumped to get back on the pitch and feeling fresh,” Wemyss said. “Putting six past the side top of the table is good, but more importantly we were able to keep them to just the only one goal which has been our main struggles lately.” Wemyss said they haven't had much success against Joondalup in the past but he hopes to change that on Sunday. "They (Joondalup) has always been a bit of bogey team of ours,” he said. “They’re a quality side and it shows on the league ladder but the boys are confident we’ll be able to follow up our win against Kwinana and get through to the next round.”
Premier League leaders Leeming Strikers hit the road in round three when they travel to Kingfisher Park to take on Division One side Ballajura. Ballajura beat Yanchep United in the last round while David Palin's side edged out Stirling Lions. The Coach said it's a cup tie and anything can happen. "It’s always tough when you play teams outside your own league, so it’s important we approach the game in the right manner and I’m sure the players will do that Sunday,” Palin said. “There’s nothing better than a night cup game and that’s what awaits the winner so it should be a good game.” Another Premier League side to take on lower opposition is Kingsley, who travel to Kingsway Reserve to take on Olympic Kingsway on Saturday afternoon (5pm) Olympic beat Premier League side Ellenbrook United in last round, while Kingsley thrashed South Perth United and Coach Steven Dimitrovich said this game is going to be a tough one. “This game is another test for us against Kingsway because as we all know cup games can throw up strange results and if we aren’t mentally prepared and go in with the wrong attitude then we could be in for a long night,” he explained. “I’m pretty sure Sam and Jason will have Kingsway fired up for this game and prepared well. Will be a little bit of a strange one for us going to Kingsway with no less than nine of us going back to a club that we all once played for at some time during our careers but sentiment will have no bearing on the way we prepare and go about our business on Saturday night."
In other games there are two all Premier League ties, when Jaguars FC host Belmont villa at Herb Graham Recreation Centre, while Wembley Downs make the trip to Watsons Reserve to take on Southern Spirit. Division Four side Woodvale host Division Three side Westnam United at Timberlane Park, while Division One side Stirling Panthers entertain Division Two side Perth Hills United at Yulma Reserve. In the final game Premier League Hamersley Rovers travel to the Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium to take on Division Three side East Perth. Rovers' David Morris said they have played East Perth before and are expecting another tight game. “Having played them several years in either the cup or pre-season games, we know what to expect,” he said. “Especially down at Hamersley, as we faced them in the semifinal of the night series a couple of years back at the same venue. It was your typical Irish side - physical, hard battle with them pushing right to the end. We went down by the odd goal, right at the death and will be expecting the same kind of game this time around. No excuses on that great big pitch with a lovely surface for playing football on the deck. Here's hoping we can come out the right side of the result and continue our cup run to the pointy end.”
21.6.2018
SOCCEROOS STAY ALIVE WITH GUTSY DRAW AGAINST DENMARK
The dream is alive, and the Socceroos still have the chance to make history. A 1-1 draw with Denmark means Australia must defeat Peru on Tuesday night to have hope of advancing from their group, after a thrilling and inspired display in Samara.
A goal behind to Christian Eriksen early on, the Australians galvanised against a side ranked 24 places above them. Victory would have been entirely deserved after Bert van Marwijk’s side carved out a series of second half chances. But in the end they could only register Mile Jedinak’s second penalty in successive games.
After all the optimism generated by the calibre of performance against France, it was desperately disappointing to concede to an Eriksen half-volley in just the 6th minute. Denmark then found their rhythm and moved the ball around with flair.
The Socceroos, though, have character in abundance and on 38 minutes Jedinak levelled proceedings from the penalty spot. Referee Antonio Lahoz initially missed Mathew Leckie’s header being blocked by the arm of Yussuf Poulsen, but the Video Assisted Referee didn’t.
Eriksen drove a low free-kick across the face of goal and hit Trent Sainsbury, who was saved from conceding an own goal by Matt Ryan’s goalline save. The tempo increased for the closing stages as van Marwijk’s side began to take control.
Leckie’s drive across goal was hacked clear by Andreas Christense, Aaron Mooy grazed the crossbar and Rogic then Leckie tested Schmeichel with further shots. Substitute Daniel Arzani dancing around Pione Sisto and firing a cross-shot that couldn’t find an Australian boot. Like the end result, it was so near and yet so far
20.6.2018
NEVILLE RELISHING CHALLENGE AS GLORY RETURN TO TRAINING
The squad is back together on the training pitch as Tony Popovic's reign as Head Coach of Perth Glory begins. With a number of quality new signings, including Socceroos defender Ivan Franjic, towering centre-back Tomislav Mrcela and experienced striker Brendon Santalab, there is a real buzz around the club as they commenced pre-season training on Monday.
Defender Scott Neville is one player in particular who can't wait for the season ahead. "It's great to be back out there, it's been a long off-season," he said. "It's a really exciting time to be at the club, so it's great to get going on the training pitch. We had a real positive meeting as a group beforehand explaining what we're all going to be about this season with all the coaches before getting into some passing and running."
Neville, who played under Popovic during his time with Western Sydney between 2015 and 2017, is delighted to be reunited with the Asian Champions League winning coach again. "Popovic brings a winning attitude, he emphasised the standards we need to set for ourselves from day one and outlined what we need to achieve this season," Neville commented.
"It was great working with him at the Wanderers and I was really excited to hear he'd signed on at Glory. I know the boys can't wait to learn as much as they can from him and achieve success in the upcoming campaign, but we need to put in the hard yards in pre-season first of all." Popovic's first game in charge of Glory is against English Premier League side Chelsea on 23rd July at Optus Stadium.
19.6.2018
SAINSBURY LOOKS TO WORLD CUP TO BOOST CAREER PROGRESSION
Socceroos captain-in-waiting Trent Sainsbury is hoping a strong World Cup could secure a permanent move to a bigger club in a strong European league. That, however, is secondary to the task in hand – beating Denmark on Thursday to secure the win that would give the Socceroos a good chance of making it through to the round of 16.
The West Australia centre-back was excellent in the team's unlucky 2-1 loss to France in Saturday's opening game of the 2018 World Cup. And he is hopeful his efforts have caught the eye of scouts from the major European leagues. "My aim coming here was playing a good tournament," Sainsbury said.
"I missed out on the last one four years ago (through injury) and I had some catching up to do. My ultimate goal was to come here, play a good tournament and get out of the group stage with this team and that's still the goal now. Whatever comes of it, so be it – but it's a nice place to put yourself out there in the shop window."
Sainsbury is under contract to Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning. But he is currently on loan to Swiss side Grasshoppers, having previously spent time on loan in Italy with Serie A giants Inter Milan. More than anything he would like to go to a strong, competitive club, put down roots and really build his footballing future.
At 26 Sainsbury is the perfect age to establish himself for the second half of his career. "I think that's the idea now – to go to a club that's winning more games than losing, get settled and stay there for as long as possible" he said. "If I can stay at one club for the rest of my career I would be very happy to do that."
19.6.2018
SANTALAB REUNITES WITH POPOVIC AT GLORY
Veteran striker Brendon Santalab has reunited with coach Tony Popovic at Perth Glory. The highly experienced front man inked a one-year deal with the West Australian club after turning down an administrative role with Western Sydney Wanderers.
The 35-year old enjoyed success at Western Sydney working under Popovic before the coach left for an ill-fated stint in Turkey. Santalab follows a five-year spell with the Red and Black where he scored 34 times in 94 A-League appearances.
“I’m very excited to join Perth Glory Football club,” Santalab said. “The opportunity to work under Tony Popovic again was an opportunity too good to miss. I’m looking forward to joining a team with so many fantastic players and meeting the clubs fans.”
Santalab began his career in the National Soccer League with Paramatta Power in 2000 and enjoyed time with Sydney United before a 2003 move to Singaporean heavyweights Geylang United, where he netted 23 goals in 22 games.
Santalab returned to Sydney United before spending three years in Europe with Oostende, Sint-Truiden and Újpest FC (loan) in the Belgian top flight. A season with Sydney FC preceded his move to China where he played for Chengdu Blades and Chongqing Lifan.
Popovic bought Santalab to Western Sydney, where he played a vital role in the side’s 2014 Asian Champions League title. He also received the club’s Player of the Year award for an outstanding 2016/17 campaign and is Western Sydney’s current all-time top-scorer.
Santalab is Glory's third signing off the A-League off-season after defensive pair Ivan Franjic and Tomislav Mrcela. Local fans will get to see the new-look Glory in action for the first time against English Premier League side Chelsea on 23rd July at Optus Stadium.
18.6.2018
SAINSBURY NO FAN OF VAR BUT “WE MOVE ON”
Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury admits he’s not a fan of the Video Assistant Referee, but feels it’s time to move on from the controversial penalty in their 2-1 loss to France. The VAR has become a big talking point at this World Cup as history was made in the Socceroos’ loss to France when the VAR intervened and adjudged Josh Risdon had fouled Antoine Griezmann in the box.
Fans and pundits have questioned the technology on social media, believing there are grey areas in the system as it has failed to review certain incidents. In Argentina’s 1-1 draw to Iceland, the VAR did not review Birkir Saevarsson’s penalty area challenge on Cristian Pavon. Sainsbury took to Twitter last year to express his feelings on the VAR and his views have not changed.
“I’ve never been a fan of the VAR, I’ve made that clear from day one,” Sainsbury said. “I’m a purist when it comes to football but at the same time, if that’s the way it’s going to go from now on, then so be it. I can’t change it. I’m not the one sitting up in the box. You just need to roll with it I guess.”
Despite being against the VAR, Sainsbury found some sympathy for the officials. “Football can be a game of seconds or millimetres and referees have got the hardest job in the world,” he said. “I’m not really against giving them a bit of help, but when decisions go for you, you’re happy and when decisions go against you, you’re unhappy. It is what it is and we move on.”
17.6.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND TEN – REVIEW
Belt up Sunday Amateur Premier Division leaders North Perth United continued their good form after a come-from-behind 4-2 win against Jaguar at Woodville Reserve. Jaguar took the lead in on 26 minute through Michael Wantee, who made North Perth pay after they failed to clear their lines following a free kick. But the home side levelled 10 minutes later, when Jaguar keeper Makuei Mapooth could only parry a shot straight into the path of Patrick Montgomery who blasted the ball home. Jags regained the lead ten minutes into the second half, Geroge Duka raced clear of the offside trap from a great through ball from skipper Juma Wade and finished clinically past Jamie Serra. But their lead lasted only two minutes, Edin Nalic was brought down in the box and Ago Mujic converted from the penalty spot. North Perth were well on top and their pressure was rewarded 12 minutes from time, when Mujic slotted home a second penalty.
It went from bad to worse for the Jags when Akuei Guot was sent off and substitute Emmon Kelly wrapped up the points in stoppage time when he raced clear to score. “What a game, it pretty much had everything in there with both teams at it 100 miles an hour,” North Perth coach Alex Carter said. “I said to the boys at half-time that it’s a flip of a coin which way this game goes and as long as we keep our discipline and keep our shape that we’ve been practicing at training, we’ll put things in our favour, but credit to Jaguar, they’re a good little outfit. “The thing for us as well is we sort of set ourselves a goal because we’ve got next week off because we’re not in the cup and we sort of said to ourselves that we don’t want to go having our gut stirring for two weeks with the wrongs of today.”
Leeming Strikers maintained the pressure on the leaders after a hard fought 3-2 win against Kwinana United at John Connell Reserve. The home side led 2-0 at the break, with player/coach David Palin scoring a brace of penalties. It was 3-0 early in the second half, the Kwinana keeper could only parry a long-range shot and Palin was quickest to react rounding the keeper and rolling the ball into an empty net. But Kwinana weren’t done and they were back in the game on 65 minutes, when Alex Jones volleyed home from the edge of the box. Then ten minutes from time it was 3-2, Lee Bates was sent clear and he finished well past the on-coming keeper. Kwinana pressed late looking for the equaliser but couldn’t find one. “The first 20 minutes was a real slog from both sides, it was good to see our pressure finally pay off with a couple of goals,” Palin said. “Even with an early goal in the second half Kwinana aren’t a side to just throw in the towel and they made a real game of it after that. They are far from a bottom three side so to get the win today was a really good outcome and keeps us moving in the right direction.”
Kingsley bounced back from two defeats to record a big 5-1 win against Belmont Villa at Gerry Archer Sports Complex. The visitors opened the scoring on 11 minutes, Sean Johnson played Jayden Drummond in and he finished well. Belmont levelled not long after, but Kingsley regained the lead five minutes before half time. Kingsley keeper Paul Rainford caught a corner and his quick long kick sent Drummond clear and he lobbed the on-coming keeper. It was 4-1 after the break, Josh Waldock finishing well. Drummond completed his hat-trick with the fifth, firing home from the spot. “It was pleasing to get a result on the board after the last two weeks,” Drummond said. “Now we need to push on and get some consistency back on the pitch and hope we continue that on Saturday night in the cup against Kingsway.”
The round begun on Friday night when Ellenbrook United edged out Wembley Downs 1-0 at the Ellenbrook Sports Hub. The only goal of the game came from Matt Clarke, when he intercepted a pass and finished well. “Very happy with the result on Friday night. We had a game plan which the lads followed to perfection,” Ellenbrook Coach Paul Vallerius said. “Apart from a fantastic save from the Wembley keeper I thought the first half was pretty even, and second half we changed things as planned and managed to nick a goal early. It was then really backs to the wall defending for rest of the game. So after receiving a footballing lesson at home last season, the lads didn’t need much motivation and were quietly confident they could get something from the game. I’m really chuffed for them as they have been working extremely hard recently and I know this was a very important three points for them.”
Hamersley Rovers are back in the winners' circle after a 2-0 win against Subiaco at Carine Open Space. The home side opened the scoring from a corner whipped in to front post by Ricky Andrews, which was met on the run by Mike Howard with a deft glancing header into the net at the far post. They thought they had a second, when Howard raced clear on a counter attack and his perfect cross picked out David Morris, who out jumped the keeper and his marker to head into the corner of the net, but the linesman flag was up for offside. But with five minutes remaining Rovers caught Subiaco on the break again, as they pushed players forward trying to equalise, and Shaun Gibbons put Morris through and he was brought down in the box. Morris picked himself up to score from the resulting penalty to seal the points. “All in all, we had majority of the ball but first half our final ball was lacking - after the break, we opened them up more and added a bit more quality to our passing,” Morris said. “Whilst we made hard work of it, they never looked like scoring but kept plugging away with a few decent players in their side. We lost our captain and central defender before kickoff, then stand in captain and temporary central defender to a hamstring after 20 minutes, and lost another defender with an ankle on the half hour - so all thing's considered, we'll take the three points and move on.” In the final games UWA Nedlands had a hard fought 3-2 win against Southern Spirt at the UWA Sports Park. A brace from Nico Bahamondes and another from Orjan Strand won it for UWA.
17.6.2018
RISDON SLAMS COSTLY VAR PENALTY
The Socceroos are crying foul over a controversial Video Assistant Referee decision that awarded France a contentious penalty in their opening World Cup match in Russia. France were gifted the spot-kick in the second half of their 2-1 win over Australia when Antoine Griezmann was ruled to be fouled by Josh Risdon.
While replays showed clear contact from Risdon on his opponent, questions lingered over the defender touched the ball first, with footage inconclusive. Risdon was adamant he got to the ball before bringing down Griezmann with his trailing leg, suggesting the officials were wrong to award France the crucial spot kick that gave them the lead.
"I thought I got the first touch on the ball," Risdon said. "It might have been a little touch but I definitely felt like I clipped the ball (and) I think he hits my trailing leg running into the box. When the referee didn't give it initially I honestly thought the decision would not be overturned because it wasn't a clear-cut wrong decision."
"My understanding is that obviously if it's a clear-cut wrong decision then it can get overturned but I felt like I definitely got the ball so therefore I don’t think it was a clear-cut wrong decision. I don't know ... it seems to be a bit of a grey area. At the end of the day you can't do much about it."
17.6.2018
INGLEWOOD STUN LEAGUE LEADERS
Inglewood United have maintain their good form after a hard fought 1-0 win against NPL-WA leaders Bayswater City at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium. Jason Barrera scored the only goal of the day on the half hour, and despite City pressing late they couldn't find the equaliser. “Great strike with the help of a deflection and a little bit of luck when we needed one,” Inglewood Coach Andy Keogh said. “It (the win) was thoroughly deserved. They gave us a little bit of pressure but we were by far the better team and we could have won by a lot more.”
Inglewood had Head Coach Keogh back in the dugout for this one but it was the visitors who went close early. Gian Albano overhead kick that flashed wide of the upright. The hosts’ first chance came via a free kick which Ellis Healing put just over the crossbar. Inglewood custodian Alex Dunn was alert moments later, quickly off his line to smother at the feet of lively Luka Ninkovic. English midfielder Healing was in the thick of the action, and after evading several challenges on his way inside the box, his shot was well saved by Devon Spence. The home side broke the deadlock just after the half hour when Barrera’s deflected shot from 17-metres snuck under the bar, following good lead up play from Kenny Keogh and Healing.
The end-to-end football continued into the second half, however, some solid defending at both ends of the park meant genuine chances on goal came at a premium. Albano got free of his marker before releasing a fierce low strike which was brilliantly saved by Dunn. With Bayswater pushing men forward looking for the equaliser Brian Farrell should have sealed the win on 89 minutes, but he blazed high from close-range after being found unmarked by Brian Woodall. The game was deep in stoppage time when Bayswater’s misery was made complete, last defender Brent Griffiths sent off for hauling down Ashley Rosindale.
Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 2 Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS, 3 David CYRUS, 7 Kenny KEOGH (10 Ash ROSINDALE 76’), 8 Jason BARRERA, 9 Alex SALMON (12 Feisal ZAW 90+4’), 11 Ellis HEALING (4 Scott BLACKMORE 87’), 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie MURPHY, 19 Connor BECSI, 23 Brian WOODALL – Subs not used: 6 Miki VUJACIC
Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 4 Arran MAPLESTONE (18 Brent GRIFFITHS 86’), 5 Adam HARRIS, 8 Paul MCCARTHY (23 Andrija JUKIC 75’), 11Ryan PEARSON, 12 David STOKOE, 13 Trent KAY, 17 Gian ALBANO, 19 Luka NINKOVIC (10 Jason MIRCO 62’), 26 Paul LLOYD, 30 Moses KALAU - Subs not used: RGK Dejan ALEKSIC, 15 Jordan POKLER - Red cards: Griffiths 90+4 - Referee: Adam Fielding
16.6.2018
ZIMARINO SENDS PERTH HOME WITH THE POINTS
Perth SC have made it three straight wins and moved to within two points of third place Cockburn City in the NPL-WA, after a 1-0 win against Floreat Athena in Round 17 at E&D Litis Stadium, The only goal of the game came from Paul Zimarino two minutes before half-time, and despite the home side pressing late they couldn’t find the equaliser, to end their four game unbeaten streak and leave them just a point above the bottom three.
“The win was a big one for us, Floreat came in with some good form and we knew it would be tough, it’s another three points for us and we’re just focusing on the three points each week,” Matt Milenkovic said. “The teams around us we have no control over, but as long as we keep putting in performances like yesterday then it will put us up there at the end of the season.”
It was a tight first half and clear cut chances were few and far between, and Jason Saldaris and Francis Soale had little to do. The best chance early fell to Dean Evans, but his volley flashed wide. But in the shadows of half time the visitors hit the front. Some good lead up play ended with a ball into the box, and Floreat defence failed to deal with and Zimarino made no mistake to send Perth into the break with the lead.
Both sides pressed after the break, Evans tried his luck again from the edge of the box, but again it failed to hit the target. Perth sat back and hit on the counter attack, but on the occasions they did get behind the Floreat back four Saldaris denied them. Floreat throw everything at Perth late on, and some desperate defending from Perth, and poor decisions in the front third let them down and it was Perth celebrating the City of Vincent derby victory.
“It was a brilliant performance from the side today, as this isn’t an easy place to come too and get a result, as we’ve found out this season, so it’s nice to go home with three points today,” Perth Coach Ramon Falzon said. “We’ve spoken as a group about getting consecutive wins and performances, and with other teams around us dropping points, we’re just focused on taking it game by game and hopefully more teams will drop points tomorrow between.”
Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 2 Marco SANTA LUCIA, 6 Jesse FULLER, 10 Calvin WHITNEY, 11 Dennis GALAN, 12 Ahadi ABANDELWA, 14 Ludovic BOI, 15 Chris SALADRIS, 16 Ryan MALTON, 17 Dean EVANS (C), 18 Phil ARNOLD – Subs: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 8 Jon STYNES, 13 Hamza HINA, 21 Keylun POLLARD
Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE (C), 3 Andreas THEODOSIAIDES, 5 Niccolo SABATINI, 6 Harley ORR, 7 Aleks JOVIC, 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 13 Rocco PIZZATA, 16 Kieran COLWELL, 18 Richard HOWLES, 20 Paul ZIMARINO – Subs: RGK Adrian SINADRA, 10 Nicholas AMBROGIO, 17 14 Kristan SANTICH, 17 Frank FUFARO, 19 George FESTA – Referee Michal Jasinski
16.6.2018
NICOL LEADS JACKS BACK TO WINNERS CIRCLE
ECU Joondalup have got back to winning ways after a 4-2 win against Cockburn City at Dalmatinac Park on Saturday afternoon. Daryl Nicol was the hero in this one bagging a hat-trick to move him to 13 for the season. Steven McGarry had put ECU 3-0 early in the second half, but Cockburn hit back with Ryan Pratt and a Daniel Robinson penalty making it game on, but Nicol had the final say. “It’s great to be back in the winners’ circle, three defeats in a row is never nice, so we needed a win to get back on track and we did,” Nicol said. “We let them back in the game and they got their tails up, and at 3-2 it was a nervy, but we went back up the pitch and added a fourth, which was a real boost and it settled us down and we were able to see the game out rather comfortably.”
The visitors dominated early, and Nicol’s header was superbly saved by Luke Radonich, before Andy Higgins’ in-swinging corner was cleared off the line by a combination of Radonich and Jesse Lazzaro. ECU defender Kieron Stallard almost came back to haunt his former club on the quarter hour, after Cockburn failed to deal with a Higgins free kick, but the defenders shot from six meters flashed inches wide. But the visitors’ dominance was rewarded with the lead on 35 minutes. Cian Hirrell raced down the right and his low cross was missed by everyone, and the unmarked Nicol tapped home into an empty net. But two minutes into stoppage time ECU doubled their advantage. Great work in the middle of the park by Lukas De Lima ended with a through ball into the path of Nicol, who held off Daniel Santich and finished clinically past Radonich.
It was 3-0 six minutes into the second half, McGarry won possession on the right and cut inside his marker and fired low across Radonich and it went in via the far post. That goal seemed to wake Cockburn up and Luccas Mello’s cross was superbly cleared by Shane Cassidy, with Robinson ready pounce. But from the resulting corner they reduced the margin. ECU failed to deal with the ball into the box and Pratt fired home from six meters. Cockburn were back in the game, with skipper Cameron Edwards leading the comeback, and on 65 minutes they won a penalty.
O’Brien was sent clear but he was brought down in the box by Stallard and referee David Bruce pointed straight to the spot. Robinson stepped up and converted the resulting penalty, despite Johnny Perkins getting a hand to it. But all their hard work to get back into the game was undone sixty seconds later when ECU added a fourth. Great work on the right by second half substitute Tommy Amphlett, saw him drift past his marker and his cross picked out Nicol at the back post to score and complete his hat-trick.
Cockburn City: GK Luke RADONICH, 7 Luccas MELLO, 8 Cameron EDWARDS, 9 Julian TELES, 10 David ARAYA (21 Samuel GARCES 69’), 11 Harry O’BRIEN, 12 Ryan PRATT, 13 Blake ADAMS (20 Harry COLLINS 75’), 15 Daniel SANTICH, 16 Daniel ROBINSON, 17 Jesse LAZZARO (18 Adam ANFUSO 65’) - Subs not used: RGK Ryan BARKER
ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 2 Cian HIRRELL, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 6 Kieron STALLARD, 7 Cameron MURRAY, 8 Lukas DE LIMA (13 Tommy AMPHLETT 58’), 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Brad MCDONALD, 11 Andy HIGGINS - Subs not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 12 Ryan MCDARBY, 15 Adam TONG, 16 Sam POLLARD - Referee: David Bruce
16.6.2018
GULLS WIN VITAL THREE POINTS
Sorrento broke their six-game winless streak after a hard fought 1-0 win against Balcatta at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday afternoon. Second half substitute Cameron Teece won it for Jamie Harnwell’s side on 78 minute secured all three points for the Gulls, heading home. “It was an ugly game and one that reflected why both teams are where they are on the ladder. However for us at the moment it’s not about pretty football, it’s about getting points and securing our stay in the top flight of WA football,” Sorrento’s Reece Vittiglia said. “A great penalty save from Nookie gave us confidence to go on and get something from the game. Hopefully we can use this as a spring board for the remaining games and start climbing the ladder.”
It was a vital game for both sides and it was a cagey opening and both struggled to create clear cut chances. The home side did have the first real chance when Jack Salter got on the end of a corner but Balcatta keeper Kyle McDonald made a good save to deny him. Balcatta went close themselves moments later, a quick counter attack but Asher Nelson shot was saved James Morgan.
Both sides were on the front foot early in the second half, and Balcatta had the perfect opportunity to take the lead when Alex Wild’s shot hit the arm of Steve McDonald and referee Michael Divers pointed to the spot. Hayden Stevens stepped up to take the penalty but his effort was saved by James Morgan. Sorrento went close moments later, with Vittiglia going through on goal, but his shot flashed wide of the target. But it was Sorrento who found the breakthrough, when a ball into the box bounced over the goalkeeper and was headed home by Teece to seal the win.
“You look at the table and we’re at the wrong end of it, this gets us a little bit closer to the rest of the teams and hopefully gives us a bit of confidence moving forward,” Harnwell said. “You can see the relief in the change room, when you’re on a bad run you don’t know when the next win is going to come, but we have got that now. So it’s on to Stirling next week and we need to believe we can go on a good run of games and get ourselves safe.”
Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 3 Jaxon TEMATA, 6 Darryl PLATTEN, 8 Scott WITSCHGE, 11 Tim HILL, 13 Steve MCDONALD, 16 Chris BALAZS, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA (23 Cameron TEECE 77’), 19 Jack SALTER, 21 Godwin DARKWA (10 Jordan ROBERTS 81’), 22 Danny JONES (7 Alex MORGAN 75’) – Subs not used: RGK Anastasias FARSALEAS, 18 Jordan BROWN
Balcatta: GK Kyle McDONALD, 3 Hayden STEVENS, 4 Calum O’CONNELL, 7 Asher NELSON (11 Nicholas CHALLOT 77’), 8 Carmelo GIUFFRE, 9 Alex WILD (15 Adriano JELENOVIC 74’), 10 Jonathan CORNESS, 12 Anton DE FRANCESCH (14 Lawrence SHURAMA 56’), 18 Robert DEL BORELLO, 20 Shubha MOKALA, 21 Tom LOGAN – Subs not used: RGK Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 5. Tom PELLIZZARI - Referee: Michael Divers
16.6.2018
REDS BITE BACK TO BEAT LIONS
Armadale bounced back from two straight defeats, with a 4-1 win against Stirling Lions at Alfred Skeet Reserve. They had to come from behind to do it after Dean Cummings gave the Lions the lead early, but top scorer Chris Jackson levelled moments later before Michael Rizidis gave them the lead before the break. Further goals from Rizidis and second half substitute Brad Greipl gave them a comfortable win and moved them into seventh place. "In the last two weeks we have played pretty and lost and today we played ugly and won,” Armadale Coach John O’Reilly said. “I wasn’t entirely happy with the performance today but I can’t complain about the finishing and the result. We just have to keep working on what we’re doing and in the next few weeks make sure we’re putting 100 per cent.”
Stirling hit the front after only eight minutes, a long free kick fell at the feet of Cummings, who found the target. But Armadale responded just three minutes later with a free-kick of their own when Ali Gholami set-piece found Jackson who headed home his 13 goal of the season. The home side then took the lead after a through ball put Rizidis one-on-one with Lions keeper Lance Alvakis and the winger made no mistake. Jackson came close to doubling his side's lead just four minutes later from a free-kick, however his English striker’s shot was kept out by a diving save from Alavakis.
Armadale who on the front foot after half time and four minutes in they added a third. Rizidis ran at the Lions defence from inside his own half before finishing into the far corner past Alvakis. The Lions lifted the tempo but they couldn’t find a way past a tight Armadale defence, and in stoppage time the Reds added a fourth. Second half substitute Greipl heading home to wrap up a comprehensive win. “Armadale we’re pretty resolute at the back today, I thought we created the chances to score one or two more but when they don’t go in it makes it tough to get something out of the game,” Lions coach Keegan Ashley said. “We just need to keep going and eventually things will turn around, we’re definitely creating enough chances but we’re just not putting them into the back of the net.”
Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 2 Joshua KUSER, 4 Nathan COSTELLO, 5 David ANNALL, 10 Chris JACKSON (13 Jonathan BOGONI 91’),11 Michael RIZIDIS, 15 Ali GHOLAMI (18 Brad GREIPL 87’), 16 Charlie SIMPSON, 20 Friday ZICO (17 James ATKINS 46’), 21 Beau RAHIM, 22 Ryan HASLETT - Subs not used: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 19 Sam LOVELESS
Stirling Lions: GK Lance ALAVAKIS, 2 David MOLINARI, 4 Alex SULESKI, 5 Liam HENDERSON, 7 Dean CUMMINGS, 8 Dejan SPASESKI (19 Zane CASELLA 83’), 10 David MICEVSKI, 11 Alex TANEVSKI, 15 Nathan DE ABREU, 16 Nicholas ASHLEY, 17 Steve SOKOL (14 Abu DULLEH 67’) - Subs not used: RGK Pasquale GIOFFRE, 12 Daniel HEPWORTH, 13 David FILLIPOU - Referee: Julian Serra
16.6.2018
DONGRAY WINS IT LATE FOR SUBIACO
Subiaco defender Jackson Dongray has scored a stoppage-time winner to give the home side a 3-2 come-from-behind win against Joondalup United at Rosalie Park on Saturday afternoon. The home side took the lead inside two minutes through David Perich, but it was bottom of the table Joondalup who took control of the game and goals from Lee Jones and Jamie Gibson looked like it would give them only their second win of the season. But a second from Perich levelled and Dongray had the final word. “We went into the game lacking a sense of urgency and it almost cost us. We were denied some good chances by a couple great saves from their keeper in the second half, but we kept pushing and we were rewarded for our efforts,” Dongray said. “With the table as tight as it is this year, the difference between three points and one is massive and I couldn’t be happier to have pushed the ball over the line in the dying minutes and help the boys secure the points. We’re going to need to try and ride this momentum as much as we can when we go out against Perth next week. “
The homes were ahead after only two minutes, when Perich fired home from close-range. The rest of the first half was a tense battle with Joondalup keeper James Bosdet and Ryan Montgomery not tested. But Joondalup started the second half well and leveled in the first minutes, when Jones pounced on a misplaced back-pass, rounded Montgomery and slotted the ball home. The visitors were ahead on the hour, a shot was well saved by Montgomery, but Gibson was quickest to react to fire home the rebound.
Subiaco player/coach Ian McMurray brought himself on as they lifted the temp and Bosdet produced two great saves to deny Subiaco an equaliser. But ten minutes from time they found it. Referee Brandan Skinner spotted a handball in the box and pointed to the spot. Perich stepped up and scored to level things up. Both sides pressed for the winner, but it was the home side who found it in injury time. A ball into the box was dealt with and Dongray poked the ball past Bosdet to win it. “I’m disappointed we haven’t been rewarded after we were by far the better team. I thought we deserved all three points. I thought the boys showed character and executed the game plan,” Joondalup coach Nick Jennings said. “Basic errors have killed us this year. I’m angry with what we’ve put in for no reward. Whilst the league table doesn’t lie, we’re not as bad as our position shows.”
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 5 Manase ABANDELWA (17 Mark PRITCHARD 58’), 6 Jackson DONGRAY, 9 Adam CARLINO, 10 Alex CASTIELLO, 11 Joshua BOOYSEN (19 Ian MCMURRAY 66’), 12 Nathan SMITH, 13 Jonas DORLING, 15 Anthony TOPPINI, 16 Dean APELGREN, 18 David PERICH - Subs not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 3 Vasco DA SILVA, 4 Robert HARDING
Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 2 Johnny CHALMERS, 6 Sam WYNNE, 9 Lee JONES (15 Callum STOCKS 76’), 10 Elliot TATTERSALL, 11 Anthony TAYLOR, 14 Liam MOONEY, 17 Matthew CHERRIE, 22 Jamie GIBSON, 24 Ayden DRAGUN, 25 Greg PELLOW - Subs not used: 4 Danny O’SHEA, 12 William KESSEL - Referee: Brendan Skinner
16.6.2018
GLORY GIVE FORRESTFIELD SIX OF THE BEST
Perth Glory maintained their good form, after a 6-1 win against Forrestfield United at Ashfield Arena on Saturday afternoon. Michael Domfeh and Henry Hore gave them the lead at the break, but Forrestfield reduced the margin just after half time with Hasani Sinclair scoring. But Domfeh added his second and Hore did likewise from the penalty spot to put them in control of the game and late goals from Chok Dau and Bayley Brown-Montgomery wrapped up a comprehensive win. “Relatively pleased with the performance today, and yes we did score a few goals, but we are still looking for major improvement in all areas of our game, and all the players are searching for more improvement,” Glory Coach John Gibson said. “The whole group is always working tirelessly hard for each other and the same common goal - saying that we were a bit flat in the first half and not happy to concede straight after halftime as we have strategies for key timings of the game.”
It was a tight opening with both sides going close early. First defender Daniel Walsh headed over from a corner, before Jordan Hart shot straight at Glory custodian Jackson Lee. But the speed and guile of the Glory strikers was causing Forrestfield back four all-sorts of problems and it wasn’t a surprise when they opened the scoring on the half hour. Dau was found down the right and he eased past his marker and pulled the ball back to Domfeh, who made no mistake from close-range. Then in the shadows of half time Glory added a vital second. They won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and Hore stepped up and curled to around the wall into the bottom corner of the net giving Luke Martino no chance.
Forrestfield, who had won back-to-back games for the first time this season going into the game, hit back two minutes into the second half. American striker Sinclair raced forward and finished well past Lee to reduce the margin. The visitors went close to levelling moments later, when Glory failed to deal with a set-piece and in the goalmouth scramble, the ball fell to defender Wilbert Tshabangu, whose shot flashed just wide of the target. But the Glory began to reassert their dominance and it was rewarded, when they increased their lead on the hour.
An attempted clearance by Martino was charged down by the alert Domfeh, the ball taking a wicked deflection and looping over the keeper and rolling into the empty net, much to the delight of the Glory players. That seemed to knock the stuffing out of Forrestfield and Glory added a fourth five minutes later. The lively Yacoub Mustafa was brought down in the penalty area and referee Joshua Nixon pointed straight to the spot, and Hore stepped up to score from the resulting penalty. But Glory weren’t finished and it was 5-1 on 74 minutes, second half substitute Bayley Brown-Montgomery found Dau, and he finished well. There was still time for a sixth, Brown-Montgomery this time played in Ostler, the youngsters scoring to put the icing on a good performance from the side.
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luke BODNAR, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Daniel WALSH, 5 Harry QUIGLEY, 6 Jack LEECH (12 Aidan EDWARDS 49’), 7 Chok DAU, 8 Henry HORE, 9 Michael DOMFEH (13 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY 65’), 10 Michael MCDOUGALL, 11 Yacoub MUSTAFA (14. Trent OSTLER 80’) - Subs not used: RGK Nicholas SPECA, 15 Nic MCDONALD
Forrestfield United: GK Luke MARTINO, 2 Tom SOUTHGATE, 3 Wilbert TSHABANGU, 5 Scott BARKER, 8 Mitchell CROCKER (12 Callum DOBBS 63’), 9 Hasani SINCLAIR, 10 Jordan HART (6 Kristian DESPOTOVSKI 76’), 11 Liam MERIGAN (C), 14 Antoine LEMARIE (4 Jamie DUNCAN 52’), 15 Jamie STREET, 23 Rhys LOXLEY - Subs not used: RGK Ben PARRY - Referee: Joshua Nixon
16.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND TEN – REVIEW
State League Division One leaders Gwelup Croatia have lost back-to-back games after a 2-1 defeat against Morley Windmills at Wotton Reserve on Saturday afternoon. David Heagney gave Taki Nicolaidis’ side the lead from the spot but the home side hit back and Nicola Gazzola and Abraham Taona had them in the lead at the break. Both sides had chances after the break but Morley held on, and the three points moved them to fifth, while Gwelup's lead at the top of the table was reduced to three points. It could have been so different if Gwelup had taken their early chances, the best fell to Isaac Koomson who was played in on goal by Noah Shamaki, but Morley keeper Yousri Gharsallah was out quickly to narrow the angle, and Shamaki’s touch was heavy and the chance was gone.
The visitors did take the lead on 17 minutes when Morley defender Deng Mawien brought down Brodie Martin and the referee pointed straight to the spot, and Heagney stepped up and beat Gharsallah from the resulting penalty. But on the half hour Morley leveled, a free kick from Gazzola on the left of the penalty area curled around the wall and into the net. Then on 33 minutes Morley hit the front, Gazzola finding Taona in the box and he finished past Riley Stevenson from close-range. After the break both sides pressed, and Morley went close to a third on the hour, Ben Wantee’s effort was superbly saved by Stephenson. Gwelup throw everything at Morley and in stoppage time they went close to the equaliser, James Sammut’s shot beat Gharsallah, but the crossbar came to the rescue of the Morley custodian. “We started off slowly, giving them a penalty which was questionable, we should introduce var,” Morley skipper Dion Berman joked. “We then slowly started to get into the game, they dominated the play but we defended as a unit. Gwelup had a few chances to equalize but we were resilient and held on for a very good win against a quality side.”
Second placed Rockingham City missed the chance to close the gap on Gwelup after they were held to a 1-1 draw against South West Phoenix at SafeRad Stadium at Lark Hill. The home side, who were coming off the big win at Gwelup, made a perfect start and opened the scoring after only 20 seconds, with Lydon Hodgkiss on target. But the Phoenix hit back to share the spoils, with Bright Ababio finishing from a good through ball from Andrew Henson. “Really disappointed with the draw, feels like two big points dropped on the back of Morley’s result against Gwelup, but you have to give credit to Bunbury, they fought hard for the point,” Rockingham coach Cameron Lord said. “We had chances to win the game but overall we weren’t anywhere near the level we have shown in the last couple of weeks. We will look to bounce back against a strong Fremantle team, looking to play with the intensity and quality we did against Dianella and Gwelup.”
Ashfield bounced back from last week’s loss at Mandurah with a 2-0 win against the in-form UWA-Nedlands at the UWA Sports Park. The home side had been on a three game winning streak, but it was Ashfield who won it and moved to third on the table. The visitors opened the scoring when good pressure from midfield won the ball back and Pat Quinn picked up the loose ball and ran down the line, beating three players and crossing to Ismael Bangura for an easy tap in. They doubled their lead before half time a corner wasn’t dealt with by the UWA defence and Dan Tait fired home. UWA pressed after half time but they couldn’t find a goal and it was Ashfield celebrating the points. “I thought the first 30 minutes was the best football we’ve played all year, we had to make a lot of adjustments to our team due to injury and we responded really well,” Alex Stamatiadis said. “It was a hard game, UWA are a team which won’t stop till the end and we knew that, so we were a solid outfit today. A lot of people have doubted us this year and credit to Matt Wardle for creating this new squad.”
Fremantle City moved up to fourth after a hard fought 2-1 win against Dianella White Eagles at Dianella Reserve. The home side had a number of chances in the first half but failed to take them, and Fremantle struggle. But it all changed after the break, and the visitors opened the scoring when the lively Calum Roberts’ shot from the angle pickled out Anthony Lomma who made no mistake from close-range. Roberts was instrumental in the second Fremantle goal to, this time he skipped past his marker and cut the ball back from the bye-line, and Wade Farmer made no mistake. Dianella did pull one back, when Scott Newland scored but they couldn’t find the equaliser. “It was a tough game we got better in the second half but the most important thing was the result giving how other games went,” Fremantle Coach Marc Anthony said. “But as I've said previously there's no easy games in this league, so we are very happy to come away with the three points.”
In the final game Joondalup City won for the second time this season after a 3-2 win against Mandurah City at Iluka Sports Complex. The home side made a perfect start and were up early with Jonny Hulme on target, before a Jeff Bright own-goal doubled their lead. But before half time Mandurah reduced the margin, Andy Brown heading home at the back post. The visitors leveled after half time, Joey O’Brien’s cross to the back post was headed home by Brown. Brown thought he had scored his hat-trick moments later but his celebrations were cut short the referee disallowing the goal for a foul. Joondalup also had a goal disallowed, and it looked like the points would be shared, but two minutes from time Joondalup won it. A ball into the box wasn’t dealt with and Jamie Gardiner was on hand to fire home the winner. “We got off to a whirlwind start in the first 12 minutes, “Joondalup Coach Gary Kalaher said. They pegged us back and both teams had goals disallowed but I’m delighted for our young squad, it was a very important win in what was very much a six pointer.” – Western Knights had the bye this week.
16.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND TEN – REVIEW
It was the top of the table clash in the State League Division Two when Olympic Kingsway travelled to Francis Street to take on Swan United, and Graham Normanton's side ran out 1-0 winners in a tight encounter, to remain the only unbeaten side in the league. The only goal of the game came ten minutes from time when Danny Hodgson’s free kick struck the arm of a Swan defender in the wall and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Hodgson stepped up and scored from the resulting penalty, sending Smith the wrong way. Hodgson should have given his side the lead early after Ben Fairburn was brought down in the box, but Hodgson saw his penalty saved by Joey Smith. Both sides had good chances but it was 0-0 at the break,
The second half was more open, all though there wasn’t many chances at all. Hodgson had the ball in the net again late in the game after he lost his marker and fired home David Sesay’s cross but the flag was up for offside. “It was a great battle between first and second in front of a good crowd,” Hodgson said. “We had a full team back which we hadn’t had since the 4-0 win at Quinns, so we’ve made up for the two bad results over the past few weeks. It’s our league to lose now.”
Wanneroo City ended Balga's unbeaten start to the season after a thrilling 3-2 win at Princess Road Reserve. The home side started the brighter and on the half hour they hit the front when Kris Spaseski scored. It was the wakeup call Wanneroo needed and minutes later Jamie Stewart hit the cross bar. They continued to press and on the stroke of half time they levelled. Some excellent work from Matt Franken on the left found Connor Lynch who finished well. 1-1 at the break. The visitors were on the front foot after the break but it was Balga who regained the lead on 70 minutes, Spaseski’s free kick was parried by Andy Williamson into the path of a Hermon Michael who scored from close-range. Wanneroo made a couple of changes and one was 17-year-old Flynn Nolan, and his pace and trickery caused Balga defence problems.
Wanneroo continued to press and they restored parity, when a great cross from Gareth Lloyd found Matt Franken at the far post, who brought the ball down well and finished in the far corner. It was game on and with only minutes remaining the visitor won it. A goalmouth scramble saw the ball land at young Nolan’s feet and he finished low to the ‘keeper right to win it. “It wasn’t a great game of football from a technical sense but very exciting for the good crowd,” Wanneroo Coach Tin Kantor said. “A fantastic win and the focus now turns to Shamrock Rovers next week in the Go Pink for Linda clash. We urge everyone to turn out in numbers next week to honour the late Linda Launders who sadly lost her battle with breast cancer last year. Linda was a big part of both Clubs and it would be great to see as many supporters turn up for what I’m sure will be an emotional day.”
Quinns moved to fourth after a 5-1 win against Canning City at Gumblossom Reserve. The home side were ahead when Luke Doyle finished well from a through ball from Jess Compton. They doubled their lead before the break, Rowdy Yates low cross was turned into his own net by a Canning defender. It was 3-0 when Craig Tooley finished at the back post, before Doyle added a fourth with a lob. It was 5-0 when Michael Leslie was played through and he finished well from 10 meters. Canning pulled one back late but it was too little too late. “It’s great to be back to winning ways after last weekend but very disappointed to concede a last minute goal and not walk away with a clean sheet,” Tooley said. “But now we look forward to next week at Gosnells where we will try to improve in certain areas.” In the final game Murdoch University Melville travelled to Frye Park to take on Kelmscott Roos, and they came home with a 2-0 win. Both goals came in the second half and both were penalties. Dean Thurston scored the first one, before Simon El Chami added the second to move MUM to fifth on the table. “It was a heavy pitch, football wasn’t great, but it was pleasing to get the win,” MUM Coach Gavin Brown said. – Shamrock Rovers had the bye this round.
16.6.2018
UNLUCKY SOCCEROOS BOW TO FRANCE
Australia has lost to France 2-1 in its opening World Cup clash in a gutsy performance that gave one of the tournament favourites an almighty scare. Mile Jedinak equalised barely minutes after Antoine Griezmann's second half penalty but a deflected Paul Pogba effort looped over goalkeeper Mat Ryan to steal victory for the French with less than ten minutes remaining.
Following an encouraging first-half performance where Australia's defence - marshalled superbly by Trent Sainsbury - frustrated the French attack, Australia looked to have established a foothold in the match as the second half opened. But controversy erupted as Australia became the first victims of the Video Assistant Referee which adjudged Josh Risdon to have fouled Griezmann, who converted the 57th minute penalty.
Just four minutes later, however, Socceroos captain Jedinak slammed home a penalty himself after Les Bleus centre back Samuel Umtiti handled the ball inside area. For about 20 minutes thereafter, Australia looked to have France's number, staying compact and denying the French forwards time and space. But one lapse of concentration was all it took and France took an 82nd minute lead through Pogba.
16.6.2018
LOCAL HEROES SAINSBURY, RISDON AND JONES TO PLAY IN WORLD CUP
From the backyard to sport’s biggest stage, three West Australian boys have walked the winding road to Russia and taken their parents on a journey from pride to awe. Trent Sainsbury, Josh Risdon and Brad Jones have turned their childhood dreams into reality through a passion that has burned within them for as long as they can remember.
Sainsbury, 26, is one of the first names on the Socceroos’ teamsheet, a centre back who is composed, strong in the tackle and good on the ball. He has a temperament and ability to read the game which prompted manager Bert van Marwijk to install him as captain in the lead-up to the World Cup. There is a chance he will line up against France tonight as captain.
His father Scott - who grew up living and breathing soccer in Chelmsford, England - will be a face in the crowd at Kazan Arena. “It’s unbelievable,” Mr Sainsbury, a former Armadale first team player, said from Russia. “We were just walking along the road then and I said to my mates, ‘I still believe can’t believe we’re here at the World Cup’.”
Mr Sainsbury was his son’s soccer idol. Trent was just four when he joined Armadale, training and playing with the older boys. For Sainsbury’s mother Kerry, it was sweet relief. “From the age of 10 months Trent just wanted to kick a ball around,” she said. “I had to get him into some kind of sport because he was driving me absolutely insane.”
Sainsbury was a junior at Armadale when the Socceroos recorded their sole win over France at the 2001 Confederations Cup. Faced with the unenviable task tonight of marking star striker Antoine Griezmann, he is expected to play a valiant role in a losing side. Try telling his father that. “France who?” Mr Sainsbury said. “Trent can deal with anything, anyone.”
At a crucial stage of his development, Sainsbury got to know another WA rising star, Josh Risdon. They trained together in their teens at the National Training Centre under former Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe. Risdon, 25, is expected to start at right back against France.
The hundreds of hours Risdon spent kicking a ball against a wall at home in Bunbury could come in handy in such a high-pressure game. His parents, Ray and Leanne, drove him to Perth four times a week as a child so he could chase his dream. At 14, he moved to Perth by himself to get more serious.
Risdon likes to remind his parents that he would not be where he is without the sacrifices they made. “Josh deserves it,” Mrs Risdon said. “He's a boy from the country who's given up a hell of a lot but it’s still hard to believe he’s there.”
Sainsbury and Risdon are likely to start on the pitch, but there is a third West Australian in the squad. Brad Jones, 36, has been brought back into the fold as a back-up goalkeeper after he helped Dutch side Feyenoord become champions in 2016/17. Jones played at Bayswater City before plying his trade in England with Middlesbrough and Liverpool.
Jones' last World Cup campaign, in 2010, was struck down by tragedy. He had to leave the Socceroos in South Africa days before their opening game after his son, Luca, 4, was diagnosed with leukaemia. His father, born-and-bred Arsenal supporter Ian, said he was glad his son had finally made it back into the Australian squad.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Mr Jones said. “Put it this way - when he first went to Middlesbrough as a 16-year-old, I expected him to come back with his tail between his legs after six months. I’m still waiting for him to come back.”
Mr Jones said Brad owed his older brother, Jason, some credit. “From the age of three or four, Brad would get stood between the swings and Jason would hammer balls at him,” he said. “He’d be diving through the air with one eye on the ball and one eye on the dog’s droppings.”
15.6.2018
NPL-WA ROUND SEVENTEEN PREVIEW
With the World Cup starting in Russia this weekend, the public focus will be on the Socceroos game against France on Saturday evening, but the Footballwa.net 'Match of the Round' in the NPL-WA is on Sunday where league leaders Bayswater City travel to Perth Plasterboard Stadium to take on the inform Inglewood United. Bayswater made it seven wins on the trot after a 3-0 win against Stirling Lions last week, while Inglewood made it four games without defeat after a come-from-behind draw against Cockburn City. The last time these two teams met at the venue was in Round One last season former City striker Alex Salmon came back to haunt his former club, scoring a late equaliser to give United a 2-2 draw. It looked like Bayswater had the game under control racing to a two goal lead at half time, with goals from Todd Howarth and Andrija Jukic, but Luke Randazzo pulled one back and Salmon had the final say with six minutes remaining.
Bayswater assistant coach Alun Vernals, who travelled to watch his beloved Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League Final in Kiev last month, said the win against Stirling wasn't their best performance, but to win well, not playing your best, is a sign of a good team. "I had a superb time in Kiev, massive city with the added bonus of actually having the stadium pretty much in the center of the city. Made getting around everywhere very easy. People were very friendly for the most part and the Madrid fans really embraced all the Liverpool fans which created a great atmosphere - Pity about the result,” he said. “Last week against Stirling, we’d certainly take 3-0 every week, especially when not hitting the heights we want to hit, so yes, it’s pleasing. It also gives us plenty to work on each week on the training pitch. Scoring early probably didn’t help us as we took our foot off the gas, and you can’t afford to do that towards the end of the season, so we’ll address it throughout the week.”
The injury list at Frank Drago is slowly shortening and Vernals said it's a good time to get some of their experienced players back, but he said the youngsters have played a huge part in the club success so far this season. "We still feel we have some good upside this year as we’ve been hampered by injuries again which hasn’t ever allowed us to be at full strength. Most sides would miss the players we’ve had on the long-term injury list,” he said. “That being said every time we have called on our younger players they have made an impact with both their quality and their energy, whether that be when they start or coming off the bench. You hate to single anyone out as they have all improved this year, but they still need to keep improving so they can force their way into the team every week.”
Vernals said their defence this season has been outstanding, conceding only 12 goals the least in the league, and he said they hope it continues on Sunday, and he hopes with it being a stand-alone fixture on Sunday, there is a big crowd to watch it. "It's been a real collective effort at the back this year. Jake Sardelic has come in and slotted in at left back, and Arran Maplestone has had to play right back in a number of games. We have been very strong in the middle of the back four with Trent, Toddy and David Stokoe rarely having bad days at the office, while Devon between the sticks has again been outstanding when called upon. Adam Harris also deserves a mention as he has played at full back, center half and the six role this year and hardly put a foot wrong,” he explained. “We know Sunday will be tough game, and it’s always a tough place to go and win but that’s the aim. We certainly won’t be going there for anything other than three points. Hopefully a big crowd will turn up. The game certainly needs the fans to turn up and hopefully it’s a great game.”
Inglewood assistant Coach Saul Contera, who will be cheering for Spain in the World Cup, said the draw at Cockburn was a little disappointing, but they will take the point to maintain their unbeaten run. "Yes the World Cup is always an exciting time and being Spanish I am always optimistic that we will go far with the quality we have in the side and football that Spain produces is A grade,” he explained. “Last week we went looking for three points, like we do each and every week and Cockburn was no different. They are a good young mobile side, and it was a good game of football and although a point was not ideal we are comfortable with it.”
With head coach Andy Keogh away the side are unbeaten, but the Glory striker returns this week, and Contera said they are improving with every game. "We are very happy with our improvement defensively which coincides with some stability in those positions and when you are hard to score against it goes hand in hand with getting positive results,” he said. “As a coaching team we are all on the same page and know our roles. We know Andy will miss from time to time with A-league or travel commitments, so we have a clear understanding on what needs to be done in his absence and how to execute it and we have done what is expected of us.”
The form of keeper Alex Dunn has been outstanding, and to get striker Alex Salmon back from suspension has given them a huge lift, but Contera said it's been a team effort. "Alex is in career best form and this is a credit to him and his application and willingness to continually learn,” he said. “He and Devon Spence are the two best keepers in the league and they will meet on the weekend. Also having Alex Salmon back is also a huge boost due to his scoring consistency and smarts around the box when you have a goal a game striker it certainly helps.”
Contera said Sunday will be a tough test for the Wood, but they head into the game quietly confident. "We are always confident no matter who we come up against and Bayswater is no different,” he said. “We believe in ourselves and think we have the players to cause them a problem or two come Sunday in what should be a great game for the neutrals. I think many teams tend to sit off them and give them too much respect. We will respect them but we certainly won’t hold back.”
The round starts on Saturday and second placed Cockburn City host ECU Joondalup at Dalmatinac Park. The Cockerels were held by Inglewood last week, while The Jacks were beaten at Subiaco, making it three straight defeats for Dale McCulloch's side. The draw for Cockburn had them slip to third on the table, but skipper Euen Grant thought the result was a fair reflection of the game, and he has been pleased with some of the players who have come into the squad. "It was a game between two good sides both going for the win right till the end. We had a couple chances late to win but a draw was probably fair result,” he explained.
“It’s good to see the boys we have brought in have such an impact and the young ones have really matured this season. There’s a real good mix just now we’re playing good football and getting the rewards for it.” Grant said Saturday will be another tough challenge, especially with ECU losing their last few games, and it will be a return to the club of Kieron Stallard, who left Dalmatinac Park to join the Jacks in the transfer window. "Obviously it was a shock to lose Kieron, but our results haven’t changed,” he said. “So we will be looking to get another three points on Saturday, whereas ECU will be looking to get their season back on track, so it should make for good viewing.”
Perth Glory leaped Cockburn into second spot last week, and they will be looking to maintain their pressure on leaders Bayswater when they host Forrestfield United at Ashfield Arena. Forrestfield won back-to-back games in the league for the first time this season, with a 2-0 win against Sorrento last week, and the win moved them to seventh, their highest position so far this season. Glory thrashed Joondalup United 5-0 last week, which made it six games without defeat, and keeper Jackson Lee said it was a good performance, and another clean sheet.
"The boys put in a great performance on the weekend in some tough conditions and we were very pleased to get the win and the clean sheet. We’re looking for more clean sheets in the latter half of the season and so far we’ve performed well as a single unit to ensure that we do,” he explained. “Our defence did exceptionally well with the inclusion of Daniel Walsh and Harry Quigley, while Nick McDonald did great coming on as a substitute late in the game in his debut and it really shows the depth that our squad has and how versatile the boys are."
Lee said Saturday's opponents (Forrestfield) have impressed so far this season in their first stint in the NPL, and he said it should be good game with both sides liking to play the ball on the ground. "Forrestfield are a good side and they won’t be a pushover this weekend. They’ve performed well over the season but we’ll be focusing on ourselves again. The boys won’t be slowing down and we’re determined to push on and show our quality of football,” he said. “Our squad depth is incredible, and everyone knows everybody’s roles so that means some changes in the lineup doesn’t have a major effect on our performances which is a great thing.”
Perth SC jumped to fourth on the table last week, and will be looking to keep in touch with the leaders when they travel to E&D Litis Stadium to take on Floreat Athena. A brace from Dean Evans gave Floreat a big win at Balcatta, which made it back-to-back wins for Howard Tweets side, moving them two points clear of the drop zone. Meanwhile a double from Matt Milenkovic earned 'The Sky Blues' a big win against Armadale, and the midfielder said it was a well-deserved win. "I thought the win on Saturday reflected the hard work we’ve been putting in at training,” he said. “We know we have to have a strong second half of the season and are taking it game by game, and I think the game against Armadale showed the hunger to win we need.”
Milenkovic said Floreat have picked up in recent weeks, and go into the game full of confidence, but he said the Dorrien Gardens club are playing well at the moment, and with the injury list shortening they are confident they came come home with a positive result. “Yes there have been a few injuries, it’s just football but you have to deal with it. I think that whilst it will be a bonus to have these players back, it’s been promising to see that the younger guys have stepped up to fill these positions and done a great job,” he explained. “We played Floreat in the cup and unfortunately the result didn’t go our way. I think we deserved to come away with the win and the disappointment in the dressing room afterwards has only increased our desire to get one back over them this week. We are playing with confidence and hopefully this will be reflected on the weekend.”
Armadale return home this week, when they entertain Stirling Lions at Alfred Skeet Reserve. Both sides are coming off big losses last week, Armadale were beaten at Perth, and will be without Charlie Kenna and Billy Quinncroft for Saturday's game, as both were sent off in the 0-4 defeat, while the Lions were beaten at Bayswater, and they will be without Darren O'Riordan, who was also sent off. Lions defender Liam Henderson said they matched Bayswater for long period's last week but couldn't find a goal. "Yes it was a disappointing results for us, and we conceded three very soft goals,” he said. “To be honest that’s just been our downfall at the moment not taking our chances when they arrive as a team, we need to be better in the final third.”
Henderson said they head to Armadale looking for three points, and with only one point separating the two sides on the table he is expecting a tough encounter. "We need to start picking up points to stay in touch with the top four, so Saturday is a massive game,” he said. “I see it as a real six pointer, and it will show the real character in our team.”
Subiaco will be looking for a repeat of last week's win against ECU Joondalup, when they host Joondalup United at Rosalie Park. United were heavily beaten by the Glory, and Coach Nick Jennings was critical of his players, and he will be looking for a response in this one. Subiaco on the other hand produced their best performance of the season to beat ECU, and keeper Ryan Montgomery said it was a huge result for the club. “I thought last week was a true team performance with every player putting in a shift,” he said. “We worked hard, were patient and that payed off as we scored two decent goals.”
Montgomery said they will have to show the determination and fighting spirit they showed last week against Joondalup, who will be desperate for a win. "This week we will need the same attitude and desire as last as you can’t take any team lightly in this league,” the keeper said. “They are fighting for their lives but I’m sure Macca will have the game plan sorted and have us ready as he always does, so anything less than maximum points will be disappointing.”
It's a real six-pointer in the final game of the round, when Sorrento host Balcatta at Percy Doyle Reserve. Both sides are coming off disappointing defeats, Balcatta losing heavily at home, while Sorrento were beaten at Forrestfield. Midfielder Tim Hill said they had chances early in the game but failed to take them. "We were very disappointed not to come away with anything on the weekend, it was probably one of the better performances we've put in recently,” he explained. “But everyone knows if you don't take your chances you don't win, so at the end of the day we got what we deserved.”
Hill said Saturday is huge, but he is confident they can get their fourth win at home, but will need to be at their best. "Saturday is huge as is every game going forward, we know we have to win so will be doing all we can to come away with the three points,” he said. “We've been training really well the last few weeks and I think last weekend was a step in the right direction performance wise, so hopefully we can see some reward for our efforts this weekend.”
15.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND TEN – PREVIEW
It's week 10 of the State League Division One, and the Footballwa.net 'Match of the Round' takes us to UWA Sports Park where UWA-Nedlands entertain Ashfield. Both sides are coming off different results, Ashfield were beaten a Mandurah, while UWA made it three games without defeat with a 2-0 win at South West Phoenix. The last time these sides met at the venue was in round fifteen last season with UWA running out 1-0 winners. The only goal of the game came on hit on a quick counter attack, Conor Devlin and Patty Morrison combined to set up Alex Kretowicz to finish at the back post.
Ashfield had been on a good run of form before last week’s defeat, five games with only one defeat, but Greg Hart said it was a tight game and it could have gone either way. "Although a poor result for us, I thought the team played well. The conditions down at Mandurah definitely influenced the match and made it a game of two halves,” he said. “In the first half we definitely had majority of the ball but Mandurah pressed a high line forcing us to sit deep. The rain and gusts coming across the park made it hard to get out of our half in the first half. After the break we had plenty of chances to equalise and even kill the game off but unfortunately failed to do so. After Mandurah took the lead minutes after we equalised was a kick in the teeth and never a nice feeling, especially knowing that Gwelup dropped points which would of given us an opportunity to close in on their lead, but as a team I think we truly understand now that anybody can beat anybody in this league and moving forward, we cannot underestimate any team in this league.”
Hart, who joined Ashfield from Gwelup this season, said they are starting to play some good football, and with the league so tight all they can do is keep winning. He is well aware of the good run UWA have been on, but they fancy their chances of taking the three points. “We have prepared for a tough match, and UWA have a great ground for playing football which I think will really suit our style of play and hopefully we can go down there and get the three points,” he explained. “We are aware of UWA’s strong form and have learnt a lot from last week’s match. We have a strong squad and as a team we're confident if we go down there and play our game that we can hopefully kill off UWA’s winning streak and climb further up the league table again.”
After a slow start to the season UWA have been on a good run of form, and winger Bryce Conway said to get a win in Bunbury was important after the big derby win against the Knights the week before. "It’s never easy heading down to Bunbury, especially in those trying conditions, but we seemed to relish the occasion on Saturday,” he said. “I thought we were dominant from the outset, continued to play our style of possession football and fully deserved the three points.”
Conway said Coach Michael Janssen has them playing some good football and the confidence is high in the camp. "Michael has always encouraged and implemented a positive style of attacking football and that’s been no different this season. I think the difference now between the opening few weeks of the season has been the attitude and focus of the group, we’ve really come together as a unit and rectified those early mistakes, which is a credit to the lads,” he explained. “The last three results have spawned some confidence, but we have lofty ambitions this year, so we need to keep grounded and continue to approach games the way he have been the past month.
The winger said Ashfield have a squad of experienced players, so they are expecting another tough test but they are ready for the challenge. "It should be a cracker at The Mac against Ashfield. We’re expecting a tough encounter as they’ve got a number of quality players, namely Patrick Sara who I think poses a threat from midfield,’ Conway said. “Saying that, we’ve got plenty of quality in the squad and I’m confident we can get the job done in front of the home faithful.”
Second placed Rockingham City stunned league leaders Gwelup Croatia last week, and on Saturday they host South West Phoenix at SafeRad Stadium at Lark Hill. The Phoenix were beaten at home by UWA, and sit second bottom of the table, with only two wins, and coach Tony Novello will be looking for an improvement this week. Rockingham's fine form has seen them move to within four points of the leaders and James Harmer said the win at Gwelup was great team performance. “I thought it was a well-earned three points without a doubt,” he said. “We've worked hard since the beginning of the year and we are starting to really gel as a team. Out of possession the Gaffa set us up in a particular way to prevent a strong Gwelup team getting hold of the game. Every single one of the boys did their jobs down to a tee and it’s great to play for a coaching team, squad and club that are working so hard on and off the pitch.”
The striker said the win last week will count for nothing if they don't get the job done on Saturday, and they know Phoenix have some dangerous players. "I think we are at a stage now that we believe that we can beat anyone. With the correct application we know that we can do really good things this season and of course we love playing at home,” Harmer said. “The atmosphere around the club is brilliant at the moment and the crowds have been really positive at every game so far. Division one is a tough league, and anyone can beat anyone on their day so we know that we have to be ready for another strong team. Like we have been every game this season under Cam and Gaz we will be prepared in the best way possible and hope to continue on with what we feel can be a great season.”
In other games leaders Gwelup Croatia will look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season when they visit Wotton Reserve to take on Morley Windmills. The home side were also beaten last week at the Knights, the result leaving them seventh on the table. Mandurah City won their first home game of the season against Ashfield last week, and this week they travel to Iluka Sports Park to take on Joondalup City, who were well beaten at Fremantle in round nine. In the final game Dianella White Eagles host Fremantle City at Dianella Reserve. Fremantle got back to winning ways with a win against Joondalup last week, while the Eagles had the bye - Western Knights have the bye this week.
15.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND TEN – PREVIEW
We head to the Swan Italian Club on Francis Street for the Footballwa.net "Match of the Round' when Swan United host Olympic Kingsway in the top of the table clash in the State League Division Two Belt-Up round 10. United came from 0-2 down to beat Gosnells City last week, while Olympic were held at home by Melville University Melville. The last time they met at the venue was in round 22 last season, when the home side run out 2-1 winners to seal a spot in the end of season play-off’s. The home side who hit the front mid-way through the first half, Kingsway failed to deal with a corner and Aaron Colli’s half volley from the edge of the box flew into the net. But Kingsway levelled ten minutes later, a stunning long-range shot from Nathan Thorpe gave Alex Radonich no chance. Both sides had chances in a tight second half, but two minutes from time a free kick was driven deep into the box and headed across the box to Colli to head the winner.
Olympic striker Danny Hodgson has been on fire in front of goal, and he bagged the equaliser last week against MUM, and he said it was a hard fought game. "We felt that a 1-1 draw was a bad result for us, although Melville actually give us a good game. They have a few nice tidy players who played the ball around nicely,” he said. “The goal we conceded was massive defensive mistake which left there striker with an open goal. But credit to Melville as they hit the bar and took the chance that they got. I think that was the only time they were in our penalty area in the full 90 minutes, but silly mistakes have happened a lot over the last few weeks. We went from conceding one goal in six to conceded five goals in eight, so we’ve dropped massive points that would have put us clear at the top.”
Hodgson, who played for Dianella White Eagles and Armadale before a knee injury put him out of the game for two season, but he is back now and enjoying his football. "I’m just happy to be back playing, on the sidelines for 2 years wasn’t fun at all and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to come back scoring like I did before my injury, but thankfully I’ve hit the ground running and I’ve scored in every game so far this season,” he explained. “I’ve worked hard to get back to where I want to be. The goals are pleasing from a personal point of view but I’d rather have the three points every week.”
The striker said Saturday should be a great game, as both sides are unbeaten this season, but he believes they can get the job done. "The game against Swan will be a cracker, it’s the biggest game of the season so far in the league, we were hoping to be a few points clear by this time but Swan have stayed with us and now they are equal on top,” Hodgson said. “Swan showed that they mean business by pulling the win out the bag from 2-0 down on the weekend, so we know it’s going to be a tough game. I’m glad we’ve got our bad performances out our system, and we hope to be back to our best on Saturday, it’ll be a great game.”
Swan had to fight all the way to get the result at Gosnells last week, and defender Rory Mouttet said it showed a deal of character to come back from two goals down to get the win. “Well Gosnells were fantastic in the first half, they were first to everything and made us pay. If not for some great goalkeeping by Joey Smith it could have been more than 2-0 at half time, they made it hard work for us,” the defender said. “Saying that we had our own chances in the first half and coming home with the wind gave us the confidence we needed to feel we could get back into it. Paul (Dundo) made some influential tactical changes and when we got the first one, it really felt like we could do it. To our credit, we never gave up which has been characteristic of our side this year. An incredibly exhilarating win in a great atmosphere down at Walter Padbury, and it was type of game that keeps you coming back.”
The defender has returned to the club this season, and has added some experience to the back line, and he said the club is stronger, on and off the pitch this season. "We are travelling well, we are winning, but the season is a long one and we aren’t even halfway through it,” Mouttet said. “We want to improve every week and know this is essential for us to be there at the business end of the season. We aren’t getting ahead of ourselves, each week is a tough match. We have had no easy games. We have to be realistic and stay focused, taking things one week at a time.”
Mouttet said Saturday's game should be a cracker, and he is confident they have the side to win it. “I haven’t seen much of Kingsway, but the ladder doesn’t lie, and I’m sure they will be a huge challenge,” he said. “We are at home so we need to focus on our effort and be confident to play how we train. It’s bound to be a huge match and with a lot at stake, I hope we’ll have a great crowd. Hopefully we will be able to get over the line for the Swan old boys, for those at Swan who off the field have been working so hard to get us back to where we belong, and for my teammates and coach who have worked hard on the training track all year and earned everything we have got this season to date.”
It's third v fourth at Princess Road Reserve when Balga host Wanneroo City. Wanneroo produced their best performance of the season last week to beat Quinns, while Balga had to settle for a point at Shamrock, via a stoppage time goal. Balga Coach Aleks Vrteski said they had some good chances in the game to win it, including a penalty miss, but he said they never gave in and got their rewards late. "We did find the equaliser late thanks to a bit of desperation on our behalf,” he said. “We had our opportunities including a missed penalty however, in fairness to Shamrock if we had of taken the three points it would have been extremely harsh as their desire was worth their weight in gold.”
Vrteski said Wanneroo have some dangerous players, and he knows they will have to be at their best to get the points, but is confident they can. "Wanneroo will be an extremely difficult game, one which I have thrown to the group this week to go and win,” he explained. “We have been the better side in most of our performances this season and go in disappointed after leaving with one point. With three wins and five draws from eight games is not a good enough return for the quality we possess.” In other games Kelmscott Roos host Murdoch Melville at Frye Park. Both sides are coming off draws last week, the Roos were held at Canning, while MUM held league leaders Olympic. Quinns will be looking to bounce back from their first loss under new coach Ian Ferguson at Wanneroo last week, when they host bottom of the table Canning City at Gumblossom Park.
In the final game Curtin University host Gosnells City at Edinburgh Oval. Curtin are coming off the bye last week, but before the bye they lost three games on the bounce and coach Campbell Ballantyne will be looking for and improvement from his side. Gosnells were beaten for the first time under new coach Brad Ruston by Swan last week, and will be looking to bounce back on Saturday, and Jordan Parfitt said it was a disappointing result. "It was a bit of a heart break, we had a chat Tuesday at training as a team and we felt like we lost our structure that we held so well in the first half,” he said. “However we take positives in the fact that it took an undefeated team to the wire to get the win which shows that Gosnells as a club is on the rise, and were looking forward to our next round with them.
Parfitt, who re-joined Gosnells from Floreat Athena last season, said with only one point separating the two side in the league a win on Saturday is important. "Yes it should be a good game on Saturday, as there is a lot to play for, and there isn’t much of a gap separating most of the teams in the league this season,” he explained. “So we know a couple of wins on the trot and you're back in the top four, we will be looking to build on our last two performances taking positives and negatives from both games, no doubt Curtin will be raring to go, so should be an entertaining game.”
15.6.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND TEN – PREVIEW
It's week ten of the Belt Up Sunday Amateur Premier Division and the Footballwa.net 'Match of the Round' takes us to Woodville Reserve where league leaders North Perth United host fourth placed Jaguar FC. Both sides are coming off big win last week North Perth beating Kingsley on the road, while the Jags easily beat Hamersley Rovers. North Perth coach Alex Carter said the win at Kingsley was great and he's been really pleased how the side have turned the season around after a slow start. "It was a big result for the boys in terms of staying in the mix of the leading pack, but we know it’s still early days, but the way the boys have turned their season around shows a bit about the character in the change rooms,” he explained. “It takes time as a coach to get across your style and philosophies and then for the players to grasp those ideas and put into a game situation is another challenge.”
Carter is back at the club after a season away and he said it's good to be back. "After a successful year with Inglewood 18’s last year, winning their first ever league title I was going to take the year off for family reasons,” he said. “But two weeks before the season started I had a call from North Perth to let me know Jason Winters had stepped aside to concentrate on trying to get his body right again so he could play in the feature. The fact we are only training one night a week this year suited my circumstances so I got on board again with NPU and I’m enjoying it, so far.”
Jaguars have been the surprise packet this season but Carter said he was well aware of the quality they have in their side. "Some might see Jags as a surprise packet, but not me, not our squad,” he said. “I was involved in a cup quarter final loss to them three years ago and I’m fully aware of what they are capable of. This week’s test is a completely different test to Kingsley last week, and we will hopefully come up with a game plan that works on Sunday.”
Jaguar coach Chol Kong said the win against Ellenbrook was pleasing and continued their good start to the season. "Last week it was another big win, and it was not an easy game because they (Ellenbrook) did create a lot of chances in the first half and held us to a 1-1 score,” he explained. “But second half we changed a few things and was really happy with the boys after the break, working together as a team and got another three goals. I was happy with the boys even though we were not at our best in the first half, they still defended well not to let Hammers take the lead. I was happy with the overall performance of the team.”
They have scored 23 goals in the league which is the second highest in the league, with Michael Wantee and Nasir Komi leading the way, and Kong said the strikers have been getting some good service this season. "I’m pleased with my boys in the middle of the park working really hard and are always ready to give the best for the team,” he said. “Really happy with them sharing the goals around and working together. Michael and Komi are our leading scorers, but every game the chemistry is getting better, and I look forward to them creating more chances.”
Kong said Sunday is their biggest test of the season, like all games in this league has been so far, but they are looking forward to the challenge. "In this league we take every game as a huge game, and teams in this league have proven it that it doesn't matter where you’re on the ladder they are able to get points as Subiaco did against Leeming,” he explained. “We will just approach it like any other game we have played this season. We know it will be a tough game as they are the current league leaders for a reason so we will have to be focus to get a positive result. We also see there are on a good form winning their last five games, so it will be exciting game and we will go there as a team and play our football.”
Hamersley will be looking to bounce back from last week’s loss at Jaguars, when they host Subiaco at Carine Open Space. Rovers’ Ian Wright, who was sent off late in the game, said they had chances to take something from the game, but they didn’t take them. “It was a disappointing result, especially considering the performance the lads put in the previous week against Kingsley. The performance matched the result and we were poor in all areas. Jags had a game plan, which involved using their pace up front and the biggest pitch ever seen in WA,” he said. “Jags finishing was good as well so credit to their frontline. The penalty miss could have been a turning point as the score was only 1-0 at the time but we equalized shortly after. If we had gone into the break 2-1 up, it could well have been a different result. The sending off was only a few minutes before full time with the score already 4-1 so it didn't impact the result, the damage was already done.”
Wright said the players are looking forward to Sunday’s game to get back in the winners’ circle. “Huge game this weekend against Subiaco, the old six pointer cliché will be kicked around but it really could be a decider come the end of the season,” he said. “The boys need to bounce back and put in the same performance as we did in our last home game against Kingsley. The coach will not accept the inconsistent performances that we've seen over the last two weeks and with strength and depth in the squad, there's competition for all positions. We expect the real Hamersley Rovers to turn out this Sunday and get the win.”
In other games Ellenbrook Rovers host Wembley Downs at Ellenbrook Sports Hub, while Belmont Villa host Kingsley at Gerry Archer Sports Complex. Southern Spirt will take their improved form on the road, and in search of their first win of the season when they visit UWA Sports Park to take on UWA-Nedlands. In the final game Leeming will be looking to keep the pressure on the leaders when they host Kwinana United at John Connell Reserve.
Leeming were held to a draw by UWA last week while Kwinana dropped to the foot of the table after their loss against Subiaco. Leeming Coach David Palin said it was a frustrating game against UWA. “On another day we could have had four or five but credit to UWA they dug in and got a point,” he said. “It could be seen as two points dropped but scoring in the last 5 minutes can be seen as a point gained and credit to the players for sticking at it even though at times it felt like it wasn’t going to be our day.”
United have been hit by injuries and have struggled this season, but Leeming Coach David Palin still knows they are a threat and is expecting a tough encounter. “Kwinana have had an up and down season but Kris always has them up for it and we expect no different on Sunday,” he said. “They are a good side and have plenty of depth so it will be a tough test and one we are looking forward to. We want to get back to winning ways and that’s what we will try do on Sunday.”
14.6.2018
MRCELA STRENGTHENS GLORY'S DEFENSIVE LINE
Perth Glory have confirmed the signing of towering centre-back Tomislav Mrcela. The Perth-born defender, who first played football as a junior with Western Knights, has put pen to paper on a two-year deal after receiving interest from a number of clubs.
Mrcela, 27, says he is excited to be back in Perth and was quick to emphasise the influence of Tony Popovic in bringing him to the club. "I'm a defender and Popovic was a World Class defender in his day," he said. "He was in the Socceroos and in the Premier League, so I can learn a lot from him."
"Popovic is a winner, we all know that, and I want to win things for this club and that's why I'm here, for that challenge. I can't wait to play in front of my friends and family here, hopefully, there will be a few members added to the club now."
Mrcela has been a mainstay of the Jeonnam Dragons defence for the past two seasons, making 49 appearance and scoring three times for the K-League club. His physical presence and aerial prowess have had him on the cusp of Socceroos selection since 2015.
Mrcela moved to Croatia as a child and spent eight years with RNK Split, graduating from the clubs' academy to captaining their youth team. He went on to play for Imotski, Mosor, Hrvatski Dragovoljac and Lokomotiva Zagreb, featuring in the Europa League for the latter.
Newly appointed assistant coach Hayden Foxe is extremely pleased to have secured Mrcela's services. "We've signed him at the prime time of his career," Foxe said. "He's a fantastic professional who works extremely hard and is greatly experienced having played in Europe for over a decade."
12.6.2018
RISDON READY TO PUT A-LEAGUE ORDEAL BEHIND HIM
Josh Risdon says he won't be letting Western Sydney Wanderers' disappointing season affect him at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Wanderers' campaign never really got going, with Tony Popovic departing for Turkey on the eve of the season and the club cycling through three coaches.
Western Sydney eventually finished seventh, missing the finals, and winning just eight of 27 matches. Risdon was a constant throughout, making 18 appearances at right back when not on international duties. He admits last season was a "rollercoaster" to deal with, but his focus now is purely on Russia and the Socceroos.
"It was obviously a tough season," the defender admitted. "The timing of the first coach to leave (Popovic) wasn't ideal, but yeah, that happens everywhere. Coaches come and go everywhere all the time. But it was a rollercoaster for us, we'd win a couple of games and then we weren't consistent."
"The season I had ... it was good to get back in the Socceroos' set-up and earn myself a spot in this squad for the World Cup. It's been an up and down season, but a positive season for myself obviously where I've ended up now. The focus on this World Cup now is a dream come true. I'm focusing on that at the moment."
Risdon was married last month and just 24 hours after tying the knot parted ways with his newly-wedded wife in the hope of making Australia's 23-man squad for Russia. The Bunbury-born and raised right-back said he had planned for the eventuality with a forgiving partner that he might make the World Cup squad.
"That was always in the back of my mind when we planned our wedding that it was going to come around the time of the World Cup," he said. "We were fully prepared that we would have to wait to have our honeymoon. I guess there's no better place to be - except for the honeymoon - than the World Cup. But my wife is fully supportive, she knew the sacrifice I was willing to make and she was as well."
Risdon is competing with Milos Degenek for Australia's starting right-back role against France. "I've played in the last two friendlies so hopefully I've put my best foot forward to start the France game," he said. "I'm just looking forward to that game, we've still got a week left of training so I'll do my best to start that game."
12.6.2018
FOXE TEAMS UP WITH POPOVIC AGAIN AT GLORY
Former Socceroos defender Hayden Foxe has been appointed as Tony Popovic's assistant coach at Perth Glory. The pair go way back. As well as representing Australia together during their playing days, they also were teammates at Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima at the turn of the millennium.
They first teamed up off the field in 2015, when Foxe became Popovic's assistant at Western Sydney Wanderers Wanderers. Popovic departed that club for Turkish outfit Karabukspor last October, leaving Foxe in temporary charge as caretaker boss. Nine months on, the pair have now rekindled their working relationship.
Foxe, capped 14 times by Australia, is determined to help ring success to what he calls an "exciting project" at Glory. "It's a really exciting project," said 40-year old Foxe, who represented Glory in two A-League campaigns. "We have a great squad and fantastic support from everyone at the club.
"I've come back to Perth to continue to work with Tony Popovic. I've worked with him for three years, he has a winning mentality, he wants to win things and that's something we share ... The plan is to pass that winning mentality and culture across the club on and off the pitch. We'll all be looking to fulfil the potential that this great football club has."
Foxe began his playing career at the Ajax Amsterdam Academy followed by spells with German club Arminia Bielefeld and Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima. He enjoyed time at English clubs West Ham United, Leeds United and Portsmouth before returning to Australia where he turned out for Glory and Sydney FC.
On hanging up his playing boots, Foxe transitioned into coaching with Melbourne Heart, initially taking charge of the club's youth team before being promoted to assistant coach. He linked up with Popovic at Western Sydney in 2015 as an assistant coach, and in 2017 took over as caretaker manager for a five-game undefeated run.
11.6.2018
SAINSBURY SET FOR CAPTAIN'S CHALLENGE
Trent Sainsbury says he won't be changing his approach to the game if he is given the captain's armband to skipper the Socceroos in their World Cup opener against France. Sainsbury has led Australia in their past two friendly matches, victories over Czech Republic and Hungary, with normal captain Mile Jedinak on the bench.
The 4-0 win over the Czechs was the first time the central defender had captained his country. The Socceroos start their tournament in Kazan against Les Bleus on Saturday. Sainsbury said the added rare honour, if he is given it by coach Bert van Marwijk this weekend, won't alter his mindset.
"The last few games I've had the honour and the privilege to lead the boys out," he said. "Honestly, I don't think its going to change the way I'm going to think about the game at all. I've got it ticked off the bucket list I guess you could say now, so it's just going to be another opportunity to do it if I get the honour and privilege again."
Australia will line up against France, ranked seventh in the world, and the likes of Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann, at the Kazan Arena on 16 June. Sainsbury is expected to be faced with marking Atletico Madrid marksman Griezmann, but the 26-year old isn't fazed. "Everyone's talking about him, he's a great player," he said.
"At the same time it's a team sport, I've got teammates around me who can help me deal with that. France have got a great squad, the players they've got in every position - they've probably got five or six who could make a few more teams and compete at the World Cup and be successful. So we have to be on our best behaviour, do everything that we've been taught in training and pull it off and be successful in this match."
In 2014 Sainsbury was set to join the Socceroos in Brazil for his first World Cup, before a freak encounter with a sprinkler while playing for PEC Zwolle in Holland ruined his tournament dream. Four years on and now the defender is a mere days away from a career highlight.
"It wasn't pleasant four years ago, but at the same time I always try to be positive and look at the upside," he admitted. "It gave me a chance to work on other aspects of my life and my game that I definitely needed at the time. Coming here now I'm closer to realizing the dream. So it's a nice thought but I'm not there yet."
10.6.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND NINE – REVIEW
Leeming Strikers lost their lead at the top of the Belt Up Sunday Amateur Premier Division after they were held to a 2-2 draw against UWA-Nedlands at John Connell Reserve. The home side were ahead on 15 minutes, David Palin volleying home from the edge of the box. But UWA levelled on the half hour. Liam Pilgrim, received the ball on the right and cut inside his marker and delivered a cross searching cross to Norwegian striker Kristian Brattetveit, who flicked it on and Leeming failed to clear their lines and Nico Bahamondes fired home into the bottom corner from 10 meters. The visitors were ahead ten minutes into the second half. A quick counter attack involving some neat lead up play ended with Brattetveit, who made no mistake at the near post. It looked like the leaders were going to be beaten for the first time at home for the season, but five minutes from time they found the equaliser. A ball into the box by Michael Jennings was met by Palin who headed home. “It was a very enjoyable game to watch with some of our best combination football to date,” UWA Coach Arthur Hiemstra said. “Despite being 2-1 up with five minutes to go I believe the result is an accurate reflection of the game. It’s great to see the players and team tested each week and grow, major focus for us now is to improve our consistency.”
That loss gave North Perth United the lead at the top of the table after a hard fought 1-0 win against Kingsley at Chichester Park. It was a tight game but North Perth missed a number of chances to take the lead, but they eventually found the winner two minutes from time. Radio Rensalu cross was met at the front post by Sean Lahert who made no mistake. There were a few nervy moments for the visitors in the 16 minutes of stoppage time, as Kingsley pressed for the equaliser and North Perth had to defend desperately three free kicks but held on for the win. “It’s a big win for the club, but we had to hold on in stoppage time, I don’t know where the referee got that much time from, probably his Bali watch was playing up,” North Perth Coach Alex Carter joked. “With other results this weekend it puts us top of the ladder. We have worked tirelessly to turn around our season and that is a little bit of reward for the boys, for now.”
Wembley Downs moved up to sixth on the table after a 2-0 win against Belmont Villa at Butlers Reserve. Dean Wall had an opportunity to give Wembley the lead on the half hour when he was left unmarked inside the box but he couldn’t direct his header on target. The home side went close again just before half time, a free kick from Ryan Fish picked out Jay McDonald whose header was well saved by Belmont keeper Ste Szklanka. But from the resulting corner Wembley hit the front, Jason Trepevski finishing from close-range in a goalmouth scramble. Belmont were always a threat but couldn’t find the back of net and they were made to pay in stoppage time when another Fish free-kick into a crowded penalty area went into the bottom corner of the net. “I’m delighted with (the performance), especially after last week, we dominated at the back today,” Wembley Coach Sully Sullivan said. “Belmont, all credit to them, they came at us in the second half, but we finally got that second goal … an excellent performance by us. I think that’s 20 months unbeaten here at Butlers Reserve. We’re still in the hunt, we’re looking to hopefully push forward the next two, three games before the turn of the season. We’re looking to get maximum points before the turn.”
Jaguar moved to third after a 4-1 win against Hamersley Rovers at Herb Graham Recreation Centre. A brace from Michael Wantee and others to George Duku and Laurence Gama gave Chol Kong’s side the points. Tom Clarke scored for Hamersley, and Dave Morris missed a penalty, and they ended the game with ten men when Ian Wright was sent off. “We knew this week it was going to be hard game against Hamersley as they came off a good win against Kingsley the week before and for us it was about getting back to our winnings ways after disappointing result against Subiaco,” Kong said. “I was not 100 per cent pleased with the boys first half after we scored the first goal we let them get one before the end of the first half. So as a coach I knew we had so much work to do in the second half. I was pleased with the respond from the half time team talk and we got a goal back early in the second half. We knew the next goal was an important goal so we had to be patience and middle through the second half we got our third before we finished off the game in the late stage of the second half. I was really happy with the team performance, and we kept on fighting until the end. Hamersley is not an easy team and to put four pass them shows what we are capable as a team.”
In other games Southern Spirit and Ellenbrook United have fought out a nine-goal thriller, after the visitors went home from Watsons Reserves with a 5-4 win. The visitors were ahead early with Matty Clarke scoring a long-range screamer. It was 2-0 moments later with Isaac Garana finishing from close-range. Spirit reduced the margin with Jacob Ledo scoring, but Ellenbrook went into the break 3-1 up, with a smart finish Clarke. The home side pulled another goal back just after half time through Noah Gregory, but Jon Rakitich and Abdul Kamara scored soon after to make it 5-2. Spirit had a man sent off but it seemed to kick them into gear and they scored two quick goals from Ledo and Brandon DeAbreu to set up a tense finale, but Ellenbrook hung on. “We didn’t play that well but managed to come away with a valuable three points which in this league is vital,” Ellenbrook Coach Paul Vallerius said. “I thought they (Spirit) were very unlucky not to get something from the game as they played very well.”
In the final game Subiaco scored three late goals to beat Kwinana 4-3 at Kelly Park. The host were ahead early with Anthony Harris on target, but Kevin Beattie levelled for Subiaco racing clear from a Paul Sopp through ball. But Kwinana took control and Harris bagged another two to complete his hat-trick, but with 15 minutes to go Harris was sent off and the game changed. Sopp pulled one back, before Beattie levelled, and he won it for them late. Joe Doegolia played Sopp clear, and he pulled the ball back to Beattie, who finished clinically to win it and complete his hat-trick much to the delight of the travelling supporters. “We gave away some sloppy goals with slack defending, but when their player got sent off it galvanized the team, and seemed to have the opposite effect on Kwinana,” Subiaco’s Andy Rhodes said. “Our hunger to get something from the game seemed to increase dramatically and patience eventually paid off which some great counter-attacking moves leading to all four goals.”
9.6.2018
FORRIE ROAR PAST SORRENTO
Forrestfield United jumped to seventh on the NPL-WA table after a 2-0 win against Sorrento at Wildlife Safari Stadium, Hartfield Park on a wet and windy Saturday evening. American striker Hasani Sinclair gave the home side the lead mid-way through the first half, before a stunning strike from Antione Lemaire early in the second gave them the points and consecutive wins for the first time this season. “The win was great, to back up previous weeks and show some consistency in our gameplay is great for the squad,” Forrestfield skipper Liam Merigan said. “I thought the entire team played well all performing their role, resulting in a very pleasing overall performance. The team are definitely finding their feet more and more within the new league and getter better with each week.”
It was wet and wild at kick off, and it took both sides time to settle to the stormy conditions. Sorrento had plenty of possession but failed to create any clear-cut chances, the best fell to Danny Jones whose volley from the edge of the box flashed over the top. But on 22 minutes the home side hit the front. Scott Barker played Rhys Loxley down the left and he whipped in a deep cross to Sinclair who headed home at the back post. Sorrento should have levelled four minutes later, a ball into the box found Reece Vittiglia, but his shot was well saved by Luke Martino. The Gulls had another chance seven minute from half time, when Danny Jones found himself one-on-one after nicking the ball off a defender, however Martino stood tall to deny him.
Forrestfield made a perfect start to the second half and doubled their lead just three minutes in with a super strike from Lemarie. The striker was picked out by Merigan, on the left of the penalty area, and he unleashed a stunning striker that flew past James Morgan an into the net via the post. After that Forrestfield were content to defend their lead and look for opportunities on the counter attack and Jordan Hart was denied by James Morgan on a quick break. Moments later Sinclair played in Merigan, who raced into the box but his shot hit the side netting.
Forrestfield United: GK Luke MARTINO, 2 Tom SOUTHGATE, 3 Wilbert TSHABANGU (12 Callum DOBBS 83’), 5 Scott BARKER, 8 Mitchell CROCKER, 9 Hasani SINCLAIR (6 Kristian DESPOTOVSKI 86’), 10 Jordan HART, 11 Liam MERIGAN (C), 14 Antoine LEMARIE (7 Ben ROGERS 72’), 15 Jamie STREET, 23 Rhys LOXLEY - Subs not used: RGK Ben PARRY, 4 Jamie DUNCAN
Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 3 Jaxon TEMATA, 6 Daryl PLATTEN (C) (31 Conor SHIMMIN 75’), 7 Alex MORGAN (19 Jack SALTER 58’), 8 Scott WITSCHGE, 11 Tim HILL, 16 Chris BALAZS, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA, 18 Jordan BROWN, 22 Danny JONES (13 Steve MCDONALD 69’), 23 Cameron TEECE - Subs not used: RGK Anastasis FARSALEAS, 15 Conor DOLAN - Referee: Adam Fielding
9.6.2018
GLORY THRASH JOONDALUP TO JUMP TO SECOND
Perth Glory moved second on the NPL-WA table after a comprehensive 5-0 win against Joondalup United at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday afternoon. Michael Domfeh gave the visitors the lead, before Callum Timmins double it on the half hour, and Luke Bodnar added a third with a great solo run before the break. Henry Hore added a fourth and second half substitute Gomo Dukuly rounded off the scoring late. “I feel like we dominated an experienced Joondalup United team, and we carried on our momentum from previous games, and sticking with the same mind set,” Glory midfielder Callum Timmins said. “We really caused a problem for them in all areas of the pitch, and we probably deserved a few more goals if we were a little bit more clinal in the final third.”
The Glory youngsters opened brightly and Yacoub Mustafa went close to the opener on the quarter hour, but Joondalup keeper James Bosdet denied him with a great save. But on 22 minutes, their pressure was rewarded with the lead. A defence splitting through ball from Michael McDougall sent Domfeh into the box, and he took a touch and finished clinically from a tight angle. It was one-way traffic and Glory added a second, nine minutes later.
A corner was only cleared as far as Timmins on the edge of the penalty area, and he fired home. Then five minutes before half time the Glory added a third, and what a goal it was. Bodnar picked the ball up in his own half and went on a super solo run, racing past a number of Joondalup defenders, and went one-on-one with Bosdet, and slipped the ball under the keeper.
After the break it was more of the same and on 56 minutes we added a fourth. Chok Dau found space out wide and picked out Hore, and the midfielders’ low shot beat Bosdet. Dau went close himself on the hour, he lost his marker but his shot flashed wide of the target. Joondalup were struggling to break down a Glory back-four, superbly lead by Walter Scott, and in the final minute we put the icing on the cake by adding a fifth. Timmins found Jack Leech, who played a great ball into Dukuly, who kept his composure and finished clinically past Bosdet, to seal a comprehensive win.
Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 2 Johnny CHALMERS, 3 Fraser GARNAUT (15 Callum STOCKS 3’), 4 Danny O’SHEA, 6 Sam WYNNE, 8 Jay MARSDEN, 10 Elliot TATTERSAL, 11Anthony TAYLOR (C), 17 Matthew CHERRIE, 22 Jamie GIBSON, 25 Greg PELLOW - Subs not used: RGK Luke GREEN, 9 Lee JONES, 12 William KESSEL, 14 Liam MOONEY
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luke BODNAR, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Daniel WALSH, 5 Harry QUIGLEY (15 Nic MCDONALD 84’), 6 Callum TIMMINS, 7 Chok DAU, 8 Henry HORE, 9 Michael DOMFEH (14 Gomo DUKULY 70’) 10 Michael MCDOUGALL (C) (12 Jack LEECH 70), 11 Yacoub MUSTAFA - Subs not used: 20. Nicholas SPECA 13. Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY - Referee: Alexander Best
9.6.2018
SUBIACO STUN LACKLUSTER JACKS
Subiaco claimed three vital points after a 2-0 win against a lackluster ECU Joondalup at Rosalie Park on Saturday afternoon. The Jacks looked jaded from their FFA Cup game at Armadale on Monday and struggled to break down a gutsy Subiaco side, and took the lead through Jackson Dongray on 53 minutes and David Perich sealed the win with a late penalty. " The great win and performance against ECU have been coming for a few weeks,” Subiaco keeper Ryan Montgomery said. “We’ve been playing well but just needed that little bit of luck to go our way which it did today. We were confident going in to the game and we knew if we stayed switched on for the 90 minutes we would get the result we needed.”
Subiaco had the first real chance of the game, Robert Harding raced down the right, his cross picked out Adam Carlino, whose shot on the road was well saved by Jack Nunn. Moments later ECU skipper Daryl Nicol made space down the left, his cross fell kindly for Sam Pollard, whose shot was deflected wide. The visitors were dominating possession but were struggling to break down a solid Subiaco defence. They did almost catch Subiaco napping on the half hour, when Steven McGarry’s quickly taken free kick sent Nicol racing into the box, his low cross picked out Gordon Smith, but his effort from close-range flashed over the top. ECU ended the half well and Subiaco keeper Ryan Montgomery produced a good save to deny Cian Hirrell’s header, but it was all-square at the break.
It was more of the same after the break, Nicol headed over the top early, before Hirrell’s header was saved on the line by the alert Montgomery. Subiaco went close themselves on 52 minutes, Anthony Topini’s cross picked out Harding, whose header was superbly saved by Nunn. But from the resulting corner Subiaco hit the front, Dongray rose highest at the back post to head home, despite McGarry’s attempt to clear the ball off the line. It should have been 2-0 on the hour, Perich’s superb through ball sent Topini in on goal, but he failed to hit the target.
The visitors were throwing everything at the Subiaco defence, but to a man they defended heroically, and when they were breached, Montgomery then got down well to save Nicol’s shot on the run. But with ECU pushing men forward, Subiaco added a second in stoppage time. A quick break found McMurray, who was pulled back by Ross Millard, and referee Julian Serra pointed to the spot. Perich stepped and kept his nerve and scored from the resulting penalty to seal a huge win for Subiaco.
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 4 Robert HARDING (7 Mitchell BATH 64’), 5 Manase ABANDELWA, 6 Jackson DONGRAY, 9 Adam CARLINO (19 Ian MCMURRAY 89’), 12 Nathan SMITH, 13 Jonas DORLING, 15 Anthony TOPINI, 16 Dean APELGREN, 17 Alex CASTIELLO, 18 David PERICH - Subs not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 2 Nathan HARDIE, 3 Vasco DA SILVA
ECU Joondalup: GK Jack NUNN, 2 Cian HIRRELL (16 Liam MURRAY 83’), 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 6 Kieron STALLARD, 7 Sam POLLARD (15 Adam TONG 67’), 8 Josh WHITMORE (13 Lukas DE LIMA 39’), 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Brad MCDONALD - Subs not used: RGK George JACKSON, 12 Ryan MCDARBY - Referee: Julian Serra
9.6.2018
PERTH TOO GOOD FOR ARMADALE
After the joy of reaching the FFA Cup round of 32, Armadale were brought back down to earth after a 4-0 defeat against Perth SC at Dorrien Gardens. Paul Zimarino opened the scoring in the first half but the game changed when Charlie Kenna was sent off on 79 minutes. Matt Milenkovic added a second three minutes later, before Harley Orr scored a penalty in the final minute, and Armadale where reduced to nine men when Billy Quinncroft was also sent off. Then in stoppage time Milenkovic added his second to complete the scoring.
"Armadale had come off the back of a few good wins and so we set out to try and hit them hard and early to stop them building any momentum,” Milenkovic said. “I think we went out and did exactly that, we pushed forward and created a number of opportunities and managed to create a goal. Our hard work finally paid off in the last 10 minutes of the game where we showed that we were hungry to win scoring three late goals. It was a disciplined effort from everyone and a well-deserved win for us.”
Armadale started brightly but struggled to break down the Perth defence, and their only chances were from long-range, which didn’t trouble Perth keeper Francis Soale. Perth gradually took control and they hit the front on 24 minutes. Jordan De Leo’s deflected cross wrong-footed Armadale keeper Sam Hutchings and Zimarino nodded into an empty net from close range. Rocco Pizzata went close to a second just before halftime, but his long-range flashed wide of the target.
In the second half Gustavo Catarcione had the ball in the net early, but the flag was up for offside, while substitute Friday Zico went close for Armadale, but Soale produced a great save to deny him. But Armadale suffered a blow 11 minutes from time when Kenna was sent off for an off-the-ball incident and Milenkovic capitalised almost immediately when he squeezed the ball under Hutchings from a tight angle to double Perth’s lead. Quinncroft was dismissed in stoppage time for a foul which allowed Orr to score from the penalty spot, before Milenkovic tapped home Richard Howles’ cross to round off on a 4-0 win.
Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE, 3 Andreas THEODOSIADES (18 Richard HOWLES 83’), 6 Harley ORR, 7 Aleks JOVIC, 8 Tom KING, 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE, 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 13 Rocco PIZZATA, 16 Kieran COLWELL (2 Alex SILLA 88’), 20 Paul ZIMARINO - Subs not used: RGK Daniel PASSARELLI, 10 Nicholas AMBROGIO, 14 Kristian SANTICH
Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 2 Joshua KUSER, 3 Delan DE SILVA, 4 Nathan COSTELLO, 5 David ANNALL, 7 Charlie KENNA, 9 Billy QUINNCROFT, 10 Chris JACKSON, 15 Ali GHOLAMI (12 Dannie RICHMAN 69’) (Michael RIZIDIS 75)), 21 Beau RAHIM, 22 Ryan HASLETT (20 Friday ZICO 58’) – Subs not used: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK - Red cards: Kenna 79, Quinncroft 90 - Referee: Matthew Southern
9.6.2018
ATHENA PUT ON A FIVE STAR SHOW
Floreat Athena have won back-to-back NPL games for the first time this season after a dominate 5-1 win against Balcatta at Grindleford Reserve on Saturday. It was a tight first half with Hayden Stevens giving the home the lead from the penalty spot eight minutes before half time. But the visitors hit back before the break with Robert Petkov leveling. But after half time Floreat took control and Ludovic Boi gave them the lead early, before a brace from skipper Dean Evans blew the game right open and second half substitute Hamza Hina added a fifth late to seal a comprehensive win.
"I think we all put in a shift today, to be honest, it wasn’t just our forwards ... the back-four held their own and that’s what we needed, especially after the loss to Gwelup (in the FFA Cup),” Evans said. “It’s been a tough year so far for us, it’ll be a good morale booster ... hopefully it can kick-start our year. We’re not writing off the top four if we can string some wins together, that’s the aim for us now. We’ve started poorly but hopefully we can kick-on with it."
Balcatta hit the front on 37 minutes after referee Steven Gregory spotted a handball on Chris Saldaris and pointed straight to the spot. Stevens stepped up and scored from the resulting penalty. But six minutes later the visitors levelled, Evans’ corner wasn’t dealt with and Petkov pounced on the loose ball to fire home.
Athena picked up where they left off after the break, and Boi put Floreat in front. Balcatta keeper Kyle McDonald punched the ball as far as Boi who belted it back past him to send Athena into the lead. Evans made it three for Athena with a great strike, and four minutes later Evans completed his brace finishing after Balcatta failed to clear. They added a fifth five minutes from time when Hina scored, to complete a comprehensive win ’s turn to get among the action as Floreat put the cherry on the cake following some well worked combination play from the Floreat attack.
Balcatta: GK Kyle McDONALD, 2 Joseph MARINO, 3 Hayden STEVENS, 4 Calum O’CONNELL, 7 Asher NELSON (19 Ben PELLIZARI 75’) 8 Carmelo GIUFFRE, 9 Alex WILD (23 Lawrence SHURAMA 60’), 10 Jonathan CORNESS, 15 Adriano JELENOVIC, 18 Robert DEL BORRELLO, 20 Shubham MAKELA (21 Amos GAMA 68’) - Subs not used: RGK Dominico SAVOLDELLI, 5 Tom PELLIZZARI
Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 2 Marco SANTA LUCIA, 6 Jessie FULLER, 8 Jon STYNES (13 Hamza HINA 77’) 9 Robert PETKOV (33 Philip ARNOLD 58’) 10 Calvin WHITNEY, 11 Dennis GALAN, 14 Ludovic BOI, 15 Chris SALDARIS, 16 Ryan MALTON (4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO 79’) 17 Dean EVANS - Subs not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 12 Ahadi ABANDELWA, 20 Keylun POLLARD - Referee: Steven Gregory
9.6.2018
BAYSWATER BEAT LIONS TO EXTEND LEAD AT TOP
Bayswater City moved four points clear at the top of the table after a 3-0 win against Stirling Lions at Frank Drago Reserve. Young striker Luka Ninkovic gave the home side the lead early, but the Lions held on till half time. But after the break Chris Coyne's side doubled their lead four minutes in, with Ninkovic added his second, before the points were wrapped up in stoppage time with second half substitute Luke salmon adding a third. "Very steady performance from the team, and Stirling were limited to shots from distance and we got another clean sheet,” Assistant Coach Alun Vernals said. “It definitely wasn’t our best performance of the season but going forward we are going to cause problems with the pace of Gian, Luka and Moses so if we keep clean sheets we’ve always got a chance. Then you have Luke Salmon coming off the bench and contributing, and Jordan Pokler made his full debut last week so everyone in chipping in.”
With new Glory Head Coach Tony Popovic and assistant Hayden Foxe in the stands, Ninkovic scored his first of the match on 10 minutes, after the youngster got behind the Stirling defence and firing a low shot that went in off Lions keeper Pasquale Gioffre. Stirling didn’t drop their heads after conceding early and at half-time it looked like the match could go either way.
However Ninkovic scored his second four minutes after the restart as former Lions winger Moses Kalau used his pace on the left before crossing to Ninkovic, who had a simple finish. The Lions were struggling to breakdown a very solid Bayswater defence, well led by skipper Trent Kay, but it didn’t help by the sending-off of captain Darren O'Riordan in the 83rd minute after a poor challenge. But the icing was put on the cake in stoppage time when Salmon came off the bench and scored the third in the 94th minute after Stirling failed to clear the ball following a corner.
Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 4 Arran MAPLESTONE (11 Ryan PEARSON 68’), 5 Adam HARRIS, 8 Paul MCCARTHY, 12 David STOKOE, 13 Trent KAY, 17 Gian ALBANO, 19 Luka NINKOVIC (22 Luke SALMON 61’), 24 Jake SARDELIC, 26 Paul LLOYD, 30 Moses KALAU (10 Jason MIRCO 80’) - Subs not used: RGK Dejan ALEKSIC, 27 Shayden PASALAQUA
Stirling Lions: GK Pasquale GIOFFRE, 2 David MOLINARI (9 Daniel MICEVSKI 68’), 3 Darren O’RIORDAN, 4 Alex SULESKI, 5 Liam HENDERSON, 7 Dean CUMMINGS, 8 Dejan SPASESKI, 10 David MICEVSKI, 13 David FILLIPOU (14 Steve SOKOL 53’), 15 Nathan DE ABREU, 18 Ben CAMPBELL (11 Alex TANEVSKI 53’) - Subs not used: RGK Lance ALAVAKIS, 12 Nicholas ASHLEY – Red Cards - O'Riordan 83’ - Referee: David Bruce
9.6.2018
COCKERELS HELD BY INGLEWOOD
Cockburn City lost ground on leaders Bayswater after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Inglewood United at Dalmatinac Park on Saturday afternoon. It was a real tight contest, and it burst into life late when Ryan Pratt scored with 20 minutes remaining. But the visitors hit back and deservedly levelled seven minutes from time with skipper David Cyrus. The home side pressed late for the winner but they found Inglewood custodian Alex Dunn in fine form, so both teams shared the spoils. " It was a good game of football by two sides who wanted to attack,” Inglewood assistant Coach Saul Contera said. “We are happy with the point but ultimately we wanted three and we did everything we could until the final whistle to try and pinch it but it was not to be.”
The windy conditions at Dalmatinac Park made life difficult for both sets of players in a first half of few genuine goal scoring opportunities. The first of these came the way of the visiting side, Kenny Keogh’s back post header flashing wide of the target after being found by Ellis Healing. Cockburn replied with a tidy passing move on the end of which Anthony Skorich slid his shot the wrong side of the upright. Keogh carved out the best opening of the period by beating his marker and delivering an inviting cross which Cyrus half-volleyed over the crossbar.
Alex Salmon was left frustrated soon after the interval when Luke Radonich’s reflex save denied him the breakthrough goal. Luccas Mello twice went close to putting Cockburn in front before his centre allowed Ryan Pratt to chip oncoming goalkeeper over Alex Dunn, to give the hosts the lead. It took only eight minutes for Inglewood to get back on level terms with Cyrus tapping in from close-range after Salmon’s shot was parried by Radonich. Dunn made sure there would be no further addition to the scoreline when he brilliantly tipped Daniel Robinson’s late strike onto the bar.
Cockburn City: GK Luke RADONIC, 4 Euen GRANT, 6 Reuben TRISTAO, 7 Luccas MELLO, 8 Cameron EDWARDS, 9 Julian TELES, 11 Harry O’BRIEN, 12 Ryan PRATT, 15 Daniel SANTICH, 16 Daniel ROBINSON, 19 Anthony SKORICH – Subs not used: RGK Ryan BARKER, 10 David ARAYA, 13 Blake ADAMS, 21 Samuel GARCES, 22 Adam ANFUSO,
Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 2 Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS, 3 David CYRUS, 7 Kenny KEOGH (14 Hanafi GHAZALI 81’), 8 Jason BARRERA, 9 Alex SALMON, 10 Ashley ROSINDALE (6 Miki VUJACIC 62’), 11 Ellis HEALING, 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie MURPHY (23 Brian WOODALL 46’), 19 Connor BECSI – Sub not used: 4 Scott BLACKMORE, 12 Griffin BESCI - Referee: Josh Manella
9.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND NINE – REVIEW
Rockingham City have closed the gap on league leaders Gwelup Croatia to four points after a stunning 4-1 win against them at Wishart Street in week nine of the State League Division One. After a tight first half it was the host who hit the front on four minutes into the second half, James Harmer’s corner to the back post was turned in by Stephen O’Leary at the back post under pressure from Lydon Hodgkiss. They doubled their lead four minutes later, Harmer ball into the box was misjudged by Cameron Yorke and Ross Staley slide in at the back post to score. Remarkably they added a third on the hour, Hodgkiss controlling the ball on his chest and firing into the top corner from 18 meters.
Gwelup looked jaded after their FFA Cup exploits on Monday, but they did pull one back on 64 minutes, Noah Shamaki curling home from the edge of the box. But their revival was cut short moments later when Kwang-Mook Lim was sent off after going too far when trying to retrieve the ball from Rockingham ‘keeper Alfie Brincat. Rockingham made sure of the points nine minutes from time. Hamer’s free kick was spilled by Riley Stephenson and Koty Millard fired home the rebound. “We are all ecstatic with our big win against such quality opposition, and I’m sure the result would have turned a few heads, but it wasn’t a surprise to everyone involved with some of the football we have played recently,” Rockingham Coach Cameron Lord said. “We have been working extremely hard at training to get results like this, and the players deserve all the credit for the hunger and football that was on display. We can all be super proud of the result against Gwelup, but we now must focus on a new challenge against Bunbury next week. Best of luck to Gwelup in the cup final and their national adventure in the FFA Cup.”
Western Knights bounced back from defeat last week with a hard fought 2-1 win against Morley Windmills at Nash Field. The Knights were on top early and Dean Hurley’s header crashed off the crossbar, but against the run of play Morley hit the front, a stunning long-strike from Boas Mtwale gave Sam Stone no chance. Knights kept the pressure on and got their rewards just half time when the Morley keeper tried to be a bit too clever and take the ball round Hurley who managed to get a tackle in on him and slot it into the empty net. The second half was a tight affair with Morley using the wind to their advantage but the Knights won it from the spot after Hurley was brought down in the area and he picked himself up to fire home the winner from the resulting penalty. “I thought today was another good test of character for us, we went behind in a game where we never deserved and Morley played a route one game with a lot of tall timber,” Knights skipper Graham Tough said. “We defended well today right throughout the pitch and controlled the majority of the game, and we got the all-important three points we needed. Results went in our favour too with a few teams dropping points which puts us third now going forward. We have a bye next week so time for a few lads to recover from some niggles and get right for the big derby in two weeks’ time against Gwelup.”
Mandurah City moved off the bottom of the table after 3-2 win against Ashfield at ??. The home side were ahead when Max Snelson’s long-range shot took a big deflection and looped over the Ashfield keepers’ head. But Ashfield hit back with Kevin Ashwood scoring. But Mandurah took the lead into the break when Andy Brown’s headed home. But after half time Ashfield restored parity with Ashwood adding his second. But ten minutes from time the home side won it, Joey O’Brien finishing clinically, lobbing the keeper from the edge of the box. It was an emotional day at the club on the one-year anniversary of the passing of Dolphins young supporter Chris Chandler, and Captain Andy Brown won the Chris Chandler medal as best player for the team. “It was great to get the win on such an important day for the club,” Mandurah coach Alex Grayson said. “Obviously it was massive for us as a squad but the occasion has made it extra special, but we have an Important few weeks coming up but hopefully we can use this weekend as the boost we need.”
Fremantle City are back in the winner’s circle after a 4-1 win against Joondalup City at Hilton Reserve. The home side were ahead after Alec Robinson headed down and Callum Roberts finished, It was 2-0 when Ben Reynolds corner was headed home by Robinson. It was 3-0 at the break when a long clearance from Struan Herd sent Wade Farmer clear to score. Joondalup hit back in the seconds half with Sam Rawlings scoring. But Fremantle had the last word Kenel Mouithys finishing well to seal a 4-1 win. “It was a very good performance all round, and we could really have won by more,” Fremantle Coach Marc Anthony said. “But coming of a very disappointing loss against Ashfield, where we should have won. But it’s always good to get back to winning ways, the league is so tight so if we could manage a few wins in a row it would be vital for us.”
UWA-Nedlands good form has continued with a 2-0 win against South West Phoenix at ???. The visitors hit the front when a fortuitous header from Andrew Xydas found Luke Randazzo, and he released Lloyd Prout who crossed to Alex Kretowicz for a clinical finish from five meters. They added a second when some good build up in the middle of the pitch allowed Conor Devlin to play a through ball to Kretowicz, who although marked closer rounded the keeper and finished into the roof of the net. UWA could added more but keeper Jamie Oakley was in splendid form to deny them and keep the scoreline respectable. “Traveling to Bunbury and performing to a good level is always a challenge. On top both teams had to deal with rough weather conditions, but we really started strong and took control from the start,” UWA Coach Michael Janssen said. “The boys picked up early and we dominated the play for most of the game. We missed some chances to gain a better result but overall, we are happy with the result. Now we have to focus on next week’s match against Ashfield and be up for the challenge again.” - Dianella White Eagles had the bye this week.
9.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND NINE – REVIEW
Swan United moved equal top of the State League Division Two table after they came from 0-2 down to beat Gosnells City 3-2 at Walter Padbury Reserve. The home side dominated and were ahead when a free kick was headed back across goal by Scott Pereira and Tony Chandler was on hand to head into an empty net. It was 2-0 to the home side before the break, Pereira the scorer this time firing home from the edge of the box giving Joey Smith no chance in the Swan goal. United hit back after the break but couldn’t break a tight Gosnells defence, but that all changed on 65 minutes, Rory Mouttet heading home from five meters. Five minutes later the visitors were level, Brennan Borzecki and Aaron Colli combined to send Florent Remy in on goal and he finished under the keeper. But the Swans won it when a short corner caught Gosnells napping, Brennan Borzecki cross to John Monterosso who lost his marker and fired home from five meters, to complete the comeback. “Gosnells was a real test for us and we knew it was going to be a danger game with having a new manager, and they were very difficult to break down especially after scoring a couple of goals in the first half,” United defender Reegan Borzecki said. “But a big credit to all the boys who showed massive heart and desire to get back into the game and Paul (Dundo) for making a few tactical changes after halftime which collectively got us over the line. There was a big sense of relief after the game and have set ourselves up for a cracker next week against Kingsway which we are hoping to take our momentum into.”
Kingsway Olympic maintained their lead at the top of the State League Division Two table but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Murdoch Melville at Kingsway Reserve. The visitors were set up to be solid and hit on the break, and it worked perfectly for the opener just after half time. Christian Long and Daniel Davey combined well to find Dean Thurston who headed home from six meters. But on the hour the home side levelled, with Danny Hodgson’s superb long-range free kick giving the keeper no chance. Both sides had late chances the best Long, whose rasping drive crashed off the crossbar. “We almost nicked all three points late on,” Murdoch Melville Coach Gavin Brown said. “But overall I felt a draw was a fair result and one we were happy with after two tight losses.”
Wanneroo City kept the pressure on the top two after 3-1 win against Quinns in the derby at Wanneroo Reserve. The home side were ahead on five minutes, Gareth Lloyd curling home a free kick from 20 meters. It was 2-0 moments later in similar circumstances, this time Jamie Stewart curling the free kick around the wall to score. Quinns were struggling and it wasn’t a surprise when Wanneroo added a third on 20 minutes. Great work by Matt Franken on the left found Connor Lynch on the far post who made no mistake. The visitors reduced the margin after the break with Luke Doyle scoring but it was too little too late for Quinns. “It was by far our best performance of the season,” Wanneroo Coach Tim Kantor said. “The simple message at half time was to continue the relentless pressure we were putting on them and more goals would flow. If not for our poor finishing it could have been a cricket score. We are getting better week by week and with some results going our way leaves us only two points from top. It doesn’t get any easier as we travel to Balga next week who are undefeated after eight games, and we’re certainly not getting ahead of ourselves and with two games to go before the half way mark we are just looking at keeping the momentum going.”
The points were shared at Harold Rossiter Reserve where Shamrock Rovers drew 1-1 with Balga. Shamrock's goal keeper Ben Robson was sent off following a foul on Jake Verini just outside the box after a goal scoring opportunity. However, ten men Shamrock took the lead in the 20th minute, a nice cross from out wide found Ivwa Simble who blasted his shot past Jordan Howell. Balga looked dangerous in the second half, but the Shamrock defence stood firm. In the second half Balga received a penalty after Nahom Michael was fouled, which resulted in a second yellow card and a sending off for Callum Trayner, but Jason Stepanovski's spot kick was well saved by the keeper. It looked like the nine men of Shamrock were going to get a heroic win, but in the 96th minute, a deep cross found Dan Cagorski whose powerful header beat the keeper for a dramatic equaliser.
In the final game Kelmscott Roos were held to a 0-0 draw against Canning City at Burrendah Reserve. Both sides had chances to win the game, but both had to shar the spoils. Kelmscott Coach Aron Beattie said it was two points lost. “Well that result hurts, it feels like a loss,” he said. “In football you must remain professional and disciplined in the way you play and in what you are trying too achieve and you have to do it for 90 minutes, but we only rocked up for 20 minutes, so very disappointed but the beauty with football is you always have a week to turn things around so I’m buzzing for next week already.” - Curtin University had the bye this week.
8.6.2018
NPL-WA ROUND SIXTEEN PREVIEW
It's week 16 of the NPL-WA and this week’s Footballwa.net 'Match of the Round' takes us to the Wildlife Safari Stadium, where ninth placed Forrestfield United host twelfth place Sorrento. Forrestfield were back in the winners' circle last week beating Armadale 1-0, while Sorrento's poor form continued losing at home to Perth SC. Only three points separate the sides on the ladder, so three points in this one could be vital in their survival. The last time they meet was in round three, when they played out a seven-goal thriller at Percy Doyle Reserve. Sorrento raced to a two-goal lead early, with Alex Morgan and Jack Salter on target, but Forrie hit back, Rhys Loxley and Sani Sinclair levelled before half time. But two goals in as many minutes after the break from Jordan Roberts put Sorrento back in charge, but Sinclair added his second on the hour to give Forrestfield hope and despite pressing late the home side held on to take the points.
Sorrento's defeat last week continued the Gulls disappointing month, where they haven't won a game, and Coach Jamie Harnwell said they have to defend better. " It was a very disappointing result, because we started the game brightly, but were undone through some poor defending on our part,” he said. “In reality the game was done by the time of the sending off, though I have to credit the players for continuing to press and try and get something out of it even after we went down to 10 men. The Gulls have struggled with injuries and players away, but Harnwell said that's no excuse, and he will be looking for an improved performance in the second half of the season. " I think the heavy schedule hit everyone hard, and we have certainly suffered for it,” he explained. “Shaun Kilkelly will miss the next few games as well through a family trip. However, regardless of the injuries and absences there hasn’t been a time when I have put out a side that I didn’t think could win.”
The former Glory defender is well aware of the situation but knows a couple of wins will see his side in mid-table. "Being twelfth is certainly not where we thought we would be at this stage of the season, however we are stuck with the reality of that is where we deserve to be at the moment,” Harnwell said. “Our focus can't be on the next couple of wins, it's just getting that next three points and then moving on from there.” Sorrento have only won once on the road in the league this season, and Saturday evening's game is huge for both teams, but Harnwell is confident they can come home with a positive result. " It certainly won't be an easy game going to Forrestfield, as they have shown they have the capacity to beat teams but have probably suffered from a lack of consistency across different games,” he said. “We will need to be alert to the dangers they pose, but also be more ruthless when we go forwards. We haven’t taken enough advantage of our good periods of play this season, and that needs to change quickly.”
Forrestfield will be buoyed by the win in the Eastern Corridor Derby last week, a result Head Coach Rod Banjac said they deserved. " This game will stand out as a major milestone in our development process. The placement of bodies on the line emphasised the bravery and determination required to win games at this level,” he explained. “The reason we have the highest number of draws in the league is due to not having the maturity to deal with similar issues in the past where we dropped many valuable points.”
The club have been competitive in their first season in the NPL, but Banjac said distractions off the park has taken its toll recently. " We have been badly affected, but what infuriates me the most is the fact that our most talented players are the most affected. Under the present system, the mercenaries are the ones benefiting as loyalty goes out the window in favour of a handful of peanuts,” he said. “To protect our players and our club, we have all our players on a one-year contract but this will change next season. Jamie Street is paving the way moving forward where every player will be on a minimum 2-year professional contract. This will ensure that we will be able to offer a professional pathway for our players while bringing to life our style of football and ensuring that our club maintains a very high standard without experiencing anxiety attacks during the transfer period.”
It's a young Forrestfield side and Banjac said they have stood up to the rigors of NPL football and although the squad has been tested recently with injuries, he has been pleased with their improvement. “We have a fantastic young squad which is fully in tune with our style of football and they all play for each other and the badge,” he said. “But our problem is, the deeper we dig the younger the players are, and although we are proud of our future stars it would be unreasonable to expect them to provide the cutting edge. That is reserved for our “senior” players but the love for the Forrie badge cannot be underestimated.”
The coach said he is happy to be back home at Hartfield Park after a four-game run on the road in league and cup, and he said it's a massive game for both sides. " All our games are massive as we look to consolidate but none bigger than this one as it’s a proper six pointer,” Banjac said. “Sorrento are a big club with a lot of experience and a perfect challenge back home on our turf in front of our 12th man, The Mighty Forrie Army. Our boys have done well on the road but it was crystal clear at last night’s training how much they look forward to playing at Hartfield Park.” Referee - Adam Fielding
League leaders Bayswater City have home ground advantage this weekend when they host Stirling Lions at Frank Drago Reserve. The Lions have lost their last two games, after an impressive run, the latest defeat was against Cockburn last week. They will be looking to end that run on Saturday but will be facing a Bayswater side who have won their last six games. City Head Coach Chris Coyne has seen his new look side gel, and their form recently has been outstanding and they are scoring goals for fun. They got four more last week at Joondalup, and the coach said it was a solid performance. " I thought we were professional enough against a tough Joondalup side last week but thought we could have been much more clinical in the second half when we created numerous opportunities that we squandered,” he explained. “That being said, we were a very young team in the second half and with experience I think they will understand the importance of taking your chances when they are presented.”
Coyne has been impressed with some of the youngsters coming through the ranks at the club and none of them have let him down when selected in the first team. “The young boys have come on leaps and bounds and it is very pleasing that all the young players are getting to first team level. By right they would play NPL at most other clubs earlier but they have had to do their apprenticeship and be patient but they have all been superb this year,” he said. “A lot of credit must go to the coaches at the club in Gary Williams, Daniel Stoitis, Chris Barbas and Paul Lincoln who have really developed these Players.” The coach Knows they need to keep it up on Saturday against a Stirling side who have been impressive and have some talented players. "We are always confident in our ability no matter who we play but we are always respectful of our opposition,” Coyne said. “I think Stirling were very unlucky to lose 3-1 last week having been at the game and with the quality they have in their team we will be in for a very tough afternoon and will need to fight hard to get a result Saturday.” – Referee David Bruce
Cockburn City keep rolling along, and sit second on the table, one point off the leaders, and this week they host fourth placed Inglewood United at Dalmatinac Park. The Cockerels beat the Lions 3-0 last week, while Inglewood did likewise against Subiaco. Inglewood striker Alex Salmon bagged his 11th goal of the season in the win, but it was another clean sheet that was more important for central defender Connor Becsi. The 21-year-old, who joined the club from Perth SC in 2016, said it was important win. “Saturday was a really good game from our perspective, came away with three points and a clean sheet so can’t ask for much more,” he said. “It was also really good to get the job done after going down to 10 men early in the second half, so that’s a credit to how hard everyone chipped in for each other.”
The youngster has had to work extremely hard to get back to fitness after missing last season with Osteitis Pubis, but he has been rewarded, by cemented a spot in the starting lineup and has played started six of the last seven games. “I’m ecstatic to be in the team now after a long period off, but a lot of hard work has gone into my pre/ post-surgery recovery and I’m happy to be able to finally play with the boys I train with throughout the week,” Becsi explained. “Given the depth of experience and skill in our squad I’m very lucky to be getting games so I’ll have to keep working hard and improving each week to keep my spot.”
Becsi said Saturday is a huge game, and with only five points separating the two sides, a win is vital to stay in touch with the leaders. “I’m really looking forward to this week, and with this my first year playing NPL first team, I look forward to playing the challenging teams,” he said. “All the boys know how important a win is and everyone has being working really hard since the mid-point of the season. We know what we need to do and we all know we have the ability to win the game, so we just need to bring the same attitude to Cockburn on Saturday and come away with the three points.” – Referee Josh Mannella
It's been a huge week for Armadale, their 3-2 win against ECU Joondalup sending them into the FFA Cup Round of 32, but it's back to league action on Saturday when they travel to Dorrien Gardens to take on Perth SC. Midfielder Charlie Kenna was outstanding in the cup win and he said it was great night for the club. " Monday night was a very successful night for the club and I was delighted to be a part of it,” he said. “We knew that ECU Joondalup would be a tough game, but we went into the game very confident and we got the rewards. Reaching the last 32 is a great achievement for the team and Armadale club. We've been making history the last two years, we are really growing as a club and I'm delighted to be playing here at this time. We still have one last hurdle and that is Gwelup in the Cup Final, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Kenna said they need to get back to winning ways on Saturday after a disappointing result last week against Forrestfield, and they are looking forward to the challenge against a good Perth side. " Saturday against Forrestfield was very frustrating game exceptionally from a spectator’s point of view as I wasn't playing. The game was very one sided I thought. we had a lot of chances to finish the game off but we couldn’t but the ball in the back of the net and in this league if you don’t take your chances it will come back and bite you and it did later on in the game, but to be fair Forrestfield did well to keep us out for 25 minutes with ten men. However, the last time we were defeated at home we bounced back even stronger as a team.
“We are still confident that we can finish very high in the table this year, we will just take each game at a time. Perth are a good team, but also have had a few upsets in the last couple of weeks. We are playing very well as a team at the moment and are very hard to break down. I think we have lost two games in the last 10 and losing only by one goal. We are also scoring goals from all over the park. Perth will be another tough game but we are confident to go there and get points. and hopefully keep in touch of top four, if results go our way.” - Referee Matthew Southern
Perth Glory continue to impress and this week they travel to Percy Doyle Reserve to take on bottom of the table Joondalup United. The home side were well beaten by Bayswater last week, while the Glory made it five games with defeat with a win at Balcatta, and they did it without six fist team regulars. Glory midfielder Callum Timmins said it was a great team performance and coming from 2-1 down to win it showed the character they have in their side. "It was a very good comeback we sort off switched our style of play in the second half to play against Balcatta which worked very well towards our win,” he said. “The depth we have this years is unreal with multiple options in different spots it’s created a lot more of a competition between the group and has made improvements from training sessions to the game.”
Timmins, who made his A-League debut for the Glory last season, said Saturday’s game is a real banana skin, as Joondalup have improved in recent weeks and have added some experience to their squad, but he is confident they can get the job done. "Games like this are always a tough, and you can never underestimate the opposition, and we won’t do that on Saturday,” he said. “The boys are going to have to keep the same mind set we have had the whole season no matter what team we are playing to hopefully bring back the three points." - Referee Joshua Nixon
Floreat Athena earned three vital points at ECU Joondalup last week and they will be looking for the same when they visit Grindleford Reserve to take on Balcatta. The home side have not won this month, but their performances have been good, and last week they let a lead slip against Glory. Balcatta midfielder Jon Corness said it was a disappointing result last week, but they had chances to win it. "As always it was a tough game against Perth Glory, who play good football and move the ball around nicely, they had their chances and took them,” he said. “On a personal note I had a very poor game while as a team the performance was pretty good, especially from the mid-season signings who have done a great job since joining Balcatta.”
Corness said Saturday is a vital game for both sides, especially with only one point separating the side, but he said they are confident they can get the three points. " It's a real six pointer this week against Floreat, three points is a must for us to get away from the bottom half of the table,” he said. “We owe it to the fantastic support we receive every week to play our style of play and get results, while I'm eager to redeem myself from last week's performance and put in a strong one against Floreat.” – Referee Steven Gregory
In the final game ECU Joondalup will be looking to get back in the winners-circle when they make the trip to Rosalie Park to take on Subiaco. The home side have lost their last three games, including last week’s 0-3 defeat against Inglewood, and they need the points as other teams around them at the foot of the table are picking up points. ECU were beaten by Floreat in the league last weekend to drop out of the top five, before being knocked out of the FFA Cup by Armadale on Monday. Midfielder Steven McGarry said it was a huge disappointment for the club to lose in the cup, but that's in the past they need to look forward. "It was massively disappointing for everyone at the club that we never made the final and also the last 32 of the FFA Cup, it was a massive chance for some of our lads to showcase their ability on a national front but it wasn’t to be,” he explained. “The game was a typical cup tie with chances at each end the conditions made it a quick and exciting game for the crowd. But from our point of view and considering we had more of the ball and were the better team, Armadale caused us problems on the break and were clinical and we wish the all the best for the next round.”
McGarry said Subiaco will be desperate for the points in their fight to stay in the league, but the former Glory midfielder said it's important ECU get back to winning ways and chase a spot in the top four finals, starting Saturday. “We look forward now, our short-term goal is to get back into the top four as soon as possible. I know we have some fantastic ability in our team, but it’s all about character now, I guess we will find out if we have that side of the game in our locker to go and grind results out, we need to get back to that,” he said. “Subiaco will be another tough test and are fighting at the bottom end of the table now after a good start, and I’m sure Ian (McMurray) will have them firing again." – Referee Julian Serra
8.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND NINE – PREVIEW
It's week nine of the State League Division One and the Footballwa.net "Match of the Round" takes us to Wishart Street where league leaders Gwelup Croatia take on third placed Rockingham City. Both sides are coming off big wins Gwelup thrashing South West Phoenix 6-2, while Rockingham thrashed Dianella White Eagles 7-0. Saturday will be the first time the sides have met at Wishart Street, and the visitors (Rockingham) have only lost once in their last five games, and Coach Cameron Lord said the big win against Dianella was a great team performance. " The result last week was obviously extremely pleasing given the result, but what was more pleasing was some of the football that we played and the fact that we were relentless for 90 minutes,” he explained. “It is the first game where we can be happy with how clinical we were in front of goal. I believe we have the ability and the quality to create chances for ourselves in every game that we play, it is a matter of us being clinical in front of goal.”
A settled starting lineup has helped Rocky this season and Lord said the form of striker James Hamer has been good, but their defence has been great, only conceding 11 goals this season, which is equal best with Gwelup. “A settled side makes a massive difference, and maybe our recent results suggest that is a matter of fact. We are now at a stage where we have players fit and available consistently, and long may that continue,” he said. “To get to the stage where we have a settled side was extremely important for us given the new environment at the club with coaches and players. James Harmer is a big leader for us and offers us so much more than just some of the goals he has been scoring recently. Defensively we seem to be steadily improving however, we know that we will need to be at our best this week against Gwelup when defending if we have any chance of getting a result.”
Lord knows Saturday will be a tough test, but many have said with their cup exploits it might be a good time to play Gwelup, but the coach said they have a quality squad, but they are looking forward to the challenge. “Based on Gwelup's results in both the league and cup, I don't think there is a good time to play them,” he said. “They are what they are, and I am sure they will be eager to perform against us off the back of their massive FFA Cup win. It is 11v11 at the end of the day, and we will play with no fear. We know that we need to be at our best to get a result against Gwelup, but I fully believe in our group - that if we perform for 90 minutes we are capable of beating anyone. We are looking forward to the challenge of playing against a very good side.’
It's been a huge week for Taki Nicolaidis' side, maintaining their unbeaten start to the league season, and moving into the FFA Cup round of 32 after a big win against Floreat Athena on Monday. Nicolaidis said Monday was great day for the club, and the players performed well on the day. " It was a massive win for the club, and not only have we qualified for a state cup final but also gave us a ticket to the FFA cup final 32 for the first time,” he said. “I know it’s been the clubs dream after narrowly missing out in 2015, but to finally get there this year will not only help promote the profile of Gwelup Croatia but will also be an experience that will remain in all our memories for many years down the track.”
The win against the Phoenix last week in the league was important, because Nicolaidis knew the players would have been thinking about the Cup game, but he said they put in a good shift to get the points and was pleased to have given a couple of youngsters their senior debuts. “It could have been a problem, but we have a very professional squad, and they went out and got the job done,” he said. “It was the perfect result leading into the semifinal which saw Benny Kouakou score a back to back hat-trick and also provided league debuts to youngsters Reece Abrams and Kyle Murray.”
Nicolaidis said Rockingham are playing well and have some dangerous players, so it's another challenge for his side, especially having to back up from Monday's game. " It’s certainly a danger game for us, and they will be full of confidence after their 7-0-win last week and will look to continue their five-game unbeaten run,” he said. “My job is to ensure that we don’t have any hangovers from Monday’s game and that we are at our best. With a Cup Final and an FFA Cup Round of 32 game ahead of us, I doubt any player will want to become complacent and miss out on either of those games.”
It's been a disappointing start to the season for Mandurah City, but they will be looking to put that behind the on Saturday when they host Ashfield at Securitas Protect Stadium. Ashfield have been in good form, winning their last three games, including a 3-2 win against Fremantle last week, and Matt Wardle's side jumped to second on the table. The home side meanwhile sit bottom of the table with only one win for the season, and are coming off a narrow loss at Morley, but Coach Alex Grayson said they deserved more from the game. " It's been a really tough start and the result against Morley showed just how tough this league can be,” he said. “I thought we were good enough to get points from the game but unfortunately, we didn't take our chances. We have remained positive throughout the year so far and the positives from Morley we will take into the Ashfield game.”
Grayson said they have a settled side in recent weeks but will have to make changes this week which is disappointing, but he said it’s an emotional game for the club and they will be doing they can to get the three points and kick start their season. “Unfortunately, Oscar Thompson picked up a knock, on Saturday but luckily we were able to fill the gap and are looking strong heading into Saturday. A lot has changed on and off the pitch this year so a bit of consistency in the playing group is crucial right now,” he explained. “Saturday marks the one-year anniversary since young Chris Chandlers passing, a boy the entire club holds dearly. Everyone is looking forward to the occasion and hopefully we can celebrate his memory with a win. Ashfield are in great form at the moment so we will have to work hard to counteract that.”
In other games Western Knights will be looking to bounce back for their defeat in the derby against UWA-Nedlands, when they host Morley Windmills at Nash Field. Morley are coming off a hard-fought win against Mandurah, and with both sides level on points, this one should be a close game. Fremantle City will also want to get back to winning ways when they entertain Joondalup City at Hilton Reserve. Fremantle throw away a lead at Ashfield last week, while Joondalup had the bye. In the final game UWA-Nedlands hit the road to Bunbury to take on South West Phoenix at WML Stadium. The Phoenix were well beaten at Gwelup last week, while UWA won the derby against the Knights. UWA skipper Joshua Marocchi said it was a great team performance. " Really happy with our result on Saturday, the boys all played a spirited grand of football, we really wanted the win and ensured we worked harder and were focused for the full 90 minutes,” he said. “We have started to get the belief back and with leaders across the park we stuck to our roles and were difficult to penetrate.”
Marocchi said Bunbury is never an easy an easy place to go, but he said they enjoy the trip down there and are hoping to continue their good form with a positive result. " The long trip down to Bunbury, we really enjoy the facilities too, so it’s one we look forward to. Bunbury are a difficult opponent, especially at home we’re the legs aren’t as fresh and they look to get on top early,” he said. “At the moment the boys just want to play. There is a strong desire the turn the season around and climb the ladder, but we must focus week by week and a positive result in Bunbury, where we have a full squad, will be vital to our seasons goals. It’s a tight league so we can’t afford to not be ready and mess up the last two weeks good work." - Dianella White Eagles have the bye this week.
8.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND NINE – PREVIEW
It's week nine in the State League Division Two and the Footballwa.net 'Match of the Round' sees third placed Wanneroo City host fourth placed Quinns FC in a local derby at Wanneroo Reserve. Both sides go into the game after wins last week, Wanneroo beating Canning City, while Quinns came from behind to beat Curtin. The last time the two sides meet at the venue was in Round 19 last season when Chris Williams’ long range strike gave the home side the points.
Quinns form has picked up under new coach Ian Ferguson, and striker Craig Tooley said the players are enjoying working with the former Perth Glory boss. " It’s been great working with Ian and the new team he has in place at the club,” he said. “He came in on a bye week so we’ve had a few good hard sessions and now we all seem to be settling in. They all bring a lot of experience and game management which is what we look to try implement on the weekend.”
A Luke Doyle brace gave Quinns the win against Curtin, and Tooley said it was a hard-fought game, but he thought they deserved the points. "It’s been great having players come in and step up as Doyle has, he’s been quality since he come in,” he said. “There’s no doubt it was a hard-fought win with our keeper pulling off multiple saves to keep us in the game. I can’t remember many where we came back from a losing position to win, it goes to show the character we all have as a squad and hope to push on from these two big wins.”
Tooley is expecting another tough game at Wanneroo, who are playing well, and he hopes there is a good crowd on hand to watch it. "It’s a massive game this weekend, Wanneroo are a good side so we know it’s going to be a very tough and competitive match,” the striker said. “Wanneroo always do have a good crowd so we are expecting a few more than normally and just hoping the weather doesn’t put then off. We go into this weekend game positive, and all we’re looking to do is extend our winning streak under Fergie to 3/3 and keep pushing up the table and keeping the pressure on the leaders.”.
Wanneroo are starting to hit their straps and coach Tim Kantor said the squad is starting to gel and are improving each week. "We are improving week by week and the recent signing of Jamie Stewart has certainly improved our transition going forward,” he explained. “That coupled with the leadership and experience of Ash Corker in the middle of the park and Scotty Johnston starting to find the back of the net regularly have given us a new dimension this season.”
The win against Canning made three straight wins for Wanneroo, and Kantor said it was dominate performance. " We’re very pleased with last 3 weeks and the performance against Canning last weekend was close to our best all season so far,” he said. “We created so many chances and If not for the outstanding shift by the Canning keeper it would have been a big win.” Kantor said Quinns have improved this season and he said Saturday should be a tight game, but he is confident they can get the job done. " Quinns are always a tough opposition and the derby aspect adds to the occasion. They too are a different side from last season with some quality signings over the summer, and I’m sure their new manager will have them well prepared,” he said. “Our lads are really looking forward to the game especially as Quinns were the only side to beat us in 90 minutes in the Night Series. We are under no illusions it’s going to be a tough game and hopefully an entertaining one for the big crowd we are expecting. There’s a lot at stake Saturday and three points is vital if we are to keep the pressure on Swan and Kingsway.”
Fourth placed Balga hit the road this week, when they take on Shamrock Rovers at Harold Rossiter Reserve. Rovers' recent good form was halted last week at Kelmscott, going down 0-1, while Balga drew 3-3 with league leaders Kingsway. Skipper Danny Moss said they were disappointed not to take all three points. "It definitely felt like a loss after the game, after leading 3-1 with half an hour to play, it was one that we let slip away,” he said. “But credit must go to Kingsway, to battle back and get the draw, but I feel we were the better team on the day and, minus a few lapses in concentration, we finish that game 3-1. "
Moss, who has travelled around the world playing the world game, playing youth football at Scottish side St Johnstone, and he was in the first team environment at Greenock Morton, before heading to Europe for trials, and then played collegiate soccer in the USA, said Shamrock have improved in recent weeks and they need to be at their best to get the result on Saturday. "I think we can take a lot of confidence from our performance against Kingsway into the next game,” the winger said. “Obviously Shamrock will be a good challenge with their recent results, but if we perform the way we are capable of, I don’t see why we don’t walk out of there with three points.”
In other games Canning City host Kelmscott Roos at Burrendah Reserve. Canning sit bottom of the table and are still looking for their first win of the season, after a 0-3 loss at Wanneroo last week, while Kelmscott have shown in the last few weeks they are improving and are coming off a 1-0 win against Shamrock. League leaders Kingsway Olympic host sixth placed Murdoch University Melville at Kingsway Reserve. Kingsway dropped their first points of the season at Balga last week, while MUM was beaten for the second game running, losing 2-4 to Gosnells.
In the final game Brad Rushton takes control of his first home game in charge of Gosnells City, when they host second placed Swan United at Walter Padbury Reserve. City are coming off a great win at Murdoch last week and will be looking for a repeat against the Swans, who are coming off the bye, but beat Curtin last time out. United have started the season well under their new coach Paul Dundo, and keeper Joey Smith said the squad is playing well. " Dundo is great. He brings good energy to the team and he’s not afraid of changing things to suit each game which I think is important but we're just taking it game by game and keep working hard and stick together as a team,” he said. “It was a very hard-fought win as Curtin are never an easy team to play against as they are good on the counter and hard to break down.”
Smith, who played in Spain as a youngster, and played for Sorrento, Wanneroo, Kingsway and Joondalup City in WA, said Gosnells are a good side, and with a new coach in charge will want to impress, but he said they are confident they can get the right result. "Saturday will be another tough game, I've never played there but heard it's a tough place to go,” he said. “We go into every game knowing it's the hardest game so far this season, so I'm sure if were all switched on and stick to the game plan we will get the result we need.” – Curtin University have the bye this week.
8.6.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND NINE – PREVIEW
It's week nine in the Belt up Sunday Amateur Premier Division and this week's Footballwa.net 'Match of the Round' takes us to Chichester Park where third placed Kingsley host second placed North Perth United. Kingsley were surprisingly beaten last week at Hamersley Rovers, which allowed United to leap frog them after a big win against Wembley Downs. The last time they played at the venue was in round 10 last season when Kingsley ran out 2-1 winners.
Kingsley Coach Steven Dimitrovich said last week result was disappointing, but he said you have to give credit to Rovers. "We were disappointed with the result last week, but not the performance, we played quite well just didn’t have the final product,” he said. “But credit to Brad and his boys they had a game plan and it worked for them in the end.” Kingsley have lost two out of their three games and Dimitrovich said it’s been tough on the injury front but he hopes he can get a few back this week. “It’s been tough to get a consistent team out on the park for last few weeks as we have had players away with work and a couple injuries,” he said. “That hasn’t helped us in recent weeks, but hopefully we will get a couple back this week which will strengthen the squad.”
Dimitrovich said he will be looking for a response from his players on Sunday, against a good North Perth side. " Another week another big game in this league, that has been the best and toughest in years where anyone can beat anyone on the day,” he explained. “When it comes to North Perth you know you’re going to get a tough physical game, which will be played at a red-hot pace, so we are looking forward to a great game.”
On the other hand, North Perth have been on a good run of form and are coming off a big win against last season's Champions Wembley, and Coach Alex Carter was happy with the performance. " Wembley game became a bit of a tactical battle after we went down to 10 men with 30 minutes to go,” he explained. “The players knew their responsibilities straight away and we kept a very disciplined shape for that period, and I think we deserved the points on the day.”
After a slow start to the season North Perth have won the last five games, and Carter said the side are working hard at training and bringing that on match days. "We set ourselves a mini task of stringing two wins in a row after getting knocked out in the first round of the cup, and that has now turned into five,” he said. “That feeling of getting knocked out of the cup has stayed fresh in our heads and has been a big motivation to get where we are now. In football winning breeds confidence and confidence breeds winning.”
Carter said his squad will be tested this week with three players under injury clouds but he is looking forward to the trip to Kingsley. “It’s a big game this weekend it looks like we will be playing on a heavy pitch by Sunday afternoon so it could be a game which the team that battles the hardest, wins more 1v1 contests could get the spoils,” he said. “The pretty football every team aspires to play may have to wait for another week. We have been lucky enough in the last month or so to only have to make 1 or 2 changes each week to our starting 11, and we have a decent size squad but obviously now with 7/8 out this week through injuries, suspensions, holidays or work it’s time to give a few guys the chance to impress that may have thought it was never going to come. This in itself is a big motivation for us to show what we have in us with our backs against the wall.”
Jaguar have begun life in the Premier League well and sit fifth on the table and this week they host Hamersley Rovers at Herb Graham Recreation Centre. Rovers are coming off a big win against Kingsley, while the Jags throw away a two-goal lead at Subiaco last week to lose. Jags Head Coach Chol Kong said they were disappointed to let it slip last week, but the sending off hurt them late. “It was a very disappointing result, and yes the red card did affect us late on in the game, but we can't hide behind that as excuse to why we lost the game,” he explained. “It's football sometimes you do get sending off which can change the game, but you still have to keep playing and I was really happy with my boys who kept fighting but credit to Subiaco who kept going even when they were 2-0 down.”
The Jags have started life well in the Premier League and Kong said his players are getting used to life in the league. “The team has started well and I am very happy with the boys so far,” he said. “At the start of the season a few results didn't go our way. however now the boys are learning about the premier teams and knowing what to expect going to each game.” Kong said Sunday’s game will be another tough game, like all games have been this season. “This league is very tight which is a good thing and any team can beat anyone on their day,’ he said. “This week we play Hamersley at home, who are very good side and we know what to expect, going into the game and we know it would not be an easy one but we are ready for the challenge and we know what is on the line. These are the games we look forward to playing because they are the games that can bring the best out of me as a coach and as a team.”
In other games league leaders Leeming Strikers host UWA-Nedlands at John Connell Reserve. UWA beat Kwinana last week, while the strikers easily beat Ellenbrook. Wembley Downs will be looking to bounce back from last week's loss at North Perth when they host Belmont Villa at Butlers Reserve. Southern Spirt picked up only their second point of the season at Belmont, and they will be looking for their first win when they host Ellenbrook United at Watsons’ Reserve. In the final game Kwinana United host Subiaco at Kelly Park. Kwinana will be looking to back in the winner’s circle, having lost their last two games, the latest a heavy defeat at UWA last week. Subiaco picked up their first win of the season last week, a come-from-behind 3-2 win against Jaguars.
7.6.2018
HEARTS SIGN EDWARDS ON A TWO-YEAR DEAL
Ryan Edwards aims to help Scottish club Heart of Midlothian back into European competition after signing a two-year contract. The 24-year old midfielder confirmed his departure from Partick Thistle, where he spent three seasons, earlier this week following that club's relegation from the Scottish Premiership.
"The ambition is there on a personal level to be in a team that's going to challenge for cups, challenge at the top end of the table, try and get into Europe next season," Edwards said said of his move to Edinburgh-based Hearts. "One massive reason I came to the club is the ambition of everyone here."
Edwards, who made 108 appearances for Partick, hopes to match the ambitions of his new club's supporters by competing at the other end of the table. "The fans here are incredible," he told www.heartsfc.co.uk "Being in the stand as a fan watching and obviously being in the opposition is really intimidating."
"As the opposition, you want to try and upset the crowd and you know that the fans here set such high standards for everyone at the club. And I want to be part of that and try and match the ambitions of the fans and the club."
Singapore-born Edwards, who has represented his Australia at under-23 level, is manager Craig Levein's eighth summer signing. His arrival follows those of fellow Australian Ben Garuccio, midfielders Jake Mulraney and Olly Lee, strikers Uche Ikpeazu and Steven MacLean, utility player Bobby Burns and Czech goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal.
4.6.2018
GWELUP STUN ATHENA IN FFA CUP
Gwelup Croatia moved into the FFA Cup national Round of 32 and a Belt Up State Cup final clash against Armadale with a convincing 4-1 win over Floreat Athena on Monday at Wishart Street. Benjamin Kouakou netted two stunning free-kicks, while Victor Brauner and David Heagney also got on the scoresheet, while Dean Evans’ free-kick brought Floreat level in the second-half, before Gwelup hit the visitors with three goals in the final 20 minutes to knock out their third NPL WA side.
Floreat opened brightly and Evans was denied by Gwelup goalkeeper Riley Stephenson on two occasions in the opening 10 minutes. But the host started to get into the game, and Kouakou was a constant threat down the right, and he was involved in the opener on the half-hour. Brauner’s shot was parried by Jason Saldaris, but Kouakou reacted the quickest to fire home the rebound from close-range. Kouakou almost added a second just before half time, but his snap shot was well saved by Saldaris at his near post.
Floreat were on the front foot after the break and Ludovic Boi fired wide, but on 57 minutes they levelled. Evans curling home a free-kick into the bottom corner past Stephenson. But Gwelup weren’t to be outdone and they regained the lead on 70 minutes, Kouakou curling home a free kick from the edge of the box. It was 3-1 ten minutes later, with Kouakou slamming home another free kick much to the delight of the big home crowd. Floreat lifted and Stephenson produced a superb save to prevent Evans from scoring his second free-kick, but the result was put out of the reach of Floreat two minutes from time, Heagney scoring to round off a great day for the club.
Gwelup Croatia: GK Riley STEPHENSON, 2 Michael PUGLIESE, 4 Cameron YORKE, 5 Kwangmook LIM, 6 Brodie MARTIN, 7 James SAMMUT, 9 David HEAGNEY, 10 Benjamin KOUAKOU, 11 Isaac KOOMSON, 14 Victor BRAUNER, 20 Bobby WILSON – Subs not used: RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 3 Nelson TSHONGO, 12 Noah SHAMAKI, 16 Stephen O’LEARY, 17 Sebastian MUNOZ
Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 2 Marco SANTA LUCIA, 4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO (11 Dennis GALAN 46), 6 Jessie FULLER, 8 Jonathan STYNES, 10 Calvin WHITNEY, 14 Ludovic BOI (12 Ahadi ABANDELWA 51), 15 Chris SALDARIS, 17 Dean EVANS, 18 Philip ARNOLD, 21 Keylun POLLARD – Subs not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 13 Hamza HINA - Referee: Josh Mannella
4.6.2018
ARMADALE BEAT ECU IN FFA CUP THRILLER
Armadale have moved into the FFA Cup round of 32 and booked a place in the Belt Up State League Cup Final after a 3-2 win against ECU Joondalup in a thriller at a packed Alfred Skeet Reserve on Monday evening. Billy Quinncroft gave the home side the lead early, but Gordon Smith levelled for the visitors before the break. Skipper Nathan Costello regained the lead from the penalty spot, before the Reds leading scorer Chris Jackson added a third. Smith added his second late to set up a tense finale, but the Reds hung on. “A great for the club and the supporters tonight, we’ll celebrate tonight, but it’s back to the NPL action next weekend,” Armadale skipper Costello said. “It’s not just reaching the State League Cup final, we’re in the last 32 of the National competition and it will be great to get our club on the National stage.”
It was a lively opening and Armadale who went close to the lead early, when Ryan Haslett’s low shot was cleared off the line by the alert Cian Hirrell, but the visitors hit back and the lively Daryl Nicol raced down the left, but his shot well saved by Sam Hutchings. Nicol was in again moments later, sent clear by a clever pass from Smith, but Hutchings stood tall deny the Scotsman again. But on 18 minutes the home side hit the front. David Annall’s cross picked out Quinncroft who lost marker and headed home. Then six minutes later the visitors levelled. Sam Pollard’s cross was dropped by Hutchings, under pressure from Paddy Doyle, and Smith smashed the rebound home from four meters to send the sides in level at the break.
The visitors dominated early in the second half, Doyle’s effort was well saved by Hutchings, before the Armadale custodian was out bravely to clear off the foot of Smith. But against the run of play Armadale regained the lead, when Jackson was bundled down in the box and referee Michal Jasinski pointed to the spot. Costello stepped up and sent Jack Nunn the wrong way from the resulting penalty, much to the delight of the home faithful. They added a third five minutes later, Jackson made a darting run down the right channel and finished with aplomb across Nunn.
ECU pressed, and substitute Adam Tong saw a first time shot well saved by Hutchings, before the Armadale keeper produced the save of the night pushing Smith’s shot on the turn around the post. The visitors did pull one back in the final minute, Tong’s deep cross was headed home by Smith at the back post. With four minutes of stoppage time ECU pressed for the winner, but they couldn’t find it and at the final whistle it was the Armadale players and supporters celebrating a famous victory for the club.
Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 2 Joshua KUSER, 3 Delan DE SILVA, 4 Nathan COSTELLO (C), 5 David ANNALL (15 Ali GHOLAMI 94’), 7 Charlie KENNA, 9 Billy QUINNCROFT, 10 Chris JACKSON, 12 Dannie RICHMAN, 21 Beau RAHIM, 22 Ryan HASLETT (11 Michael RIZIDIS 82’) - Subs not used: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 13 Hasan EL YASSIRI
ECU Joondalup: GK Jack NUNN, 2 Cian HIRRELL, 4 Steve MCGARRY, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 8 Josh WHITMORE, 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Andy HIGGINS, 12 Samuel POLLARD (16 Lukas DE LIMA 82’), 13 Tom HOUGH (17 Adam TONG 70’), 14 Paddy DOYLE (3 Ross MILLARD 62’) – Subs not used: RGK George JACKSON, 18 Declan HUGHES - Referee: Michal Jasinski
4.6.2018
BIRIGHITTI TO FIGHT FOR NAC BREDA SPOT
Fringe Socceroo Mark Birighitti is bullish about his second season with Dutch Eredivisie club NAC Breda despite being dropped in February. The 27-year old goalkeeper was overlooked for Australia’s 2018 World Cup squad after falling out of favour in his maiden season at NAC and is currently on holidays in Greece.
Birighitti moved from Swansea City to NAC in September on a two-year deal chasing first team football. He initially was the side’s preferred custodian until a poor run of league results, which had the club fearing relegation, led to him being demoted for understudy Nigel Bertrams.
NAC avoided relegation and have undergone a change of management in the off-season, with Stijn Breven replaced by Mitchell van der Gaag. “Who knows what’s going to happen next season,” Birighitti said. “With a new coach arriving to the club it brings new opportunities.”
Birighitti is at his third European club with NAC, having spent time on loan with Varese in Italy’s Serie B in 2015, along with Swansea whom he joined in 2016 from Newcastle Jets. The former Perth SC junior felt he was in the right league with the right club to take the next step in his career.
“The Eredivisie is a great league for any player to develop and to make that next step,” Birighitti said. “Personally I played 19 games and during that time my performances were not as consistent as I would have liked to have been. I’m working hard day-in day-out on my game and always finding things to improve on.”
Birighitti was relegated to second choice by Breven following a 6-1 win over Heracles. “No there was no real reason,” Birighitti said. “There was a phase we went through where we weren’t winning games and there was a lot of outside pressure from the supporters to make changes to the whole team.”
Ultimately, Birighitti watched on from the sidelines as NAC fought off relegation to remain in the top flight. “We have a very young team with many inexperienced players and for a majority of them it was their first season playing at a top level,” he said. “It was important for a club like NAC to stay in the Eredivisie.”
NAC return to pre-season on 28 June, although Birighitti will be cheering on the Socceroos in the meantime. “Of course I’ll be watching the World Cup,” he said. “I’ll be supporting our boys for sure.” He remains hopeful of returning to the national set-up with a view to January’s Asian Cup defence.
3.6.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND EIGHT – REVIEW
Belt Up Sunday Amateur Premier Division leaders Leeming Strikers maintained their lead at the top of the table after a 5-0 win against Ellenbrook United at Ellenbrook Sports Hub. The visitors opened the scoring when a low cross was only palmed away by the keeper and Ben Greaves tapped in at back post. After half time the home side were reduced to ten men and visitors doubled their lead when a dangerous cross into the box was found Danny McKenzie, who controlled and finished into the corner of the net from 12 yards. It was 3-0 when player/coach David Palin fired home a long-range free kick, before Greaves added his second to make it 4-0. Palin added his second late to make it 5-0, headed home at the back post across the keeper.
“First half we had to withstand some good pressure and play from Ellenbrook before taking the lead just before half time,” Palin said. “They lost a player early second half but credit to the players who put a real business-like display in and never allowed the 10 men to get a hold in the game. We are very happy with the result today and I think the scoreline was a little harsh on Ellenbrook because for 60 minutes they were well in the game. It’s a tough place to come too, the pitch makes it a much different game but as a team we have dealt with it well and to come out with 3 points, we couldn’t be happier.”
Second placed Kingsley were surprisingly beaten 2-0 by Hamersley Rovers at Carine Open Space. Kingsley had plenty of possession in the first half but failed to turn it into clear-cut chances. Matt Emery could have put the Hammers ahead in on 36 minutes his header at the back post didn’t test Kingsley keeper Paul Rainford. The visitors went close before the break when some great build-up play from Bailey Salmon led to a chance for Jon Maghern but Rovers keeper Carl Diggins smothered the ball away.
Rovers came out after the break firing and their pressure paid off in on 51 minutes when a cross picked out Shaun Gibbons who headed home from close range. It was nearly two when Dave Morris, beat two defenders but saw his shot blocked. But Hamersley made it 2-0 after Kingsley committed men forward in the final minute. Steve Kruit was found at the back post following a swift counter-attack and he blasted his shot into the back of the net. “Our defence was awesome today, and everyone put a shift in and did what the coach asked,” Hamersley defender Ian Wright said. “It was our best team performance this season.”
Kingsley coach Steven Dimitrovich was frustrated after his side’s inability to convert their possession into chances led to their third loss of the season. “I thought we probably had 90% possession of the ball to be fair and it’s all well and good having possession but if you’re not going to create chances then it’s not going to get you much,” he said. “But credit to them, they defended well and had a game plan and it worked. The season’s not over by any stretch of the imagination, there’s a long way to go and I know the boys have got the fight in them to push all the way.”
North Perth United kept the pressure on the league leaders after a 5-2 win against Wembley Downs at Woodville Reserve. The home side opened the scoring on five minutes, a quick counter attack and Radio Rensalu’s low cross was turned home by Sean Lahert. United doubled their lead 20 minutes later, when Wembley failed to clear their lines and Osca Kelly got into the box won the ball and calmly slotted home. Wembley got a goal back ten minutes into the second from Banin Hassam, and when United’s Paul Gabel was sent off following a second yellow card Wembley looked to get the equaliser. But United held firm and added a third when Sean Lahert rose highest in the box to head home. The points were made safe late when United added a fourth late on in the game when Ago Mujic free kick was bent around their wall into the bottom corner. They added in stoppage time when Rensalu was brought down in the box and Ago converted from the spot.
“Today was all about applying ourselves with the same ethics as we have the last few weeks. Wembley has a game plan that they came here with and we probably took a half to adapt to that,” North Perth Coach Alex Carter said. “Saying that the boys still tried to play in the manner that we train hard to achieve. The fight for each other was outstanding in just about every contest today. Only sour note was three serious injuries to key players for next week’s clash against Kingsley. That however give some of our reserve players a great chance at first team football.”
In the other game Southern Spirt earned their third point of the season after 2-2 draw against Belmont Villa at Gerry Archer Sports Complex. Warrick Bates gave the home side the lead, before Spirit leveled 20 minutes from half time through Jacob Ledo. Patrick Berry gave the home side the lead with the last kick of the first half, but Spirit earned a hard-fought point fifteen minutes from time when Ledo added his second, while UWA Nedlands beat Kwinana United 5-1at UWA Sports Park. The home side opened the scoring when Jack Retallack fired home after a cut back from Frazer Childs on the right. It was 2-0 when Nico Bahamondes fired home after his initial shot was saved by the Kwinana goal keeper.
It was 3-0 when Stephen White fired home the rebound after Giorgio Savini shot on the run was well saved by the keeper. It was 4-0 when Retallack was sent one-on-one with the keeper and scored, and Liam Pilgrim made it 5-0 with five minutes remaining, racing on a through ball from Odin Aune, rounding the goal keeper to score. Dean Patefield pulled one back for the visitors late but it was too little too late, “It was good to see us finally finish the many chances we create each game,” UWA Coach Arthur Hiemstra said. “It was a good confidence builder before the game with Leeming coming up next weekend.”
In the final game Subiaco edged out Jaguar FC 3-2 at Rosalie Park. The visitors were down to ten men after only 25 minutes when defender Martin Gorong received a second yellow card. But the ten men hit the front just before half time, with Malek Domkoc scoring. Michael Wantee doubled their lead after the break and it looked like they would take the points but Subiaco hit back late. A looping header from Luke Thistlewait from a corner made it 1-2, before Paul Sopp broke clear to finish to level. But Thistlewait had the final say after a swift passing move down the left and a great cross picked him up at the back post to score the winner.
2.6.2018
VAN MARWIJK SINGLES OUT RISDON AS RIGHT-BACK ACES AUDITION
Josh Risdon's fine performance at right-back in the Socceroos' 4-0 rout of Czech Republic has given coach Bert van Marwijk hope that he could have found his man for the cursed position. There were plenty of fine showings but it was the Western Sydney Wanderers man's 'total performance' that Van Marwijk singled out for rare praise after the game.
"I was very happy with the performance of Risdon," he said. "I knew that in ball possession he can play as a fullback but defending he must become much stronger. He didn't play for four, five weeks and he had an individual schedule. He worked very hard every day. So he deserves really to play there."
Risdon subdued the Czech Republic threat down the right while combining well with Mat Leckie, who scored a double. "I felt really good out there, very comfortable so I was very happy with how I played," Risdon said. "Working under the likes of Bert and Mark (van Bommel, assistant coach) has definitely helped my game. I've definitely felt like I put the things I learned in training into the game today."
Risdon's performance effectively wins him a seat on the plane to Russia, with Josh Brillante and Fran Karacic now watching on nervously. The pair are the other designated right-backs in the extended group of 27 and it seems certain that one will be cut when van Marwijk whittles the squad to 23 this weekend. Alternatively, the curious decision to replace Risdon with Milos Degenek as right-back late in the match suggests that he might be contemplating cutting both.
Risdon said he was delighted to ace his audition but wouldn't be getting ahead of himself. "It's no secret that spot is up for grabs and I felt like it was a test ... I just went in confident and I just wanted to take my chance and I did that," he said. "It is obviously such a big moment. Everyone wants to be there and unfortunately everyone can't. We'll wait and see. Fingers crossed and hopefully I did everything I can today to be there."
2.6.2018
PERTH BACK IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Perth SC bounced back from their recent poor form with a 5-2 win against Sorrento at Percy Doyle Reserve. It was another disappointing result for the home side, who remain in the relegation zone. The visitors took the lead early through Jordan De Leo and took control with a brace from Gustavo Catarcione before half time. Sorrento pulled on back with an own goal from Harley Orr, but Orr converted a penalty and Paul Zimarino late to seal the win, Scott Witschge scored the other for the Gulls.
“It was very important for us to bounce back today, losing in the FFA Cup on penalties especially hurt a lot,” Perth Coach Ramon Falzon said. “The quality showed and we’ve had a few young players out there in the last few weeks and they’ve done quite well.” It was a great day for football and Perth opened brightly and were ahead on 13 minutes. Gustavo Catarcione and Paul Zimarino combined, the latter finding Jordan De Leo who made no mistake at the near post.
Catarcione doubled the visitors advantage 10 minutes later, after a solo run to the edge of the box and low shot that beat James Morgan. The Brazilian striker, who has been coming off the bench in recent games, added a third in the shadows of half time. He played a neat one-two with Aleks Jovic and gave James Morgan no chance, finishing well into the bottom corner of the net.
The home needed a fast start to the second half and they found it seven minutes in. A scramble in the box saw an attempted clearance bounce off the unfortunate Orr and into the net. The home side looked for the second, but it was Perth who increased their lead five minutes later. Zimarino was brought down in the box by Daryl Platten and referee Nico Hoyle pointed straight to the spot pointed to the spot. Orr stepped up and scored, but the referee spotted and infringement and it had to be retaken, but Orr made no mistake to make it 4-1.
To the Gulls credit they continued to push for a goal and it duly came on 65 minutes, Reece Vittiglia pin point cross found Witschge, who outjumped his marker to head home. But they then had Jordon Roberts sent off after receiving a second yellow card, and Perth had the final say when they added a fifth ten minutes from time, Matthew Milenkovic cutting the ball back to Zimarino to score. “You can’t give teams a three-goal head start, especially when you’re at home, and expect to get anything out of the game,” Sorrento Coach Jamie Harnwell said. “We can’t give goals like that away continually, every week we’re needing to score three or four instead of just one or two.”
Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 4 Shaun KILKELLY (22 Danny JONES 70’), 6 Daryl PLATTEN, 7 Alex MORGAN, 8 Scott WITSCHGE, 10 Jordan ROBERTS, 11 Tim HILL, 13 Steve MCDONALD, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA, 18 Jordan BROWN, 21 Godwin DARKWA (3 Jaxon TEMATA 70’) - Subs not used: RGK Anastasis FARSALEAS, 14 Charlie BREEN, 16 Chris BALAZS - Red cards: Roberts 65
Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE, 2 Alex SILLA, 5 Niccolo SABATINI (17 Frank FURFARO 85’), 6 Harley ORR, 7 Aleks JOVIC, 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE, 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 16 Kieran COLWELL, 18 Richard HOWLES (3 Andreas THEODOSIADES 78’), 20 Paul ZIMARINO (10 Nicholas AMBROGIO 81’) - Subs not used: RGK Malek KUC, 21 George FESTA - Referee: Nico Hoyle
2.6.2018
COCKERELS HEAD HOME WITH THE POINTS
Cockburn City maintained the pressure on league leaders Bayswater City a 3-1 against Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park on Saturday. After a goalless first half, Chris Pratt opened the scoring before a brace of headers from Anthony Skorich, in between Ben Campbell’s strike for the Lions, sealed the win. “We probably weren’t as cohesive as we wanted to be in the first half but once we got the goal we started to believe in ourselves and never looked back,” Cockburn head coach Scott Miller said. “Today we went past the total amount of points we had last year and next week we have a massive game against Inglewood to try and keep that winning run going.”
It was an even start to the game, but the first to threaten were the visitors. Striker Luccas Mello skipped past two Lions defenders and raced into the box, but his cross was well claimed by Lions keeper Pasquale Gioffre. The best chance for for the home side came in the shadows of half time, a long-range effort from Alex Suleski was well saved by Luke Radonich.
It was a different story after the break and the visitors raced into a two-goal lead. The first came on 49 minutes when Daniel Robinson shot crashed off the post, but the rebound fall kindly to Pratt who made no mistake. It was 2-0 seven minutes later; Mello’s cross was headed home by Skorich. The home side were back in the game on 65 minutes, a ball over the top sent Campbell in on goal and he finished low past Radonich.
But that was as good as it got for the home side and six minutes later former Lions striker Skorich added the decisive third. A cross from the bye-line from Pratt picked out Skorich at the back post to head home. Things went from bad to worse for the Lions as they were reduced to 10 men after Dhhors Chol was sent off by referee Adam Fielding four minutes from time.
Stirling Lions: GK Pasquale GIOFFRE, 4 Alex SULESKI, 5 Liam HENDERSON, 6 Dhhors CHOL, 7 Dean CUMMINGS (C), 8 Dejan SPASESKI, 10 David MICEVSKI, 11 Alex TANEVSKI, 13 David FILLIPOU, 14 Steve SOKOL (18 Ben CAMPBELL 46’), 15 Nathan DE ABREU - Sub not used: RGK Lance ALAVAKIS, 12 Daniel MICEVSKI, 16 Nicholas ASHLEY, 17 David MOLINARI - Red cards: Chol 86
Cockburn City: GK Luke RADONICH, 4 Euen GRANT (C), 6 Reuben TRISTAO, 7 Luccas MELLO, 8 Cameron EDWARDS (18 Adam ANFUSO 73’), 9 Julian TELES, 11 Harry O’BRIEN, 12 Ryan PRATT (21 Samuel GARCES 82’), 15 Daniel SANTICH, 16 Daniel ROBINSON, 19 Anthony SKORICH – Subs not used: RGK Ryan BARKER, 2 Harry COLLINS - Referee: Adam Fielding
2.6.2018
INGLEWOOD TOO GOOD FOR SUBIACO
Inglewood United overcame the second-half dismissal of defender Scott Robertson to beat Subiaco 3-0 at Rosalie Park. The big defender was sent off on the hour, but the visitors were ahead 2-0 with goals to Alex Salmon and Jason Barrera. But after the sending off Inglewood showed great determination to keep Subiaco at bay and Salmon added his second and Inglewood’s third five minutes from time. “It was a good win I felt we dominated most of the game took our chances at the important times,” Salmon said. “We’re happy to get another clean sheet and we scored a couple of great goals, Chile’s (Jason Barrera) volley was different class especially on his weak foot. We dug in when we went down to 10 men and managed to see it out.”
It was a tight opening to the game and both sides had their chances. Ellis Healing’s long range shot flashed wide, before Subiaco winger Manase Adendelwa set up Joshua Booysen but his shot was blocked. Moments later Brian Woodall went close to the opener, chipping the ball over Subiaco keeper Ryan Montgomery but the ball was cleared off the line.
But on 35 minutes the visitors hit the front, skipper Kenny Keogh was brought down in the box and referee David Bruce pointed to the spot after consulting his assistant. Salmon stepped up and converted the resulting penalty. Subiaco went close to the equaliser before the break, Adam Carlino’s shot was deflected onto the post by Alex Dunn, before Adendelwa crossed to the unmarked Booysen, but he headed wide.
Inglewood doubled their lead three minutes into the second half. The ball fell to Barrera whose shot flew into the net giving Montgomery no chance. But on 57 minutes Robertson was shown a straight red card for a poor tackle on David Perich and Subiaco thought they were back in the game. Salmon had other ideas, there was a misunderstanding at the back, and Subiaco thought there was a free kick and Montgomery rolled the ball forward, but it was play in and Salmon lobbed home from 35-meters, much to the embarrassment of the Subiaco keeper.
Subiaco went close to a consolation goal late on after Ian McMurray had his shirt pulled in the box resulting a penalty, but his spot-kick hit the crossbar and bounced out. “We are creating chances but overall it’s just not falling for us,” McMurray said. “The third goal was just a mistake and we had five, six, seven chances so we just have to keep our heads up.”
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 18 David PERICH, 13 Jonas DORLING, 11 Joshua BOOYSEN (19 Ian MCMURRAY 63’), 16 Dean APELGREN, 6 Jackson DONGRAY, 15 Anthony TOPINI, 12 Nathan SMITH, 5 Manase ABANDELWA, 10 Alex CASTIELLO, 9 Adam CARLINO Substitutes not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 14 Ross JARMAN, 3 Vasco DA SILVA, 8 Matthew CLARKE
Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 7 Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS, 23 Brian WOODALL (15 Brian FARRELL 70’) 3. David CYRUS, 11 Ellis HEALING, 8 Jason BARRERA, 7 Kenny KEOGH (4 Scott BLACKMORE 65’), 5 Scott ROBERTSON, 16 Jamie MURPHY (6 Miki VUJACIC 81’), 19 Connor BESCI, 9 Alex SALMON - Subs not used: 10 Ashley ROSINDALE, 14 Hanafi GHAZALI - Red cards: Robertson 57 – Referee: David Bruce
2.6.2018
ATHENA GET A VITAL WIN AT JOONDALUP
Floreat Athena secured their first win since Round Nine with a gutsy 2-1 win against ECU Joondalup at the ECU Football Stadium on Saturday. Floreat skipper Dean Evans gave the visitors the lead at half time, but Jacks skipper Daryl Nicol levelled on the hour. With both sides pushing for the winner it was Phil Arnold who won it for the visitors 15 minutes from time. “The results have been coming,” Floreat coach Howard Tweats said. “We just needed to concentrate on getting the ball in the last third. If we get it up there, things are going to happen.”
The visitors looked up for it from the first whistle and Ludovic Boi’s early shot flashed over the top. The lively midfielder was in again moments later, but keeper Jack Nunn, who replaced Johnny Perkins in goal, stood tall to deny him. But Nunn could do nothing on the half hour when Floreat hit the front, Evans’ superb free kick nestled in the top corner of the net. Floreat thought they had doubled their lead just before half time, when new signing Robert Petkov fired home, but the flag was up for offside.
The home side needed some inspiration after the break and they found it in skipper Nicol who levelled. His free kick flew past Jason Saldaris to level, taking his tally to 11 for the season. But Floreat weren’t to be outdone and they won it on 75 minutes. Evans’ corner wasn’t dealt with by the ECU defenders and substitute Arnold poked home the winner. “I thought our players definitely had one eye on the cup game, which I’ve been trying to drill out of them all week,” ECU Coach Dale McCulloch said. “You could see what team was desperate to win there.”
ECU Joondalup: GK Jack NUNN, 2 Tom HOUGH, 3 Ross MILLARD, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 6 Brad MCDONALD, 9 Daryl NICOL, 10 Gordon SMITH (17 Ethan BROOKS 76’), 11 Andy HIGGINS, 13 Sam POLLARD, 16 Lukas DE LIMA (7 Cameron MURRAY 45’), 18 Declan HUGHES - Subs not used: RGK George JACKSON, 8.Josh WHITMORE, 12 Ryan MCDARBY
Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 2 Marco SANTA LUCIA, 4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 6 Jessie FULLER, 9 Robert PETKOV (33 Philip ARNOLD 70’), 10 Calvin WHITNEY, 12 Ahadi ABANDELWA, 13 Hamza HINA (20 Keylun POLLARD 64’), 14 Ludovic BOI (8 Jon STYNES 56’), 15 Chris SALDARIS, 17 Dean EVANS - Subs not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 11 Dennis GALAN - Referee: Martin Hicks
2.6.2018
FORRIE WIN THE EASTERN CORRIDOR DERBY
A ten-man Forrestfield United have taken out the Eastern Corridor Derby after a 1-0 win against Armadale at Alfred Skeet Reserve on Saturday evening. Despite having defender Leslie Mari sent off on 72 minutes, Forrestfield held their nerve and snatched the points through substitute Jordan Hart’s strike 12 minutes from time. “I’m just so proud of my players tonight, it was a very, very disciplined performance from beginning to end,” Forrestfield Head Coach Rod Banjac said. “Despite the sending off the boys rose to the occasion and scored the winner late to seal the game.”
Both sides had chances in an entertaining game. Michael Rizidis saw a shot well saved by keeper Luke Martino, before the alert Wilbert Tshabangu kept out the rebound. Ryan Haslett then hit the crossbar, while Chris Jackson’s header possibly crossed the line but no goal was given. Forrestfield went close themselves when Mitchell Crocker’s free-kick which was tipped wide by Sam Hutchings, before Jamie Street header was saved by Hutchings. Leslie Mori was then sent off by referee Steven Gregory on 72 minutes, after an off the ball incident, but the 10-men hit back and won it six minutes later.
Antoine Lemarie cross from the left was only cleared to Crocker, who slipped in Liam Merigan who rolled the ball across the six-yard box and Hart tapped home to set off wild celebrations.
“The win was huge, each game at the minute seems to be a six pointer with how tight the bottom half of the league is. We showed great determination and heart throughout the whole game,” Street said. “It wasn’t the prettiest of games but we still tried and succeeded to play some of our style of football and most importantly we kept a clean sheet with a couple goal line clearances and strong defending.”
Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 2 Joshua KUSER, 3 Delan DE SILVA, 4 Nathan COSTELLO (C), 5 David ANNALL, 10 Chris JACKSON, 11 Michael RIZIDIS (9 Billy QUINNCROFT 79’), 13 Hasan EL YASSIRI (22 Ryan HASLETT 62’), 15 Ali GHOLAMI, 20 Friday ZICO, 2. Beau RAHIM (17 James ATKINS 90’) - Subs not used: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK
Forrestfield United: GK Luke MARTINO, 2 Wilbert Tshabangu, 3 Leslie MARI, 5 Scott BARKER, 6 Kristian DESPOTOVSKI (10 Jordan HART 51’), 7 Mitchell CROCKER, 8 Josh APPLEBY (4 Callum DOBBS 52’) 9 Hasani SINCLAIR, 11 Liam MERIGAN (C), 14 Antoine LEMARIE (13 Josh KITTO 85’), 15 Jamie STREET - Subs not used: RGK Ben PARRY - Red cards: Mari 72 - Referee: Steven Gregory
2.6.2018
GLORY FIGHT BACK TO SEAL THE POINTS
Perth Glory have fought back from 2-1 behind to beat Balcatta 3-2 in Saturday’s Round 15 NPL-WA game at Grindleford Reserve. An early penalty to Henry Hore gave the Glory a perfect start, but the home side hit back to lead at the break with goals from Alex Wild and skipper Calum O’Connell. But after the break Chok Dau levelled and Yacoub Mustafa sealed the win. “It wasn’t one of our strongest performances but we showed great character again to come from behind,” Glory defender Ollie Annis said. “We dug deep and scrambled really well especially in the last 10 minutes. it shows what great depth we have in our squad as it was a completely different team from last week.”
The visitors made the perfect stat and were ahead in the first minute. They pounced on a loose ball from the kick off and Callum Timmins played in Domfeh, who was brought down by Balcatta keeper Kyle McDonald and referee Michal Jasinski pointed to the spot, and Hore kept his nerve and stepped up to score from the resulting penalty. But the home side hit back and levelled 12 minutes later, O’Connell’s ball over the top found Alex Wild who fired home from close-range. The home side then hit the front on the half hour, skipper O’Connell making no mistake to send them in to half time with the lead.
The Glory were on the front foot in the second half and Hore took on a couple of Balcatta defenders before unleashing a powerful shot, but former Glory custodian McDonald produced a stunning save to deny him. But there was little the keeper could do on 65 minutes when Glory restored parity. Hore picked out substitute Bayley Brown-Montgomery, whose clear back-hell found Dau, whose shot had too much power to beat McDonald, who did get a hand to it.
Then three minutes later Glory regained the lead. Ollie Annis found the overlapping Dau, who picked out Mustafa, who volleyed home into the far corner of the net. Balcatta pressed late but the Glory stood firm and could have added a fourth late. The lively Dau raced at the Balcatta defence, beating two before racing into the box, but McDonald was out quickly to save at his feet.
Balcatta: GK Kyle MCDONALD, 2 Joseph MARINO, 3 Hayden STEVENS, 4 Calum O’CONNELL (C), 5 Tom PELLIZZARI, 7 Asher NELSON (15 Adriano JELENOVIC 57’), 8 Carmelo GIAFFRE, 9 Alex WILD, 10 Jonathan CORNESS, 18 Robert DEL BORRELLO (20 Shubham MAKELA 63’), 23 Lawrence SHURAMA (12 Anton DE FRANCESCH 72’) - Subs not used: 25 Damien STANOEVSKI, 21 AMOS
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luca BODNAR, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Sam RIAK (15 Daniel WALSH 42’), 5 Ollie ANNIS, 6 Callum TIMMINS, 7 Chok DAU, 8 Henry HORE, 9 Michael DOMFEH (13 Bayley BROWN-MONTGOMERY 61’), 10 Michael MCDOUGALL (C) (12 Jack LEECH 81’), 11 Yacoub MUSTAFA - Subs not used: RGK Nicholas SPECA, 14 Gomo DUKULY - Referee: Michal Jasinski
2.6.2018
BAYSWATER MARCH ON
Bayswater City maintained their spot at the top of the NPL-WA table with a 4-0 win over Joondalup United under the lights at Percy Doyle Reserve on Friday night. The Black and Blues marched six points clear at the top after goals from Luka Ninkovic, Gian Albano, a Paul Lloyd penalty and Luke Salmon sealed a comfortable victory.
With 29 points separating the two sides from only 14 matches, Friday's game played out exactly as expected with Bayswater dominating a Joondalup side whose predicament at the foot of the table looks bleaker by each passing week. “I’m happy with the performance, it was always going to be a tough task,” City Coach Chris Coyne said. “Joondalup have been really unfortunate this year. The table doesn’t lie but they have been unfortunate.”
Bayswater mad the perfect start and were ahead on six minutes. Joondalup failed to deal with a ball into the box, giving Ninkovic a simple finish past James Bosdet. Both sides had half chances but it was the visitors who doubled their lead two minutes before half time. A poor pass out of defence was pounced upon by Albano, who scored to send them into the break with a two-goal lead.
Things got worse for home side on the hour, when referee Josh Mannella spotted a handball in the box and pointed straight to the spot. Lloyd stepped up scored from the resulting penalty to make it 3-0. Bayswater continued to pile on the pressure and they completed the scoring in the 68th minute when Salmon produced a tidy finish from the angle. “There were lots of pleasing aspects but once again it was basic errors and the best team in the State punished us,” United Coach Nick Jennings said. “We’ve had opportunities that we should have taken, the disappointment is we haven’t scored when creating clear chances.”
Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 2 Johnny CHALMERS, 3 Fraser GARNAUT, 5 Joel LEDSHAM, 6 Sam WYNEE, 8 Jay MARSDEN (23 Harley CURRAN 9’0), 11 Anthony TAYLOR, 15 Callum STOCKS (9 Lee JONES 58’), 17 Matthew CHERRIE, 22 Jamie GIBSON 25 Greg PELLOW (14 Liam MOONEY 70’) – Subs not used: RGK Luke Green, 24 Ayden DRAGUN
Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 4 Arran MAPLESTONE, 5 Adam HARRIS, 6 Todd HOWARTH (22 Luke SALMON 43’), 12 David STOKOE, 13 Trent KAY, 15 Jordan POKLER, 17 Gian ALBANO (14 Tristan COLLI 72’), 19 Luka NINKOVIC, 24 Jake SARDELIC, 26 Paul LLOYD (20 Giordano COLLI 77’) Subs not used: RGK Dejan ALEKSIC, 8 Paul MCCARTHY - Referee: Josh Mannella
2.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND EIGHT – REVIEW
League leaders Gwelup Croatia continued their unbeaten start in State League Division One after a comfortable 6-2 win against South West Phoenix at Wishart Street. The home side were ahead on three minutes Isaac Koomson with a back-post header. The crowd thought it was 2-0 moments later but Noah Shamaki goal was ruled out for offside. The visitors then leveled on 10 minutes, Nicola Gazzola heading home a corner after beating keeper Connor Campbell to the ball. But on the half hour Gwelup regained the lead, Shamaki curling a left-foot shot in at the far post. It was 3-1 eight minutes later Shamaki leaping highest to head home via the back post.
The home took control after the break and two minutes in Koomson’s good work down the left ended with Benny Kouakou guiding the ball home from close range to make it 4-1. Kouakou was in a gain on 67 minutes to make it 5-1, before Lee Stewart pulled one back for the visitors, after pouncing after some sloppy defending from the hosts. But five minutes from time Kouakou added a sixth to complete his hat trick, firing home well from the edge of the box. “I was very pleased with the application of our squad to get another three points,” Gwelup Coach Taki Nicolaidis said. “It’s never easy to focus on the league game with a semifinal two days later but I thought we handled it very well. It was also good to see Benny (Kouakou) continue his good form with a back to back hat trick, along with league debuts to Reece Abrams and Kyle Murray.”
UWA-Nedlands have made it back-to-back wins after a 2-0 win in the local derby against Western Knights at UWA Sports Park. The home side made the early running and Alex Kretowicz’s shot on the run was saved by Sam Stone. The Knights hit back and Graham Tough headed over the top just before half time. Both sides had early chances after the break. Robertson played in Kretowicz who fired straight at Stone, before Knights striker Jack Rycroft snap shot was saved low by Alex Preece. But UWA always looked dangerous on the break and on 58 minutes they hit the front. Second-half substitute Bryce Conway’s ball into the box picked out Tim Robertson who made no mistake. The home side looked to kill the game off and Stone had to be alert after Conway was sent clear after great approach work from Kretowicz and Luke Randazzo, but the Knights keeper saved well at his near post.
The visitors went within inches of the equaliser six minutes from time. Rycroft’s cross found substitute Yulis Mao Loko, whose effort beat Preece but crashed off the crossbar and away to safety. After surviving that dramatic moment, UWA secured all three points two minutes later. Conway found Conor Devlin down the left, he whipped in a teasing cross and Prout lost his marker and volleyed home from six yards. “I thought it was a classic derby, with the tackles flying in, but we kept to our tactics and I thought we played well and deserved the win,” Prout said. “We’ve not been playing as well as we can, but the win last week at Mandurah was important and to back it up today was vital and we’re now starting to hit our straps.”
Fremantle City lost ground on the leaders after they were beaten 3-2 by Ashfield at Ashfield Arena. The hosts were ahead when Pat Quinn make a great run into the box and cut the ball back to Dan Tait who scored from five meters. But Fremantle levelled before half time, with Alan Carroll on target. Fremantle then hit the front with Kennel Mouithys on target, and it looked like it would be the winner but Ashfield hit back late. First Greg Hart playing Quinn down the line, and his cross was meet by Ismael Bangura at the back post to score. Then Ashfield scored the winner, when Bangura was brought down in the box and Quinn scored from the spot. “I’m very proud of my teams’ efforts Saturday, we played very well for most of the match and probably shouldn’t have gone into the break at 1-1,” Ashfield Coach Matt Wardle said. “Credit to Fremantle they came out stronger in the second half and showed us what they are all about. They are organised and work hard and will continue to get results. We showed great character to come from 2-1 down to get a result late and it’s wins like this that bring the whole club closer and there is a good feeling again at Ashfield.”
In other games Morley Windmills edged out Mandurah City 1-0 at Wotton Reserve. The only goal of the game came in the first half when Ben Wantee raced down the line and squared the ball back to Ryan Treacey, who pulled it back, fooling two players, and finishing clinically past the keeper. “It was a gutsy win, but we had quite a few chances in the first half and then scored but should have been a few more up,” Morley’s Dion Berman said. “The longer the game went, they started to get back into it and should have scored but we managed to grind out the win for a very important three point.” In the final game Rockingham City thrashed Dianella White Eagles 7-0 at Lark Hill. James Harmer scored first half hat-trick, and that was followed by goals by Jason Pottier, Josh Mackinder, Lydon Hodgkiss and Ross Staley in the second half.
“We are extremely happy with the result, but what is even more pleasing is that what was discussed after Ashfield was executed,” Rockingham Coach Cameron Lord said. “Our biggest talk during the week was being clinical in front of goal, and this week we had a high percentage of shots on target and as a result we scored the goals we did. A result like this has been coming for us, as we have created a number of great opportunities to score goals in each game, but our finishing has sometimes let us down at times. Hopefully we can continue being clinical in front of goal against an extremely talented side in Gwelup next week.” – Joondalup City had the bye this week.
2.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND EIGHT – REVIEW
Kingsway Olympic have lost their 100% start to the season after a 3-3 draw against Balga at Princess Road Reserve. Balga started the game the better team, but against the run of play Olympic went ahead due to a mistake from Balga keeper Jordan Howell, the ball was played across goal and Danny Hodgson took a touch and buried into the net. But Balga levelled moments later, Vlad Naumovski converting from the spot. The home side then hit the front when keeper Todd Hoyle misread a free kick from Jake Verini, the ball bouncing in front of him and going straight in the net. Balga added a third early in the second half with a well taken shot by Danny Moss. It looked like Kingsway’s unbeaten start was over but any team coached by Graham Normanton are never out of games and they pulled one back. Howell’s produced a great save but the rebound fell to Hodgson who fired home four meters. Balga should have wrapped up the win late but Hoyle redeemed his self, by saving Naumovski spot kick. But Kingsway found the equaliser in stoppage time when Chris Rizidis was picked out in the penalty area and he finished clinically from eight meters. “The first half mistakes cost us the game,” Kingsway’s Hodgson said. “We should have won, as I thought we were the better team in the second half, but the goals we conceded were really poor.”
Wanneroo City made ground on the leaders after a 3-0 win against Canning City at Wanneroo Reserve. Wanneroo struggled to break a compact Canning side early, but they did find a gap to take the lead. Some excellent work by Matt Franken down the left and a pin point delivery found Scott Johnston who finished clinically with a great header. The home side continued to press and had a penalty waived away and minutes later Joe Allsop hit the post. Wanneroo continued to press and were rewarded with a second goal late. Good combination play, on the edge of the box found Jamie Stewart who slotted the ball in the corner giving the keeper no chance. But they put the game to bed in the second half with a third. Again, great work by Franken on the left found Jamie Stewart unmarked in the box and again he finished well into the corner. “I thought Canning defended well and their keeper had plenty to do in the end, so 3-0 didn’t really reflect our dominance,” Wanneroo Head Coach Tim Kantor said “It was great to see new signing Jamie Stewart get a brace and Scott Johnston on the score sheet again. All in all, we’re very pleased with the win and the clean sheet and we now look forward to hosting Quinns next week.”
Gosnells City have won for the second time this season after a 4-2 win against Murdoch University Melville at Murdoch Uni Synthetic Arena. In new Coach Brad Ruston’s first game in charge of Gosnells a brace from Scott Pereira, and others to Justin Onek and Jordan Parfitt gave them the points, while Dean Thurston and Amel Dzaferovic scored for the home side. “Today’s game came with everything and the football. Lots of fans from each side with lots of anticipation from the Gosnells supporters. I’m glad my players and I came through unscathed,” a delighted Rushton said. “Having watched the match last week against Wanneroo, we worked hard this week in training to work on what was missing from the match.
“We showed that the players can produce how we train, they can keep and apply the information given to them, which was satisfying for me to see. I felt we was 80% in control of the game with and without the ball. Our goals were all well taken goals apart from one, which shows the direct this team is heading in. Credit to Melville they are a young side like us and they played football. They worked hard, even more so when they dropped to 10 men. Sometimes teams are harder to play against when their system has to change, along with each individual player giving that little bit extra. We look forward to next week’s match against Swan and I’m hopeful my players will give “man of the match performances” again.
Quinns FC continued their good form under new coach Ian Ferguson with a 2-1 win against Curtin University at Gumblossom Park. But it was the visitors who opened brightly and Quinns keeper Ellis Compton kept the home side in the game with a number of fine saves. But there was little we could do on the half hour, when Farruh Manalov opened the scoring. The home side levelled close to half time, when Luke Doyle was played through and slotted home. But the home side won it after half time. Joe Middleton’s cross picked out Doyle, who guided his header home. “It’s a massive three points for us, and Curtain could have got themselves a couple goals early on but some excellent saves from Ellis (Compton) kept us in the game early on,” Quinns’ Craig Tooley said.
“When Curtin did eventually take the lead, it gave us a wakeup call and made us start to play, we have worked on a lot of new stuff in training and it just showed the quality and wiliness we have in our squad to come from a goal down to beat a decent Curtain side, we’re looking forward to Wanneroo next week it should be a very decent game.” In the final game Kelmscott Roos are back in the winning circle after a 1-0 win against Shamrock Rovers at Frye Park. The only goal of the game when the ball was played out to the right and crossed in and Shamrock struggled to clear and Michael Tucci fired home. “I was disappointed with the way we performed but sometimes you have to win ugly,” Kelmscott Coach Aron Beatie said. “But that is what we did and that shows character and heart from the group.” – Swan United had the bye this week.
2.6.2018
FFA CUP - ROUND SEVEN – PREVIEW
It’s WA Day public holiday on Monday, but there is no holiday on the pitch with FFA Cup Preliminary Round Seven WA and Belt Up State League Reserves and Under 18’s cup Semi-Finals taking place. It all starts on Monday morning at Wishart Street, the home of Gwelup Croatia, when Sorrento take on Perth SC in the 18’s Cup Semi-Final at 10.00am, before Division Two side Quinns FC meet Sorrento in the Reserves Semi-Final (12.15pm)
In the 18’s Sorrento started their run with a 5-0 win against Division One side Ashfield, before a 7-2 win against Division Two side Balga in round two. In the quarterfinals they took on Division Two side Wanneroo City and won convincingly 10-1. Meanwhile Perth SC started their run with a 4-2 win against Armadale in round one, before a 5-1 win at Division Two side Quinns in round two. In the quarterfinals they took on fellow NPL side Floreat Athena and won 2-0. There only meeting in the league this season came in round two where Perth ran our 5-3 winners.
In the Reserves Sorrento made it to today’s game by beating Division One side Ashfield 3-1 in round One before a 3-0 win against Division Two side Shamrock Rovers. In the quarterfinals they beat Forrestfield United 3-1 to set up a semifinals spot. Quinns beat fellow Division Two side Kingsway Olympic 4-3, before they caused a massive upset in round two by beating NPL side Perth SC 1-0. In the quarterfinals they caused another upset by beating another NPL side Floreat Athena 2-0. Sorrento sit in ninth place in the NPL, while Quinns sit second in Division Two and have only lost once this season
In the main game Division One league leaders Gwelup Croatia host Floreat Athena. Gwelup beat Quinns FC 3-1 at home in the third round, before an 8-0 win against Kwinana United at Kelly Park. They then upset NPL side Cockburn City 3-1 at home after extra time in the fifth round, before upsetting another NPL side Subiaco 2-1 again in extra time in the sixth round. Former Floreat defender Bobby Wilson is now at Gwelup and he said it’s been a tough road to get to the Semi-Finals but it’s shown they are a good side. “We have come up against two very tough NPL sides that I think probably under estimated the quality and team spirit down at Gwelup,” he explained. “Both fixtures went to extra time and really made us work but I think eventually we ran out deserved winners in both.”
Gwelup have a great tradition of cup upsets in recent seasons and Wilson said they are now only one game away from a spot in the National draw, and they will be doing all they can to win on Monday. “I think Gwelup are a club that are going places and I think in the coming years will be one of the stronger teams in WA football,” he said. “There is a huge buzz around the club at the moment with us on top spot and with an opportunity to move into the National draw which it great but we have a big game this week in the league which we have to win to continue our run. I don’t think anyone expected us to get to this stage so it would be great if we can go all the way.”
Standing in the way of Wilson and his teammates are his former club, and he still has fond memories of his time there but and Monday it’s all about Gwelup. “Floreat Athena are full of quality players and are a great bunch of lads that unfortunately have not got going in the league this year but are the masters of the cup so we have a huge challenge ahead of us,” he said. “I was at Floreat for around six years and enjoyed my time there but this year I needed a new challenge and I think making the move to Gwelup and seeing how great a club can be run is refreshing. We’re a huge family at Gwelup and things are done the right way by the President and coaching staff which makes the will to win this game even greater so we can give back to the club what they deserve.”
Floreat Athena just edged past Division Two side Balga with a stoppage time goal in Round four, before beating Bayswater City in the shock of the round in round five. They then kept their nerve to beat Perth SC on penalties in the Sixth round to see them through to Monday’s game. Midfielder Jon Stynes has returning from injury this season and he said the good cup run has kept spirits high in the camp after an indifferent start in the NPL. “It has shown what we’re capable of by beating Perth and Bayswater, at the moment our league form is completely different to the cup,” he explained. “But we need to bring the same winning mentality we brought in the earlier rounds into the game against Gwelup on Monday.”
Floreat have been a successful club in cup competitions, winning the State League Cup six times the last in 2016, a day Stynes remembers well, and he is looking for another opportunity this season. “We have good history with this cup, and personally scoring the winning goal in 2016 cup final and then getting to play against Melbourne city was certainly a highlight,” he said. “But we come against a big challenge on Monday, Gwelup have some good players, a few ex Floreat, so I’m sure they’ll be up for it, and hopefully will draw a big crowd,” he said. “But we need to assert ourselves and play with the same intensity and quality that has got us to this point, and our boys are certainly up for it.”
The other games are later in the afternoon at Alfred Skeet Reserve, the home of Armadale and the first is the under 18’s Semi-Final where league leaders Bayswater City take on ECU Joondalup. (1.00pm), before Perth Glory and ECU Joondalup meet in the Reserves Cup Semi-Final (3.15pm)
In the 18’s Bayswater City started their run with a 3-1 win against fellow NPL side Stirling Lions, before they beat Perth Glory 3-1 in round two. In the quarterfinals they took on Division One side Joondalup City and won 2-0. Meanwhile ECU Joondalup started their run with a 3-0 win against Division One side Mandurah City, before a 7-0 win against fellow NPL side Inglewood United in round two. In the quarterfinals they took on NPL side Subiaco and win 3-2. There only meeting in the league this season came in round 2 where Bayswater won 3-1
In the Reserves ECU Joondalup made it to today’s game by beating Division One side Mandurah City 3-0 in round one, before coming from behind to beat Inglewood United 4-3 in round two. In the quarterfinals they edged out Cockburn City to set up a semi-final place.
Perth Glory thrashed Division Two side Cannon City 11-0 in round one, before they beat Bayswater City 4-1 in the second round. In the quarterfinals they took on Division One side Fremantle City and won 3-2. There only meeting in the league this season came in round five when they fought out a 3-3 draw.
In the main game Armadale will be looking for their first cup final appearance when they host ECU Joondalup (5.00pm) The Reds had to come from behind to beat Rockingham City 3-2 in Round four at Lark Hill, and did like wise against Balcatta, again a 3-2 win at Grindleford Reserve. Before beating Dianella White Eagles 5-2 at home in the last Round. The Reds have been on a good run of form but did lose their first game in eight games on Saturday against Forrestfield in the league, but keeper Sam Hutchings said they have worked hard and are now getting the rewards.
“Our recent run of form has been reassuring after a tentative start to the season, the Gaffer has shuffled the pack a little and has found a better balance the team. There are some hard-earned draws within that improved form, it’s encouraging for the players to see hard work paying us back in points and league position,” he said. “For now we won’t look to far ahead, priority is to consolidate our mid table position, we are all very aware that just a couple of bad results in this league and your bang in trouble but keep playing well and who knows, we might start looking up the table.”
Hutchings has played a number of years plying his trade in the UK and said he was delighted when he got a call from John O’Reilly in pre-season. “I spent 10 years playing non-league football in England mainly in the Southern Premier and First Divisions for Bridgewater Town and Bideford,” explained. “My only previous club in WA was Western Knights, and after spending five years with the club it was time for a new challenge. Armadale gave me a call pre-season and here we are, and we’re all looking forward to Monday’s game and getting the club in their first ever cup final.
“The FFA cup is a great competition that is gathering momentum every year. I was lucky enough to be part of the successful Knights’ squad last season and see firsthand the positive limelight it shines on the club. Armadale is brilliantly run club and the squad will be doing their utmost to progress to the final and give some reward to the supporters and guys behind the scenes for all they do. ECU have proven to be a very effective side this year and we will have to be at our best. We have trained hard and done our homework so we go into the long weekend positive and fully prepared for both very important fixtures.’
The Jacks beat Inglewood United 3-1on the road in round four, before a 5-0 home win against UWA-Nedlands in the Fifth Round. That set up a Sixth Round game at home against Forrestfield United and they ran out convincing 5-0 winners. The Jacks also go into the game after a loss at home on Saturday against Floreat Athena, but new midfielder Josh Whitmore, who signed from Joondalup United said they have played well in the cup so far. “We’ve had some of our best performances in the three cup games this season,” he explained. “The Forrestfield game came at a great time and gave us the opportunity to bounce back after a poor result just two weeks earlier. The lads will be looking to keep that form going to make sure we get into the final.”
The Jacks last won the State League Cup in 2002, but Whitmore said the players were determined to have a good cup run this season, and they are only one game away from another. This incentive to win this competition is massive. Every team in the league would want to be playing on Monday with the chance to make the final and go into the national draw,” he said. “It’s great as a player to be playing in these games and I know all the lads will be focused on getting the win.”
Whitmore said Monday is going to be another tough game but they are confident they can get the job done. “They (Armadale) will be tough game, they’re having a good season and like us, will go into the game with the confidence and aim to win,” he said. “We have the quality in our squad to win this game and put ourselves into the final and I’m confident of a solid performance and positive result.”
1.6.2018
NPL-WA ROUND FIFTEEN PREVIEW
It’s round 15 of the NPL WA and the Footballwa.net “Match of the Week” sees Stirling Lions host Cockburn City at Macedonia Park. The Lions were beaten at home last week by Inglewood, after dominating the second half, while the Cockerels carried on their good form with a 2-0 win at Subiaco. The last time these sides played at the same venue was in round 10 last season when the hosts ran out 2-0 winners. Miki Vujacic opening the scoring in the first half and the points were wrapped up in stoppage time at the end of the game with substitute Steve Sokol scoring.
Cockburn sit second on the table, three points behind the leaders and midfielder Cameron Edwards said last week’s win at Subiaco was hard fought, and a good team performance “Great to get the three points last week, although it wasn’t quiet our best performance but considering we had injuries and boys out of position it was a good win,” he said. “We are a close group at Cockburn and I think that’s a big factor in why we doing well so far. We are working for each other and all chipping in with performances in various games.”
The former Glory midfielder has been outstanding in the middle of the park for Scott Miller’s side, and he said they playing well and got the results I the first half of the season, but he understands they need to keep it up for the second half. Getting a fit Harry O’Brien back in the side has been important for the Cockerels, while new signings Anthony Skorich and Luccas Mello have added quality to the strike force and Edwards said it’s make the balance right this season. “Having options all over the park is a boost for us,” he said. “In previous years we probably relied too much of players to score, but it’s good to have a balance of attackers who are all delivering.” Edwards said the trip to Macedonia Park is never easy, but that he is looking forward to it. “Yes, it is always a tough game against Stirling, and we are expecting no different on Saturday,” he said. “Both teams are in good form, so we’ll need to show up to get all three points.”.
The Lions sit in seventh spot, and the loss against Inglewood was a disappointment, especially after dominating and midfielder David Micevski said they deserved something from the game. “We were all disappointed after the 1-0 loss to Inglewood as we felt we were the better team on the day,” he said. “We created several good opportunities especially early on but unfortunately couldn’t capitalize. After Inglewood scored which I felt was a harsh penalty, credit to them they defended well and held on for the three points.”
Micevski has returned to the side after injury, and has been vital on the club’s improved form, but he said it’s been a team effort. “It was a bit of a rush against time for me to get back as soon as possible this season after recovering from a knee injury. I’ve managed to only miss about 4-5 games so far and it’s great to be out there again helping the boys on the park,” he explained. “I’ve been happy with my personal contribution but overall our previous good form has come down to working hard for each other as a team. We have quite a few new faces at Stirling this season and even though we are a relatively young squad we know on our day we can match it with anyone in the league.”
Under new coach Keegan Ashley the Lions are starting to hit their straps and Micevski said there is a good vibe around the club. “Keegan has come in this season and assembled a strong team and as the season has progressed we are gelling more as a unit,” he said. “There’s definitely been positive signs throughout the season and the environment amongst the playing group is great at the moment. We want to be pushing for finals because Stirling deserves to be fighting for trophies.”
Saturday’s game is important for the Lions to keep in touch of the top five, and Micevski said they want to bounce back from last week’s defeat. “Cockburn have surprised many this season and credit to Scott Miller and his playing group for their performances so far this year,” he said. “It’s a big game for us in terms of keeping in touch with the teams above us. Last time we played Cockburn we performed well for 45 minutes and unfortunately feel away in the second half. On Saturday we know if we play to our potential for 90 minutes we’ll get a positive result.”
The round starts on Friday evening when top the table Bayswater City travel to Percy Doyle Reserve to take on bottom of the table Joondalup United. The home side were beaten by Armadale last week and are desperate for the points as the gap is widening at the bottom, but they will be without skipper Matthew Sparrow, who was sent off last week. Bayswater made it five straight wins with a big win at Balcatta, and despite a slow start they overpowered the hosts and winger Paul Lloyd said they took their chances. “Yes, we started a bit slow after the two weeks break in games, and the manager warned us about that,” he said. “And he let us know at half time it wasn’t good enough, but we were clinical going forward and controlled the game once we lifted our tempo.”
Lloyd has fitted in well at the club since his move from Western Knights, and he said the side are improving each week. “Yes, I’ve really enjoyed making the move, Coyney, Alun, the club and the lads have been brilliant with me and made it easier to slot in,” he explained. “We are happy with our form of late but we know the league is still tight and one slip up and the teams around us will be looking to take top spot.” On Friday Lloyd said it could be a banana skin, as Joondalup have nothing to lose, but he said they will go there in a confident mood looking for three points. “We won’t be taking anything for granted or taking Joondalup lightly, they have some good players and have signed a couple more last week, we want to keep our run of form going and not get complacent at any point.
It’s a busy weekend for ECU Joondalup and Floreat Athena with both involved in FFA Cup games on Monday, and the pair also meet in the NPL on Saturday at the ECU Football Stadium. The Jacks got back to winning ways at Sorrento last week, while Floreat’s inconsistent form continued after they were held to a draw by Forrestfield. ECU new defender Kieron Stallard made his debut for the club in the win at Sorrento and said it was a hard-fought win, like all derby games are. “I thought it was a very well-earned win. Even though Sorrento are fighting down at the bottom this season it is always a tough game against them, especially at their place,” he said. “I thought we played some good stuff and defended well considering how bad the conditions were and could have won by a few more if we had taken a couple of chances before they got their goal.”
The Scottish defender said it took time for him to settle in to the game and he said his heart was in his mouth after an over hit back pass to keeper Johnny Perkins. “All I could think when It was on its way towards goal was “Big Tongy’s’ going to be slaughtering me all week if this goes in, “he joked. “Luckily the post got in the way and stopped it, but I think Johnny’s positioning could’ve been better, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.” Stallard will make his home debut against Floreat, and he said they have a strong squad and will be a tough test. “I don’t take much notice of where teams are in the league as there’s no easy games,” he said. “On paper they have a very good squad and have players who can hurt you if you give them an inch but so do we, so hopefully it will be us who capitalise and come away with three points.”
Perth Glory have continued their good run of form, and this week they head to Grindleford Reserve to take on Balcatta. Glory beat Perth SC last week, to keep them in the top three, while Goran Stajic’s side were beaten at home by Bayswater. They have slipped off the pace with results in recent weeks, but their performances have been good, but they have failed to take their chances. Stajic said the loss against Baywater was frustrating after dominating early. “Probably more disappointed for the boys then frustrated because I know how hard they work and how much they want to win,” he explained. “The early dominance is a reflection on what we want to become but for longer periods, we will continue to play the fast, fierce and attacking football that is becoming synonymous within the team.”
Balcatta brought in Alex Wild and Asher Nelson in the transfer window, and Stajic said the pair impressed on their debut last week. “Alex won the penalty, Asher’s first goal for Balcatta was top shelf and they continued creating so it is fair to say both players made the impact intended with their signings,” he said. “Ultimately, they both complement our style of play and going by their debuts, the best is yet to come and team will only flourish with their injection. I can already see other dimensions added to their football ability.”
Stajic said the Glory are a talented side, but they did draw against them in the reverse fixture, and he is looking to get back into the winners’ circle. “For us every game is important, as I am sure it is for Glory,” he said. “As a team we will continue playing our way and back ourselves to score and defend collectively along with encouraging the individual brilliance that we have within the squad. As for our climb, the top five is certainly an attraction but not the only focal point.”
There is a massive gate at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday where Sorrento host Perth SC. Both sides have struggled of late, Perth were beaten by the Glory last week to strop to sixth, while Sorrento were edged out by ECU Joondalup leaving them in tenth. Sorrento striker Reece Vittiglia said they showed good signs against ECU and dominated early and late in the game but they couldn’t turn their dominance into goals. “That’s football, “he said. “We need to dominate for longer periods to expect and warrant something out of the game, and hopefully this week we can achieve that.”
The striker said they need to turn their form around sooner rather than later especially with three going down this season. “It’s odd for myself individually, and for this club to be where we are,” he said. “The table never lies and we need to only look at ourselves. This week is a fantastic opportunity against a very good side to put things right and start to climb the table. Vittiglia comes up against his former club on Saturday, and he said it’s a vital game for both sides who have struggled recently. “It’s always an exciting game against Perth. They have lots of quality all over the park,” he said. “We need to play with confidence and be ruthless in between both 18-yard boxes, and if we do that, we can come away with three points.”
Inglewood United are on the march after a slow start to the season, and this week they travel to Rosalie Park to take on Subiaco. Last week’s win against Stirling was the club’s first win against them since 2015, and it continued their good form making it only one defeat in their last seven games. On the other hand, Subiaco have lost back-to-back games and were beaten at home by Cockburn last week. Subiaco defender Dean Aplegren said they had their chances on the day and should have taken something from it. “We were very disappointed. We did more than enough to win the game but were too wasteful in front of goal,” he said. “We felt, in large, we were the better side on the day and, given their position in the league, we were still able to take a lot of positives out of the game.”
Subiaco lost a number of players in the window which has affected the squad but Coach Ian McMurray has brought some players in to fill the void, and this week they host Inglewood, and Aplegren said they are looking forward to it. “We lost a few players, which was a shame as we were already a light squad, but some young, fresh faces have come in now though. They're eager to impress and are already adding to the fight for places on the park,” he explained. “No doubt this weekend will be another tough game as they're a good side with some good players. But we feel we are too and if we play as well as we did the last couple of weeks and convert some of our chances, we’re confident we can get three points.”
The final game takes us to Alfred Skeet Reserve on Saturday evening where Armadale host Forrestfield United in the Eastern Corridor Derby. Forrestfield sit just above the relegation zone and picked up a valuable point at Floreat last week, while Armadale returned to the winners’ circle with a big win at Joondalup United. Armadale’s hero last week was English striker Chris Jackson who scored a hat trick, and he said it was a great team performance. “It was a good win for us, it puts us six points off relegation, and now we are starting to look what’s in front of us not behind. You can’t take any team lightly. Anyone is capable of beating each other, Joondalup may surprise a few teams in the last 12 games.”
The three goals last week took the striker to the top of the Golden Boot table, but he was quick to praise his team mates for the supply in recent weeks, and he said the club are looking forward to Saturday’s derby and said it’s “Super Saturday” at the club and they are determined to get the three points. “Without service you don’t score, the lads have an understanding of how I play and know my strengths and that is a big part of where I am on the leaderboard,” he said. “Hopefully it will be a big crowd, the Armadale supporters have been excellent this season and getting behind the lads, but three points is a must. We can’t take our foot off the gas, we need to keep putting the pressure on and take our chances.”
1.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND EIGHT – PREVIEW
We head to the UWA Sports Park for this week’s State League Division One Footballwa.net “Match of the Round” where UWA-Nedlands entertain Western Knights in the local derby. Both sides were in the winner’s circle last week, UWA beating Mandurah City, while the Knights beat South West Phoenix in a nine-goal thriller. The last time these teams met at the venue the Knights ran out 2-0 winners. The Knights opened the scoring through Adriano Jelenovic, and they wrapped up the points when a corner kick picked out Jelenovic alone on top of six yards box and he finished well.
The home side have struggled this season but the 3-0 win last week on the road has given them confidence and Lloyd Prout said it was a good performance. “It was a very strong performance. Both the guys that started and the players off of the bench made an impact on the game,” he explained. “We played the style we want to, even in wet and windy conditions, so we know that we can perform no matter the circumstances. We’ll take confidence from that and try to apply it going forward.”
It’s been a frustrating season for UWA with injuries taking their toll but Prout said that is no excuse, but they hope they have turned the corner. “I definitely think that if we’re firing on all cylinders that we can compete with everyone in the league, and if you look at the game against Gwelup, it was a game of two halves,” he said. “We have a deep squad, so I’m sure that with greater consistency we’ll compete with the best.”
Prout said the derby against the Knights are always good games, and he is expecting more of the same on Saturday. “The games against Knights are always fun. They’re a well drilled team with some quality players,” he said. “The team is looking forward to the challenge, especially with both teams coming off of big wins. I think we could see some goals.”
The Knights big 6-3 win in Bunbury against the Phoenix moved them to third on the table, and Tom Kennedy said they are starting to hit their straps. “Yes, it was a strange game against the Phoenix, eventually having 3 sent off,” he said. “But to their credit they pushed us to the end and our subs made a great impact to help secure the three points.”
It wasn’t the best of starts for the Nash Field side, but Kennedy said the new look squad has now started to gel. “We've been performing well the past few weeks maybe just not scoring enough,” he explained. “Obviously with our reserves doing so well it puts a bit of pressure on us boys and we all lift a bit, which is great for the club.”
Kennedy said it will be a tough game at UWA, as they always lift for this game, but he said they head there looking for three points to continue their good form. “The boys are buzzing, we've a full squad to go there with so training this week will be intense with everyone fighting for a spot,” he said. “We know nothing but the three points is acceptable, and UWA are no pushovers so we will all be up for it, it should be a good game.”
League leaders Gwelup Croatia have home ground advantage when they host South West Phoenix at Wishart Street. Phoenix under new coach Tony Novello have struggled this season and are coming off a defeat against the Knights. Gwelup won the top of the table clash last week at Fremantle and Coach Taki Nicolaidis said it was a hard-fought game. “Obviously very pleasing to come away with three points in a top of the table clash in very tricky weather conditions, “he said. “The win continues our good form leading into our double header this weekend. “
Nicolaidis said the Phoenix may be struggling at the moment but knows they have a talented squad and did beat Fremantle and Ashfield earlier in the season. “We’re not taking this game for granted. Whilst their form has been mixed they do have the capabilities of beating some of the top sides as they have already shown by defeating Fremantle and Ashfield,” he said. “Our full focus is on preparing well and doing what we have to go get three points.”
In other games Rockingham City host Dianella White Eagles at Lark Hill, while Mandurah City head to Wotton Reserve to take on Morley Windmills. The final game sees Ashfield entertain Fremantle City at Ashfield Reserve. The home side have won back to back games to kick start their season, including a 3-2 win against Rockingham last week. Fremantle were beaten last week by Gwelup, but coach Marc Anthony said they had the chances to win it. “Yes, it was disappointing result, yet our performance was very good against a very good team and deserved to at least take a point,” he said.
Anthony said Ashfield are a dangerous side and they need to be at their best to get the points, but they are determined to bounce back. “Ashfield going very well at the minute and very hard to beat at their place so we can't be anything other than 100% on our game,” he said. “The league is so difficult you can't afford to lose too many games so it's vital we go there and get something out the game - Joondalup City have the bye this week.
1.6.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND EIGHT – PREVIEW
It’s week eight of the State League Division Two and the Footballwa.net “Match of the Round” takes us to Princess Road Reserve where Balga entertain league leaders Kingsway Olympic. Both sides are unbeaten this season, and Balga are coming off the bye, while Kingsway beat Kelmscott 2-0. The last time these teams met at the venue Balga ran out 2-0 winners. Liam Hunt opened the scoring, before Anton De Francesch added the second to secure the points.
Balga head coach Aleks Vrteski said the bye probably came at the right time, with some players struggling with slight knocks. “Yes, definitely a right time with cup and tough league games, so the break has come at a perfect time,” he said. “We have signed a couple of players who have strengthened the group on our push in the second half of the season.”
They have had a good start to the season but have drawn three games, and Vrteski said they should have turned them into wins, and the coach said Saturday is a huge game, with Graham Normanton’s team heading into the game with six straight wins, but he said they are looking forward to the challenge. “It’s been very frustrating as we have created numerous opportunities in the draws and didn't capitalize therefore were punished,” he said. “I think Saturday will be a great spectacle. Two sides who like to get the ball down and play. It will be a huge game for both teams and I'm sure a great spectacle for the supporters.”
Kingsway keeper Todd Hoyle said they were happy to get the win last week against Kelmscott who sat deep and made it hard for them. “Last week was a tough one, and Kelmscott were tough to break down at times, but we battled it out for a deserved win,” he said. The Northern suburbs club have big ambitions both on and off the pitch and the keeper said the players are working hard to bring them success this season. “There are massive ambitions at the club, from coaching staff and players we all want the same thing and it’s showed so far this season but we will look to get better and keep improving.
Hoyle, who joined the club from ECU Joondalup in 2016, said Saturday will be a tough game, but he is confident they can come home with the points. “I think Saturday’s game is probably biggest game this season,” he said. “But I know all the boys are up for the challenge, and with Danny Hodgson banging in goals for fun, there is no reason why can’t go and get the job done.”
New Gosnells City coach Brad Rushton will take charge of his first game on Saturday when they travel to Murdoch University Arena to take on Murdoch University Melville. The former Armadale under 20’s coach watched last week’s loss against Wanneroo but said there were good signs. “To be truthful I was surprised by the quality,” he said. “Coming into an unknown league I guess I didn’t know what I was walking into, but the signs look good.”
“We have a huge job to do here, I have no pre-season to work with the players, we are straight into the heat of the matches. Players will always come and go at clubs it’s a sad part of it all, so yes, we are always on the lookout to add to the squad, we still have a lot of games to play and will need everybody to play their part.”
Rushton said Saturday’s game against MUM is tough, but he is looking forward to the trip after a good week on the track with the players. “All players look forward to play each and every match if they aren’t they shouldn’t be playing football.” he said. “I think the players will give everything out there regardless who we play. We will not worry about other teams but look to focus on ourselves and how we play and take each game one at a time.”
In other games Shamrock Rovers make the trip to Frye Park to take on Kelmscott Roos, while Quinns host Curtin University at Gumblossom Park. In the final game third placed Wanneroo City host bottom of the table Canning City. The visitors have struggled this season and are still searching for their first win of the season and were beaten at Shamrock last week. On the other hand, Wanneroo are coming off a big win against Gosnells last week and Coach Tim Kantor was pleased with the performance. “Yes, it was a good away win and to be fair the result didn’t reflect our dominance,” he explained. “At 2-0 we missed a penalty which would have put the game beyond Gosnells but as we all know if you don’t take your opportunities it gives the opposition a lifeline. All in all, very pleased and we are creating slot of good goal scoring opportunities which is a real positive.
“It’s an extremely competitive league this season with no easy games. There are still three undefeated teams in the league who play each other over the coming weeks so the top four could really tighten up by the half way mark. Consistency and depth are the keys and you can’t afford to be off your game because on any given day anyone can beat anyone and we are well aware of that.”
Kantor said although Canning are at the foot of the table they can’t be taken lightly. “We will need to be on our game to take all three points. Canning will be desperate for points and we will need to be patient and try to play the game on our terms,” he said. “We are slowly getting our players back from injury and starting to gain some momentum, so three 3 points on Saturday is critical for us if we are to stay in touch with Kingsway and Swan. We will certainly be going into this game expecting a tough afternoon.” - Swan United have the bye this week.
1.6.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND EIGHT – PREVIEW
It’s week eight in the Belt Up Sunday Amateur Premier Division and this week’s Footballwa.net “Match of the Round” takes us to Woodville Reserve where North Perth United host Wembley Downs. Both sides are coming off wins last week. Wembley beating Hamersley, while North Perth thrashed Southern Spirit. The last time the two sides met at the venue was in round five last season, and it was a seven-goal thriller, with North Perth running out 4-3 winners.
United head coach Alex Carter said it was a workmanlike performance in the 5-0 win against the Spirit, the win was their fourth win on the bounce. “We set out to take control of the game early and move the ball quickly through the lines which we did achieve,” he explained. “It was very much a workmanlike performance but was relatively stress free, and good to some five goals as well.”
North Perth, who won the title in 2013 and 2014, are starting to hit some good form and Carter said the squad is starting to gel, but there is still room for improvement. “The run of good form is purely down to the squad taking more and more from the training track out to the pitch on a Sunday,” he said. “The groups understanding of how we would like to set up in certain situations and areas is slowly showing, and of course we will continue to improve and refine this until the last session of the year.”
Carter, who has re-joined the club this season after a year at Inglewood United, said Sunday’s opponents may have lost some players but still have a good squad and he knows it will be a tight game. “Wembley aren’t too far behind us or the top of the table, and as we have seen points are being shared around on a weekly basis,” he said. “We know they bring a very physical side to their game so that will be fun. We are under no illusions though of what they can produce from a football sense, and I’m sure both clubs are hoping for a very entertaining game.”
Wembley defender Anthony Jones said the 2-1win against Hamersley was well-deserved, and they could have won by more, and he hopes it kick starts their season. “Our season has been improving week to week,” he said. “So, to beat Hamersley who beat us in the night series shows that we are making progress and heading in the right direction.”
It’s been a stuttering start for last season’s Champions but Jones said the new look squad is getting better with each game. “When you look at the fact we lost our attacking front three and a couple of midfielders it leaves you trying to replace quality players who can win you games,” he said. “Sully also had to follow in Colm’s footsteps, a coach who had won it all, so I don’t think anyone expected us to start flying like we did last year. We have now got a settled team and barring injuries and suspensions should be able to call upon a talented squad for the foreseeable future.”
Jones said North Perth are playing well at the moment, and are hard to beat especially at home, but he said they are looking forward to the challenge. “North Perth should have added more silverware than they have in recent years coupled by a new coach can make it very hard to know what to expect,” he explained. “I expect to face a team of seasoned players like ourselves and it will be decided on which team performs better on the day. We don’t really worry about other teams too much, we just try to concentrate on our own game and if we perform to our abilities we can beat anyone.”
League leaders Lemming Strikers hit the road this week when they travel to Ellenbrook Sports Hub to take on Hamersley Rovers. The Strikers bounced back from defeat against North Perth in round six last week with 2-0 win in the top of the table clash with Belmont Villa, with player/coach David Palin bagging a brace, and he said it was good to get back to winning ways. “Last week it was important to get back to winning ways and there was a real determination in the group to put in a good performance and I think that reflected in the result,” he explained. “Apart from a late chance to Belmont, we had a goal disallowed and ball cleared off the line, in the second half and the 2-0 result felt comfortable.”
Palin said Sunday’s opponents have improved this season, and they are well aware they are used to playing on the pitch at the Hub, but their looking forward to the challenge. “Ellenbrook will be a massive test this week and with it being an astro pitch it’s a little bit different than the usual weeks on grass,” he said. “Ellenbrook have been in every game this year with a couple of big results in their first seven, so we will be expecting a really tough test which seems to be the case this year in every game. The league is so tight so there is very little room for error, but it all just adds to enjoyment with more teams competing for top honours than ever before.”
In other games Hamersley Rovers have home ground advantage when they take on Kingsley at Carine Open Space, while Belmont Villa host Southern Spirit at Gerry Archer Sports Complex. Fourth placed Jaguar make the trip to Rosalie Park to take on Subiaco, while in the final game UWA-Nedlands entertain Kwinana United at UWA Sports Park. Kwinana were beaten last week by Jaguar, their third home defeat of their season, but Head Coach Kris Donnell said injuries have hit them hard, but they need to improve. “We’ve had a tough run at home with results, and the injury list is at its worst,” he explained. “But we carry on and the team know what’s needed to change the score lines.”
Donnell said Sunday is a huge game, and they are hoping to get back to winning ways, and the coach said he has promoted some players to the side this week, and he’s looking forward to see how they go. “A few of the young lads step up this week to the first team, so it is a great chance for them to cement their spot,” he said. “It will be nice to go away from home and get the full three points, which will see us back in the mix up the top half.”
1.6.2018
FRANJIC JOINS THE GLORY
Perth Glory have announced the signing of Socceroo Ivan Franjic. The club saw off plenty of competition to secure the signature of the versatile defender, who has penned a two-year deal. Franjic is a hugely experienced player, having made 20 appearances for Australia, including in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, as well as the 2015 Asian Cup where he collected a winners' medal after Ange Postecoglou’s side defeated South Korea in the Final.
At club level, Franjic was an integral member of the record-breaking Brisbane Roar side that claimed back-to-back Hyundai A-League Championships in 2010-11 and 2011-12, while also taking out the title in 2013-14 and Premiership in 2010-11 and 2013-14. His performances throughout his 115 appearances with Roar earned him a move to Europe, where he signed for Russian Premier League outfit Torpedo Moscow.
The Melbourne-born player, who is comfortable on either side of the defence, returned to the Hyundai A-League in 2015 with Melbourne City and was named in the PFA A-League Team of the Decade that year. Following his stint with City, Franjic signed with Roar for the most recent campaign where he scored twice in 16 games as he helped John Aloisi’s side reach the finals.
The 30-year-old can't wait to get going in Perth and said "I'm truly excited for the new challenge. "I'd be lying if I didn't say my goal was to win silverware for this club," Franjic stated. "I believe that with Popovic and the players already signed that we can win the whole thing. I'll bring experience to the defence and I'm always a team player. I think with a full pre-season people will see the best of me here at Perth."
Franjic noted that Tony Popovic played a key role in the deal after a very encouraging call. "The Gaffer made me feel really welcome and explained to me the challenges ahead and it's something I'm looking forward to. I'm always looking to better myself and I think he can help a lot in that regard, so working with him will be something special for me." - Further player announcements are expected in the very near future.
31.5.2018
EDWARDS SEARCHES FOR NEW CLUB
Former Australia youth international Ryan Edwards is a free agent after invoking a relegation clause in his contract to leave Partick Thistle. The Scottish club were relegated from the Premiership last week following a play-off loss to Livingston.
Edwards did have a deal with Partick until 2020, but that included a relegation clause which he has invoked. It has been reported Heart of Midlothian are interested in 24-year old Edwards who made 44 appearances and scored five goals in all competitions for the Jags last season.
31.5.2018
RISDON: EVERYONE IS DESPERATE TO IMPRESS IN FRIENDLY
Socceroos right back Josh Risdon has declared everyone is desperate to impress coach Bert van Marwijk before the 27-man squad is cut to 23 on Sunday. With just one lead-up game before four players learn their fate, Risdon and his teammates have been pushing each other to the limits in training in a bid to earn a ticket to next month's World Cup in Russia.
“The squad is going to be cut down and I think that shows in training,” Risdon told socceroos.com.au. “The intensity that everyone is willing to put in – it’s 110% – and it will be massive for whoever gets a chance (against the Czech Republic on Sunday) to put their best foot forward to make sure they’re there in Russia.”
The Socceroos capped off a hard week of training in Antalya, Turkey, by enjoying a day off. That was followed by two days of one session-per-day in order to be best prepared for the friendly international against the Czech Republic, ranked 45 in the world.
For 25-year old Risdon, who is coming off his debut season with Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League, the scheduled in Turkey provided a good challenge given that he has not played a competitive match since the beginning of April.
“It’s been a while (since I’ve played competitively),” Risdon said. “But I’ve been keeping myself ticking over with Craig Duncan so he had me working pretty hard. “It doesn’t replace what you can get in training and games so the first few days were about finding that sharpness back.”
“After the first week in Antalya I’m feeling pretty good. It’s helped a lot to get the boys in early. The weather and the training facilities really helps the boys and the intensity of training has been really sharp so everyone’s been getting the best out of each other.”
30.5.2018
GRIFFITHS EXITS UZBEK GIANTS
Former Perth Glory midfielder Rostyn Griffiths is on the look-out for a new club after mutually agreeing to part ways with Uzbek club Pakhtakor. The 30-year old midfielder revealed the news on social media on Wednesday evening.
It's understood Griffiths and his wife Caris are expecting their first child soon and want to return to Australia, having moved to Tashkent in August last year. "Well our time in Pakhtakor has come to an end," Griffiths wrote. "Myself and Pakhtakor FC mutually agreed to terminate my contract early.
"My wife and I had some great memories over the past 10 months and have seen and experienced things we both never thought we would. "I would like to wish the club all the best for the future and hope they win the league." Griffiths had made nine appearances this season for Pakhtakor, who sit top of the Uzbek Super League.
29.5.2018
WILSON RECOMMITS TO GLORY
Perth Glory have re-signed Australia youth international Brandon Wilson for two more years. The Botswana-born, Perth-raised midfielder has made 37 appearances for Glory, including 23 starts, since moving from English Premier League outfit Burnley in 2016.
Wilson said the signing of new coach Tony Popovic influenced his decision to turn down interest from other A-League clubs. "I think the biggest thing for me was Popovic signing on," Wilson said. "I spoke with him and he said he wants me at the club, he wants to teach me and improve my game, which was great to hear."
"Popovic's understanding of the game is exceptional, he's very supportive of young players as well, which is massive. I think with a coach like Popovic and the team we have here, we should be looking to win silverware, that should be the goal for everybody at the club."
Wilson played three seasons with the National Training Centre under Kenny Lowe prior to joining BUrnley in mid-2013. He spent a further three years in England where he turned out for Burnley's youth teams and made his Football League debut for Stockport County, where he gained 7 appearances .
29.5.2018
MELBOURNE TOUTED AS DE SILVA’S NEXT PORT OF CALL
Melbourne City are on the cusp of their first major coup of the A-League off-season, winning the battle to bring boom youngster to Danny De Silva to the club. The 21-year old had been mulling over offers from several other clubs, most notably Brisbane Roar, who he is rumoured to have visited last month.
However, it is understood that Melbourne were able to offer De Silva the best financial terms and have promised to provide a pathway back into Europe. It is unclear whether he will sign with Melbourne or parent club Manchester City and be subsequently loaned back, as was the case with Anthony Caceres and Luke Brattan.
29.5.2018
GLORY LOOK TO ADD FOXE TO COACHING STAFF
Perth Glory are hoping to reunite new coach Tony Popovic with his former assistant Hayden Foxe. The former Socceroos defender, who spent two seasons at Glory as a player, worked under Popovic at Western Sydney Wanderers for three years before Popovic left for Turkish club Karabukspor on the eve of last season.
Foxe wanted the top job at Western Sydney but after one win and four draws missed out to Joseph Gombau and quit in December last year. Since Popovic was sacked by the Turkish club there has been strong speculation that a reunion is on the cards. Foxe has also been linked to coaching jobs with Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix.
Foxe, who made 11 appearances for the Socceroos, signed for Glory in 2007 but was limited to just eight games across two seasons. A youth player at Ajax, he had spells in Germany and Japan before playing for English clubs West Ham United, Portsmouth and Leeds United. Foxe hung up his playing boots in 2011 after a year with Sydney FC.
28.5.2018
WILLIAMS' ROTHERHAM CLAIMS PROMOTION
West Australian winger Ryan Williams has earned promotion to the Championship after Rotherham United beat Shrewsbury Town 2-1 after extra-time in the League One playoff final. Rotherham captain Richard Wood struck during extra-time for the Millers to snatch victory from Shrewsbury in what was a thrilling clash at Wembley.
It was another impressive performance from Williams who created chance after chance for Rotherham after being introduced in the 75th minute. The ECU Joondalup product was unlucky not to have scored an incredible winner in the final seconds of regulation time but was denied by an incredible save by goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
28.5.2018
JONES THRILLED BY SOCCEROOS RECALL
He’s one of the most experienced players in the Socceroos squad so goalkeeper Brad Jones is well credentialed in what it takes to make a successful team. And the West Australian shot-stopper has seen enough since his international exile was ended by new boss Bert van Marwijk to suggest the Socceroos could make some noise in Russia.
“I think in this group there is a lot of togetherness. A lot of guys in the same age bracket that have known each other for a long time,” said Jones, who plays his club football for Dutch club Feyenoord. “It’s a close-knit group where pretty much the core of the squad, it’s a good base because they are good blokes, good people to help bring in players that are joining.”
“The young players that come in, they have to follow that group because they know what they need to work in this environment. It’s a good group of players, we’re definitely a team. We want to build a strong team and have that work ethic. People always talk about the Aussie mentality and definitely in this group I think we will show that.”
For Jones, being back in the Socceroos fold and about to head to a World Cup is beyond his wildest dreams. Like many, the former Bayswater City youth assumed his international days were over after a long absence from Socceroos selection. But a couple of excellent seasons for Feyenoord brought him back into the reckoning, with van Marwijk giving Jones a shot to finally go to a World Cup.
Van Marwijk said after the March friendlies against Norway and Colombia that the number one jersey was wide open and Jones is focused on putting his best foot forward. “I’d have to say I thought I’d be watching it (the World Cup) on the box than being here,” 36-year old Jones admitted. “You have to have that mindset. I didn’t come in to roll over and give it to someone else.”
“At the same time, I respect Maty (Ryan) in what he’s done. He’s done it for the last four years and done it for the Socceroos and for his team (Brighton and Hove Albion) as well. I’m not saying I’m going to walk in and just get it but I want to push as hard as I can and say ‘I’ve had a go’ if it comes down to it.”
“Whoever is playing you want them to perform at their best, you want to the team to perform at their best and we want to try and do something as a group of players that we can be proud of. When we have this group we have to be solid together. Bert’s said in the past we want to have a family feel and pushing in the same direction ... whoever is playing I think the group will be behind those guys.”
27.5.2018
HEARTS EYEING UP SUMMER MOVE FOR PARTICK’S
Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian are eyeing up a summer move for Partick Thistle star Ryan Edwards. It is understood the Jambos are keen to sign the 24-year old midfielder following Partick’s relegation to the Championship.
Edwards came off the bench in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Livingston which saw the Jags’ five-year stay in Scotland’s top flight come to an end. The Australian youth international said prior to that game he wasn’t keen on playing in the Championship.
Edwards, who has a year left on his deal at Firhill, joined Partick in September 2015 after being released by hometown club Perth Glory. He made 84 appearances and was on the scoresheets on six occasions across the three seasons in the Premiership.
27.5.2018
BANJAC BELIEVES FOOTBALL IN WA IS AT A CROSSROADS
It's been an interesting fortnight in WA football and one man in the middle of this is Forrestfield United Head Coach Rod Banjac. He was suspended by Football West after comments made on the transfer window on social media, but the club have appealed the decision and are waiting for the date of the hearing. But we all know Rod is passionate about our game, and we sat down with him to reflect on the problems with the transfer window and how we can sort it out.
“It's well publicised that my focus has been affected in recent times where unfortunately our players weren't getting the assistance and support they deserve. But they fully understand that as one of the senior football personalities I need to play my part in benefiting our broader football community. Being extremely well informed in regards to the frenzy behind the scenes associated with the transfer window placed me in a very difficult position,” Banjac said.
“The easiest thing would be to turn a blind eye, but at end of the day I feel a responsibility to try and help fix the problems that are currently in our local game. It seems that we have long forgotten that this is grassroots football and that community engagement MUST be at the forefront of every decision-making process. What we have now is a "mini" EPL, where it is all about the money and the trophies. It is up to Football West and the NPL Standing Committee to get to grips with these issues and fix them. I am more than happy to sit down with them and share my experiences of this latest transfer window debacle.”
It has been reported that an NPL club tried unsuccessfully to sign one of Forrestfield players in the transfer window, who we understand was on a pro contract and they made an unofficial approach to the player without contacting the club which is totally wrong - but it looks like some clubs in the league think they can get away with this. “Yes, all our players were offered Pro contracts this season, as per FFA regulations, but it seems quite a few clubs weren't aware of this. We offered our players Pro Contracts to make sure we kept our squad intact for the whole season, and that seems to have worked well,” Banjac explained.
“I’m not aware if there is a policy on how to recruit players during the transfer window but for the interest of the game it needs to be devised and just as important, implemented as a matter of urgency. I also understand that this is a fairly new situation for NPL WA, as there are not many players with Pro Contracts. As time goes on, and more and more clubs follow our lead by offering contracts, these kinds of approaches will happen less often. Ensuring a healthy competition as well as acting in best interest of clubs as well as players.”
At transfer window time the salary cap issue is brought up and how clubs can go out and sign the best players and pay them big money and still stay under the cap. Many in the game are puzzled by this but it does go on, and Banjac said it’s amazing how. “Of course, a lot of money is thrown around but if a club wants to take a risk by not offering its players a Pro Contract, then I suppose they become fair game. The ensuing feeding frenzy is within the present “rules” of the game, but in my opinion, it is detrimental to the game,” he said. “Breaching the salary cap is a different issue, and one that I am extremely passionate about. I think it is time that the governing body gets tough in this area.”
With this in mind Banjac had his say on it on Facebook and was hauled over the coals by the governing body. Many people believe what Banjac said was on the mark and something everyone else was thinking. The club have thankfully appealed the four-game ban but if we can't have our say on social media - good or bad we have a huge problem. “In recent times I have been challenged beyond comprehension but I am driven by the belief that sport plays a massive part in development of our youngsters on their way to becoming decent human beings,” Banjac said.
“This beautiful game could play such a big part in uniting the whole WA community just as long as we stick to the rules and localise all competitiveness to the "white line fever". As for the reprimand by our governing body.......I am extremely disappointed as it clearly identifies the problems in the game. To suspend a senior coach for expressing his "honest opinion" is something I find confusing. It is something that most people in the game believe to be true, I am just the one brave enough to say it. I will continue to share my "honest opinions" when I think they are in the best interests of the public and of the game itself.”
Banjac has been involved in football for a long time, with many highs, but said this situation is the lowest point in his career but knowing him as we all do it isn't the end of it. “This is definitely the lowest point in my football career but although I've conceded a few goals, the game is far from over. In order to fix the problem, first and foremost, it has to be identified and acknowledged.
That has now been done, and in my opinion it's an easy fix as long as all the well-intentioned personalities in the big picture can find the strength to eradicate all the imperfections in WA Football once and for all,” he said.
“Forrestfield United are the newest club to join the ranks of NPL WA, and in our opinion we are doing the right thing by offering Pro Contracts and respecting the salary cap. We knew this would make it harder for us this season, but we will continue to stick to our beliefs and play the game on and off the field in the way that it is supposed to be played.......by the rules and in true spirit of the game.”
27.5.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND SEVEN – REVIEW
The Belt Up Sunday Premier Division league leaders Leeming Strikers have continued their good form after a 2-0 win against Belmont Villa at John Connell Reserve on Sunday afternoon. Leeming were on top early and Karl Gorman and Lee Thoelie went close, but on the half hour they took the lead. A mix-up between Belmont keeper Kadir Valkan and one of his defenders which allowed David Palin to slot the ball home into an empty net. James McDaid went close to levelling for the visiotrs before the break but he headed wide from a corner. But on the hour Leeming doubled their advantage, Palin raced clear from a through ball, rounded Valkan and scored into an empty net. Belmont pressed late and Ahmed Alzaidawi shot crashed off the post, but it was too little too late. “I think we deserved it from the first minute to the last minute. I think we worked hard, I think we matched their intensity and, in the end, I think the quality over shone them,” Palin told the Football West website. “It’s something that we work towards every week to pick up three points and so there’s no pressure, we just take it week by week. It’s not about what we’re doing in five weeks’ time, it’s just a matter about that game and that 90 minutes and making sure we get three points.”
Kingsley kept the pressure on the leaders after a hard fought 3-2 win against Subiaco at Chichester Park. They had to come from behind to do it as Subiaco opening the scoring early. Some neat interchange of passes down the left, ended with Kevin Punselie who fired home under the on-rushing keeper. But Kingsley managed to reduce the deficit on 20 minutes, with Mark King’s long-range shot going in via the post. But Subiaco regained the lead five minutes before the break, Paul Sopp was sent clear and he outpaced the last defender and finished under the keeper again. With Coach Steven Dimitrovich’s half time address still ringing in their ears, Kingsley opened up better after the break, and were helped when Subiaco had defender Jakub Chrucinski and winger Halil Russo sent off. Then on the hour they levelled with Jesse Higgins heading home a free kick. The home side won it ten minutes from time, with Luke Coltman’s firing home from 20-yards. “It wasn’t a pretty performance, we were poor, a certain final the night before may have had us feeling a little shady, and 1-2 down at half time and Dima let us know about it,” midfielder Jayden Drummond said. “That certainly didn’t help the headaches, but we battled on and got the win, so we can put that game behind us and move on.”
Wembley Downs moved up to sixth spot after a 2-1 win against Hamersley Rovers at Butlers Reserve. They opened the scoring with a stunning long-range free kick by Banin Hassam who caught the Hamersley keeper napping and lobbed him. They added a second when a curling effort from the edge of the box by Ryan Fish which was aided by a slight deflection to beat the keeper. Hamersley pulled one back when Wembley skipper Jay McDonald turned a corner into his own net, but Wembley held firm to take the points. “Overall I think we deserved the three points and our defence was mostly untroubled throughout the game,” Wembley defender Antony Jones said. “They (Hamersley are a solid outfit with some good players but we should have scored more goals after half time and put the game to bed. We are unbeaten in four games and are getting a settled team which helps us move forward and climb up the ladder. Next week at North Perth will give us a good indication as it will be two teams who have history challenging for trophies. If we win that we are back in the title reckoning.”
North Perth United collected all three points from Watsons Reserve after a 5-0 win against bottom of the table Southern Spirit. United opened the scoring after some nice link up play with Sean Lahert, saw Paul Gabel score. James Steedman should have made it 2-0 moments later after rounding the keeper he was run down by the last defender. Oscar Kelly did make it 2-0 just before the break, volleying home. It was 3-0 early in the second half Gabel adding his second with a tap in at the back post after a neat build up. Substitute Patrick Montgomery who is working his way back to full fitness after a lengthy spell, scored two late goals, the second was a fantastic team goal with a fine finish from 18-yards out. “We controlled the tempo and possession from the first whistle. I asked the boys before the game where they thought we were at as a group and how far we have progressed in the last month or so. I said I would reserve my judgement till 5pm,” United Coach Alex Carter explained. “We are now playing with a great team hunger to roll up the sleeve and battle for our mates all day long on the pitch and the recent results reflect this. What we are doing at training is slowing reflecting in our style of football we as a group want to be known for.’
Jaguar FC have beaten Kwinana United 2-1 at Kelly Park. The visitors were leading 2-0 with a brace from Michael Wantee, before Lee Bates pulled one back after the break, but they couldn’t find the equaliser. In the final game Ellenbrook United have beaten UWA-Nedlands 1-0 at the UWA Sports Park. The only goal of the game came from an overlapping run from fullback Craig Allan, who whipped the ball into the box for Isaac Garang to finish from close range. “It was important for the lads to bounce back after a very disappointing result in the cup the previous weekend,” Ellenbrook Coach Paul Vallerius said. “It wasn’t a polished performance but the pleasing aspect was the grit and determination the lads showed against a very good UWA side. It was a good game to watch, end to end and I thought UWA were unlucky not to get something from the game as they created the better chances but couldn’t hit the target.”
26.5.2018
JACKS BRING DOWN THE GULLS IN THE LOCAL DERBY
ECU Joondalup moved into fifth position on the NPL-WA table after a hard fought 2-1 win against Sorrento in the local derby at Percy Doyle Reserve. Sam Pollard gave the visitors the lead early, before Andy Higgins doubled their advantage early in the second half. Reece Vittiglia pulled one back for the Gulls, but then had striker Cameron Teece sent off after receiving a second yellow card, and despite pressing late they couldn’t find the equaliser. “It was a tight game, but I thought we were the better team in the first half, and when we scored the second I thought we would take the game away from them,” ECU Coach Dale McCulloch said. “But credit to them they came back in the second half, but we managed to hold on, and could have added a couple more too, so it is a good result for us. I think all the players but in a good shift tonight, but at 2-0 we need to finish games off, and we work hard on scenarios at training, but we need to fine tune it.”
It was the home side who opened the brighter and Teece’s effort flashed over the top early, after good work by Jordan Brown, before new ECU defender Kieron Stallard almost scored the own goal of the season. His back pass, flew over the head of Johnny Perkins, but the post came to the rescue of the Jacks, and relief of the Scottish defender. ECU hit back and Daryl Nicol’s shot drifted wide of the post, before Gordon Smith was sent clear, but his shot was well saved by the alert James Morgan. But on 17 minutes the visitors hit the front. A quick break down the left found Pollard, and the youngster cut inside his marker and finished low past the keeper via the post. Sorrento finished the half well and went close to levelling in stoppage time, Teece was sent in on goal, but Perkins stood tall to save.
Sorrento keeper James Morgan had to be alert in the second minute of the second half to save Nicol’s shot on the run, but three minutes later the visitors doubled their lead. Higgins’ corner was played back to him, and the defender whipped in a deep cross to the back post and it went straight in. But Sorrento hit back and reduced the margin five minutes later. A sweeping move from the back ended with Witschge on the right and pulled the ball back to Vittiglia who made no mistake from the edge of the box.
Both sides went close as the game opened up, Smith’s snap shot crashed off the base of the upright, before substitute Alex Morgan shot whistled just past the post. The game took another twist on 75 minutes when Teece was shown a second yellow card by referee David Bruce and was sent off. The 10-men took the game to ECU and Stallard produced a stunning last-ditch tackle to deny Vittiglia late, and they went close to an equaliser in stoppage time. Godwin Darkwa eased past his marker on the left, but his shot from the angle was saved low by Perkins.
Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 6 Daryl PLATTEN (C), 8 Scott WITSCHGE, 10 Jordan ROBERTS (7 Alex MORGAN 66’), 11 Timothy HILL, 13 Steve MCDONALD, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA, 18 Jordan BROWN (22 Danny JONES 85’), 19 Jack SALTER, 21 Godwin DARKWA, 23 Cameron TEECE - Subs not used: RGK Anastasis FARSALEAS, 3 Jaxon TEMATA, 16 Chris BALAZS - Red cards: Teece 75’
ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 2 Cian HIRRELL, 3 Ross MILLARD (7 Cameron MURRAY 92’), 4 Kieron STALLARD, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 8 Josh WHITMORE (18 Declan HUGHES 57’), 9 Daryl NICOL (C), 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Andy HIGGINS, 12 Brad MCDONALD, 13 Sam POLLARD (16 Lukas DE LIMA 70’) - Subs not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 6 Tom HOUGH - Referee: David Bruce
26.5.2018
STYNES’ STUNNER GLORY TO VICTORY
Perth Glory maintained their top four spot in the Football West NPL after a 2-0 win against Perth Soccer Club at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday afternoon. Daniel Stynes’ thunderbolt giving the Glory lead on 76 minutes and Yacoub Mustafa made sure of the win four minutes later. Stynes said it was an important win and the goal just made it even better. “I was absolutely buzzing to score that goal and it was an important one too, but I was just happy that it got us the result in the end and it keeps us in the title race,” he told the Glory website. “It was a very good win against a good side, and it was hard as they were tough to break down as they came with a clear game plan to limit us at the front, but we were patient and it paid off.”
The conditions were tough at kick-off with rain and wind but it didn’t stop Brandon Wilson on seven minutes, as the midfielder strode forward an unleashed a long-range shot, which flew over the top. Moments later Callum Timmins tried the same, this time Perth keeper Francis Soale was forced into a smart save. Soale then had to be alert to save Joe Knowles’ shot as we pressed for the opener. Walter Scott was a constant menace down the left, and on 24 minutes his deep cross found Stynes, but the midfielder couldn’t find the target. Perth went close themselves on the half hour Nicholas Ambrogio’s lob over Glory custodian Jackson Lee sailed over the top.
Knowles was lively up top, and moments later Stynes cut the ball back from the bye-line to him, bit once again Soale again made an important save to deny him. Knowles was in again four minutes before half time, he lobbed the on-coming keeper but the ball was cleared off the line. Perth opened brightly after the break and Frank Fufaro’s long-range shot flashed wide, but the Glory faithful thought they had the lead just after the hour. Great lead up play from Knowles and substitute Henry Hore picked out Jake Brimmer at the back post who scored, but the flag was up for offside.
But 14 minutes from time we found the opener, and what a goal it was. Brimmer and Hore were involved in the buildup, but the finish from Stynes was outstanding, volleying home from 25 meters, giving Soale no chance. We doubled our lead four minutes later. Stynes sent Knowles in on goal, his shot was parried by Soale, but the rebound fell to Mustafa who finished into an empty net to seal the three points.
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luca BODNAR 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Riley WARLAND, 5 Ollie ANNIS, 6 Callum TIMMINS (14 Yacoub MUSTAFA 63’) 7 Jacob ITALIANO (13 Henry HORE 63’) 8 Brandon WILSON, 9 Joseph KNOWLES, 10 Jake Brimmer (12 Chok DAU 78’) 11 Daniel STYNES - Subs not used: RGK Nicolas SPECA, 15 Sam RIAK
Perth SC: GK Francis SOALE, 2 Alex SILLA, 6 Harley ORR, 10 Nicholas AMBROGIO (20 Paul ZIMARINO 79’) 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 14 Kristan SANTICH (9 Gustavo CATARCIONE 83’), 16 Kieran COLWELL, 17 Frank FURFARO, 18 Richard HOWLES, 21 George FESTA - Subs not used:? RGK Malek KUC, 7 Aleks JOVIC, 19 Ali NAZARY - Referee: Josh Manella
26.5.2018
FORRIE COME HOME WITH A POINT FROM ATHENA
After dominating the second half Forrestfield United had to settle for a share of the spoils after a 1-1 draw against Floreat Athena at E&D Litis Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Jon Stynes opened the scoring for the home side in the first half, but Hasani Sinclair levelled on the hour. Forrestfield pressed for the winner but Floreat keeper Jason Saldaris, who was outstanding and made a number of fine saves, and the woodwork kept them at bay. “I’m definitely disappointed with the result, I thought we had the game in the bag,” Coach Rod Banjac said. “But you have to give credit to Saldaris who pulled off four world-class saves to thwart us. “We’re just missing the sharpness and the cutting edge needed to score goals but I’m sure that will come back soon. “We are creating chances, which is pleasing, but we need to be a little more composed in the final third.”
Forrestfield made a great start to the game and went close to the lead on eight minutes. Sinclair was sent clear and he raced into the box and squared the ball to Jordan Hart, who’s shot was saved superbly by the Floreat custodian. But on 22 minutes the hosts took the lead. Calvin Whitney sent Stynes in on goal, and the midfielder finished well from the angle. Both sides pressed for the rest of the half, but clear-cut chances were few and far between, and at the break it was Floreat holding a 1-0 lead.
The visitors started the second half well and put pressure on Floreat and were rewarded with the equaliser on the hour. Sinclair raced clear one-on-one with Saldaris, and the American striker kept his composure before finishing clinically. Forrestfield were well on top and went close to the lead moments later, when Jamie Street’s header from a corner was cleared off the line, before Liam Merigan header was well saved by Saldaris.
Forrie were well on top and Sinclair had a double chance on 89 minutes, his first shot being blocked and his second tipped over the bar by the alert Saldaris. It was one-way traffic and in the final minute the visitors went close again. Sinclair laid the ball off to Merigan, whose shot from distance beat Saldaris, but the crossbar came to the rescue of the home side.
Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 2 Macro SANTA LUCIA, 4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 6 Jesse FULLER, 8 Jonathan STYNES, 9 Robert PETKOV, 10 Calvin WHITNEY, 15 Chris SALDARIS, 17 Dean EVANS (C), 18 Phillip ARNOLD (13 Hamza HINA 71), 21 Keylun POLLARD - Subs not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 3 Ethan KETHRIDGE, 5 Declan HUDSON, 12 Ahadi ABANDELWA - Yellow cards: Chris Saldaris 78
Forrestfield United: GK Luke MARTINO, 2 Wilbert TSHABANGU, 3 Leslie MARI (12 Callum DOBBS 61), 4 Jamie DUNCAN (8 Josh APPLEBY 46), 5 Scott BARKER, 7 Mitchell CROCKER, 9 Hasani SINCLAIR, 10 Jordan HART, 11 Liam MERIGAN (C), 14 Antoine LEMARIE (23 Rhys LOXLEY 51), 15 Jamie STREET - Subs not used: RGK Ben PARRY, 6 Kristian DESPOTOVSKI - Yellow cards: Nil - Referee: Nico Hoyle
26.5.2018
SALMON SPOT ON FOR INGLEWOOD
Inglewood United moved to fourth on the NPL-WA after a hard fought 1-0 win against Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park. The only goal of the game came from the penalty spot, with Alex Salmon scoring. But it was Inglewood keeper Alex Dunn who made sure of the three points, making a number of fine saves to keep the Lions at bay. “It was a great win in a tough game I thought the defence were different class second half we conceded a lot of free kicks in good areas and they dealt with everything,” Salmon said. “And when called upon Alex Dunn was brilliant again which he has been all year - It was a very good team performance.”
Dunn found himself in the thick of first half action, turning away a pair of David Micevski free-kicks and palming Alex Tanevski’s drive over the crossbar. So, it was against the run of play that Salmon fired Inglewood into the lead from the spot after Ellis Healing’s run was illegally halted inside the 18-yard. Stirling started the second half positively with Steve Sokol this time denied by Dunn. It was a warning that was heeded and thanks to David Cyrus and Connor Becsi the hosts would create few further genuine chances.
At the other end of the park Kenny Keogh twice had long-range strikes deflected wide of the target. With ten minutes remaining Salmon stroked into an empty net only for his effort to be discounted by the referee for a foul on ‘keeper Pasquale Gioffre in the lead-up. A late surge saw Liam Henderson go close to steeling a point for Stirling but Dunn again proved the hosts foil by keeping out the acrobatic effort. “We played good in patches but they were putting a lot of pressure on us at the end,” Dunn said. “We managed to stay firm as a team and games like this, when it’s wet and windy and need to grind out a result, will help us go a long way this season.”
Stirling Lions: GK Pasquale GIOFFRE, 2 David MOLINARI, 3 Darren O’RIORDAN, 4 Alex SULESKI, 5 Liam HENDERSON, 6 Dhhors CHOL, 8 Dejan SPASESKI, 10 David MICEVSKI, 11 Alex TANEVSKI (18 Ben CAMPBELL 71’), 13 David FILLIPOU, 14 Steve SOKOL - Subs not used: RGK Lance ALAVAKIS, 19 Zane CASELLA, 22 Joey PERKINS, 15 Daniel HEPWORTH
Inglewood United: GK Alex Dunn, 2 Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS, 3 David CYRUS, 7 Kenny KEOGH, 8 Jason BARRERA, 9 Alex SALMON, 11 Ellis HEALING (23 Brian WOODALL 88’), 14 Hanafi GHAZALI, 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie MURPHY (10 Ashley ROSINDALE 68’), 19 Conor BESCI - Subs not used: 5 Scott ROBERTSON, 6 Miki VUJACIC, 12 Feisal ZAW – Referee - Julian Serra
26.5.2018
COCKERELS FLY HOME WITH THE POINTS
Cockburn City travelled to Rosalie Park to take on Subiaco and came home with all three points after a 2-0 win. An early goal from Harry O’Brien and a late strike from Anthony Skorich won it for Scott Miller’s side. The win meant the Cockerels are still only three points off the leaders and Skorich said it was a great team performance. “It was a tough game, we started off really well going up 1-0 then after that they really put the pressure on and were unlucky not to get rewarded,” he said. “But credit to our defence they really put in a solid shift and made it difficult for them to get the equaliser.”
Cockburn started the match strongly and opened the scoring after just seven minutes. O’Brien ran onto a great ball in behind the Subiaco defence and finished well via the crossbar. There was initial debate as to whether the ball had crossed the line but the linesman ruled that it was a goal. The visitors continued to put pressure on the home side, with Subiaco giving up several free-kicks in dangerous positions early. The home side went close to the equaliser when David Perich regained possession in midfield before playing a good ball to Adam Carlino, but his shot was off target.
The home side had another great chance when a ball into the box found Perich unmarked at the back post, but his volley flashed wide. Some sloppy defending from Cockburn saw a back-pass to goalkeeper intercepted by Carlino, but he could only toe-poke the ball into the post. The home side had the final chance of the half when Carlino went through one on one with Cockburn goalkeeper Luke Radonich, who made a great reflex save to preserve his side’s lead heading into the break.
The poor conditions had a clear impact on the match in the second half, with the game becoming more of a cagey midfield battle as both sides struggled to create chances. A rare chance for Subiaco fell to Carlino who was denied again by Radonich, who made yet another great save. And the game was settled eight minutes from time when a corner was bundled home by Skorich to ensure that the visitors would leave with all three points. “I think the main thing about today’s game was mentality, we are halfway through the season and in second and it was just about picking up the points,” Cockburn assistant Coach Dale Wingell said. “The performance, while it may not have been our best, it certainly wasn’t the worst but we had to scrap and we had to grind out a result today.”
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 5 Manase ABANDELWA (15 Anthony TOPINI 65’), 6 Jackson DONGRAY, 9 Adam CARLINO, 11 Joshua BOOYSEN (2 Jack PAINTER-ANDREWS 88’), 12 Nathan SMITH, 13 Jonas DORLING, 14 Ross JARMAN (4 Robert HARDING 65’), 16 Dean APELGREN, 17 Alex CASTIELLO, 18 David PERICH – Subs not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 3 Vasco DA SILVA
Cockburn City: GK Luke RADONICH, 4 Euen GRANT, 6 Reuben TRISTAO, 7 Luccas MELLO (9 Julian TELES 86’), 8 Cameron EDWARDS, 10 David ARAYA (18 Adam ANFUSO 12’), 11 Harry O’BRIEN, 15 Daniel SANTICH, 16 Daniel ROBINSON, 17 Jesse LAZZARO (12 Ryan PRATT 23’), 19 Anthony SKORICH – Subs not used: RGK Ryan BARKER - Referee: Matthew Southern
26.5.2018
BAYSWATER STAY TOP AFTER BIG WIN AT BALCATTA
Bayswater City continued their lead at the top of the NPL-WA table after a comfortable 4-1 win against Balcatta in the Italian Derby at Grindleford Reserve. Three goals in 16 minutes in the first half, from Luka Ninkovic, Trent Kay and Arran Maplestone put the visitors in control, but it could have been so different with Balcatta missing an early penalty. New signing Asher Nelson gave the home side some hope scoring early in the second half, but Maplestone added his second to keep City three points clear. “Goals sometimes polish over the cracks,” Coyne said. “I said to the team at half-time that I don’t think you understand that we aren’t playing well today. After conceding that goal we were fortunate to get one back straight away, we were below par today but we’ll take the three points.”
Balcatta came out of the blocks firing and had a great chance to take the lead early on from the penalty spot but Bayswater keeper Devon Spence produced a great save to deny Kris Gate. Bayswater then found their rhythm after surviving the opening period, Bayswater went ahead on 13 minutes when striker Luka Ninkovic headed home. Skipper Trent Kay then doubled his side’s advantage shortly after, latching on to Todd Howarth’s brilliant delivery into the box from a free-kick.
It got worse for the home side when Maplestone added a third in the 29th minute. Ninkovic rounded Balcatta keeper Domenico Savoldelli and then cut back a brilliant ball to Maplestone, who had a simple close-range finish. New Balcatta signing Asher Nelson gave his new side some hope early in the second half with a brilliant long-range effort that hammered into the top right-hand corner to make it 3-1. But Maplestone re-established the visitors' three-goal advantage five minutes later with an excellent solo run and finish past the outstretched glove of Savoldelli.
Balcatta: GK Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 3 Hayden STEVENS, 4 Calum O’CONNELL, 5 TOM PELLIZZARI, 6 Kris GATE (23 Lawrence SHURAMA ), 7 Asher NELSON, 8 Carmelo GIUFFRE, 9 Alex WILD, 10 Jonathan CORNESS, 15 Adriano JELENOVIC, 20 Shubbham MOKALA - Subs not used: RGK Kyle MCDONALD, 2 Joseph MARINO, 12 Anton DE FRANCESCH, 24 Ben PELLIZZARI
Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 4 Arran MAPLESTONE, 5 Adam HARRIS, 6 Todd HOWARTH, 8 Paul MCCARTHY, 12 David STOKOE, 13 Trent KAY, 17 Gian ALBANO, 19 Luka NINKOVIC, 26 Paul LLOYD, 30 Moses KALAU - Subs not used: RGK Dejan ALEKSIC, 15 Jordan POKLER, 22 Luke SALMON, 23 Andrija JUKIC, 24 Jake SARDELIC - Referee: Tom Glavovic
26.5.2018
JACKSON’S HAT-TRICK SEES ARMADALE HOME
A hat-trick from English striker Chris Jackson has given Armadale a 3-1 win against Joondalup United at Percy Doyle Reserve on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon. Jackson put the Reds in control with two goals in the first half, and the home side were then reduced to ten men with skipper Matthew Sparrow sent off. Jackson completed his hat-trick on the hour and despite Joondalup new signing Jamie Gibson pulling one back, but it was too little too late. “It’s a good result, I would have loved a more polished performance but I’ll take that result.” Armadale coach John O’Reilly said. “It’s always going to be a scrappy game against Joondalup, their position on the ladder is very misplacing, they put up a fight right till the end."
Jackson opened the scoring in the eighth minute after James Bosdet had pulled off a great save but was unable to push the ball far enough away, giving the Armadale striker an easy tap-in. Jackson doubled the lead in the 18th minute with a looping header past Bodset.
With frustrations growing for the home side, Matthew Sparrow was involved with Armadale midfielder Charlie Kenna, but referee Michal Jasinski no choice but to send off the Joondalup skipper. With the game falling apart for Joondalup, another poor defensive mistake put Jackson clean through and he calmly completed his hat-trick.
Jamie Gibson, a new signing from Belt up. Amateur Division Two side Carramar, pulled one back for Joondalup on debut on 77 minutes with a fantastic back-heel goal, but the three points were safe for Armadale. Joondalup coach Nick Jennings found some small positives in his side's performance. “We haven’t dealt with the long ball, defensive errors and silly mistakes, I’m starting to sound like a broken record, he said. “We were the better team for large periods of the game, Matt Cherre and Jamie Gibson both played great, they all worked hard."
Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 3 Fraser GARNAUT, 5 Joel LEDSHAM, 6 Sam WYNEE (19 Adam BUCKLEY 80’), 7. Matthew SPARROW (C), 8. Jay MARSDEN, 10. Elliot TATTERSALL (9 Lee JONES 65’), 14 Liam MOONEY, 17 Matthew CHERRIE, 22 Jamie GIBSON 25 Greg PELLOW – Subs not used: RGK Luke GREEN, 12 William KESSEL, 15 Callum STOCKS - Red cards:?Sparrow
Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 2 Joshua KUSER (6 Hasan EL YASSIRI 81’), 3 Delan DE SILVA, 4 Nathan COSTELLO (C), 7 Charlie KENNA (11 Michael RIZIDIS 69’), 9 Billy QUINNCROFT, 10 Chris JACKSON, 12 Dannie RICHMAN, 15 Ali GHOLAMI, 20 Friday ZICO (14 Ryan HASLETT 65’), 21 Beau RAHIM - Subs not used: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 17 James ATKINS - Referee: Michal Jasinski
26.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND SEVEN – REVIEW
It was a top of the table clash in the State League Division One, and Gwelup Croatia maintained their unbeaten start to the season after a come-from-behind 3-2 win against Fremantle City at Hilton Reserve. Only three points separated the sides at kick off and it was Gwelup who had the better of the opening half hour and they hit the front on 32 minutes. Good work on the left by Victor Bruaner ended with a low cross and Benny Kouakou finished at the far post. But in the shadows of half time the home side levelled, Josh Wade’s free kick was curled around the wall and out of the reach of Gwelup keeper Riley Stephenson.
Buoyed by the goal Fremantle opened the second half well and deservedly went in front on 62 minutes. Skipper Alec Robinson rose highest at the back post to head home a corner, and despite being cleared off the line referee Brendan Skinner awarded the goal. But their lead only lasted sixty second, Kouakou racing clear and finishing well from a tight angle. Then seven minutes later Gwelup scored the winner, Kouakou received the ball in the box and his chip on the turn gave Fremantle keeper Tom Chudy no chance. City went close to an equaliser in the stoppage-time, but Robinson’s header flashed inches wide of the post. “Very pleased to come away with three points against a very strong Fremantle side,” Gwelup Coach Taki Nicolaidis said. “Whilst the conditions didn’t suit proper football for either side it was pleasing to grind out a win. I was also happy to see Benny Kouakou scoring a hat trick in his first start this season along with solid first team debuts for Nelson Tshongo and Ralph Mawire.”
Dianella White Eagles, with new coach Salv Todaro in charge for the first time, moved to second on the table after a 3-2 win against Joondalup City at the Iluka Sports Complex. Dianella skipper Bojan Radinovic said it was good to get back in the winners’ circle. “We were really happy to get back on track and win after a few hectic weeks,” he said. “The young guys from Joondalup did give us a bit of a hard time but we managed to pull together as a team and come out with a win.” The home side opened the scoring on 15 minutes, with Tyler Smith on target. But the visitors hit back and Scott Newland levelled before Jose Zuniga gave them the lead at the break. The Eagles added a third on the hour, Zuniga adding his second, which was against the run of play. Joondalup pulled one back from the spot, Liam Peacock scoring after Jamie Gardiner had been brought down. The home side pressed late but couldn’t find the equaliser. “It was a tough game for the boys but they did well to come away with the three points,” Dianella keeper Joel Driscoll said. “Conditions didn’t make it easy for anyone on the park, but it is good to get a win for Salv in his first game in charge.”
Western Knights moved to third after a big 6-3 win in Bunbury against South West Phoenix. It was the home side who opened the scoring, a long ball sent Jayden Prosser clear, and he lobbed the on-coming keeper. They doubled their lead soon after, another ball over the top sent Jack Eades clear and he finished well past Sam Stone. But the home side had Gabri sent off for a kick out at Dean Hurley and the Knights hit back, with Jack Rycroft finishing well. After the break the Phoenix were given a penalty after a foul from Tommy Kennedy and Prosser finished well from the spot. The Knights pulled one back when Ryan Sardi got on the end of a cross from Alex Randall and nodded in to make it 3-2. Moments Jonty Turner came off the bench and got the third to level the scores. Bunbury went down to nine after a silly raise of hands from Michael farmer resulting in another straight red.
Turner then made it 4- 3 for the Knights and Jonty got his hat-trick after a cut back found him and he smashed it into the roof of the net. We continued pressing and got our sixth and final goal through Julius, with a neat finish. The home side went down to 8 shortly after with Eades receiving a second yellow card. “We were not good enough in the first 20 minutes, we had a couple chances but they took theirs and we never,” Knights’ Graham Tough said. “We were always in control of the game and stayed calm showed a lot of character to keep battling and not losing our discipline when they did. So, credit to the boys for that. It was a good win away to Bunbury which is never an easy game to go and play down there. They will take points off teams this year but we have big ambitions for the season and this was our sixth game undefeated and another three points on the board.”
Ashfield moved to fourth after a hard fought 3-2 win against Rockingham City at Ashfield Reserve. The home side opened the scoring with some good build up play down the right by Kevin Ashwood and Ismael Bangura, before Bangura cut the ball back to Pat Quinn who slotted past the keeper from eight-yards. The visitors levelled when James Harmer finished well with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner of the net. But Ashfield took the lead in to the break when Bangura made a good run down the right and out muscled the defender before finishing with aplomb from a tight angle. Ashfield took control early in the second half with a third, good combination play, between Alex Stamatiadis and Pat Sara, saw Quinn sent clear and he finished well.
But Rockingham weren’t finished and reduced the margin when Lydon Hodgkiss finished well from long-range, and it set up a tense last ten minutes but Ashfield held on. “It was a great result for us, three points that we deserved as at 3-1 we had a golden chance that was missed to kill the game and make it 4-1 but instead rocky got one back to make the game a nervy final 10 minute,” Ashfield Coach Matt Wardle said. “Our guys stood up extremely well and everything rocky through at us to find that equaliser we had an answer for. It was a very evenly matched game and credit to Rockingham for coming down to our ground and going about their business well. The difference was we were very clinical today and over all created much better chances to took them when they came about. Our whole team played really well as a unit and really restricted rocky to shots from distance.”
In the final game UWA-Nedlands moved off the bottom of the table after a 3-0 win against Mandurah City at Securitas Protect Stadium. The visitors made the perfect start and were ahead in the opening minutes, Alex Kretowicz lobbing the keeper from the edge of the box. They doubled the lead when Tristan Taylor’s cross was headed home by Kretowicz. The UWA striker completed his hat-trick after half time, with great free kick from 20-yards to give the visitors a well-deserved three points. “It was a great result and one that we deserved. The team have been working hard and training well, so it’s pleasing that we were able to put in a more consistent performance,” UWA’s Lloyd Prout said. “We were able to execute well in tough conditions but know that we can play even better. The clean sheet is a great sign and we’ll look to build on the result in the coming weeks.” – Morley Windmills had the bye this weekend.
26.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND SEVEN – REVIEW
Kingsway Olympic maintained their perfect start to their season and their one points lead at the top of the State League Division Two after a 2-0 win against Kelmscott Roos at Kingsway Reserve. The home went ahead after David Sesay headed home a cross at the back post. They were made to earn the second and wrapped up the points when a cross from the left was met by Danny Hodgson at full pace, whose header crashed off the crossbar and into the net. The win was a good, especially with the tough conditions on Saturday for both teams. Kelmscott were organised as a team but we managed to keep our unbeaten run going,” Hodgson said. “We could have won by more goals if we took our chances. The good thing is we are creating chances, we are all looking forward to the game at Balga on Saturday.”
Swan United kept the pressure on the leaders after a hard fought 2-1 win against Curtin University at Francis Street. It was a tight first half with the high winds causing both sides problems, but clear-cut chances were few and far between. But the home side hit the front after the break, when Gavin Knight superbly curled home a free kick from long-range. But Curtin hit back, when Farruh Mavlonov, who was making his debut for the club, raced past a number of Swan defenders and his low shot flew past Joey Smith at his near post. The home side went close moments later, Brennan Borzecki’s shot crashed off the crossbar. But the home side won it ten minutes later. A quick break down the right by French import Florent Remy ended with a cross into John Monterosso who finished. “It was a tough game and the winds affected both sides but we created some good chances but failed to take them,” Knight said. “I thought we deserved the win, but credit to Curtin who gave a display on the day.”
Shamrock Rovers won for the second time this season after a 2-0 win against Canning City at Harold Rossiter Reserve. It was a tight affair, but the home side hit the front 20 minutes from time. A ball into the area had Canning scrambling, and striker John McNeil got to the ball first in front of the keeper, to flick it to the back post and Ciaran Hoey headed home. They wrapped up the points two minutes from time, substitute James France, who had only been on the pitch for a short time, met Aaron Delaney’s free kick at the back post to seal the win. “The lads played with a great intensity all game not allowing Canning anytime on the ball,” Martin Launders said. “We missed a few chances in the first half but all the pressure payed off in the second, we’re delighted to get the win.”
Wanneroo City have travelled to Walter Padbury Reserve and came home with a 3-1 win against Gosnells City. The visitors started well playing into a gale and they hit the front when a great cross from Gareth Lloyd found Scott Johnston who finished well with a glancing header. It was 2-0 when Lloyd’s pin-point cross picked out Kye Douglas to head home. Jack Hailstones had a perfect opportunity to make it 3-0, but he missed from the penalty spot. The home side, with new coach Brad Rushton watching from the sidelines, pulled one back through Tony Chandler. It was game on but Wanneroo steadied and scored the vital third, when Scott Johnston eased past his marker and finished well. “I thought we started really well, especially against the strong wind,” Wanneroo Coach Tim Kantor said. “But were pleased with the result and we now look forward to Canning City.”
The final game was at Murdoch University Synthetic Arena on Friday evening where Quinns FC beat Murdoch University Melville 1-0. The only goal of the game came on the half hour from Scott Bulloch, after he raced clear from a though ball and finished clinically. “It was a fantastic result against a stubborn Melville side, the weather conditions were terrible so to hold on to the 1-0 lead for 60 minutes shows just how much we wanted to impress the new manager and take home all three points,” striker Craig Tooley said. “I think Melville were left shocked that we adapted to their big pitch and held a solid back line throughout the game and to not concede.” – Balga had the bye this weekend.
25.5.2018
SPANISH STAR CASTRO RE-SIGNS
Perth Glory have confirmed Spanish playmaker Diego Castro has agreed to remain with the club for a fourth season. The 35-year old has put pen to paper on a one-year deal that will allow him to add to the 75 appearances, and 32 goals, he’s tallied up since joining the club in 2015.
Castro, who played with success in Spain for Malaga, Getafe and Sporting Gijon, picked up the Johnny Warren Medal at the end of his debut A-League campaign and has twice claimed Glory’s Most Glorious Player award. "Firstly, I would like to thank everybody, my family too, for coming back here for another year," Castro said.
"A big part of my re-signing came after speaking with the coach. I want to learn as much as I can from Tony Popovic. It's a new and exciting season for everybody. I think the goal is clear, we want to win trophies and I want to be a part of that in this new era."
Castro is back in Spain for the off-season but is expected to report for pre-season training at Glory in early July, unlike last year when he was a late arrival. He was criticised for his fitness at the start of the season and will be expected to play in Glory's July 23 glamour friendly against Chelsea at Optus Stadium.
25.5.2018
NPL-WA ROUND FOURTEEN PREVIEW
After last week’s break for the cup, we’re back into NPL-WA action on Saturday as the second half of the season begins, and the Footballwa.net ‘Match of the Round’ takes us to the E&D Litis Stadium where Floreat Athena entertain Forrestfield United. (3pm) Both sides sit in the relegation zone at present, and with three to be relegated this season, three points are vital, especially with only five points separating eighth and thirteenth on the ladder.
After taking out the NPL Night Series Floreat have struggled this season, and they sit second from the bottom. They have also conceded the second most goals (30) in the league, and they will need to tighten up if they are to move up the table, but they now have most of their injured players back and they will be hoping to push up the table, starting on Saturday. Keeper Jason Saldaris has been in outstanding form, and the number of goals conceded would be considerably more if it wasn’t for the Floreat custodian, but he said it’s been tough on the group especially with all the injuries. “The table doesn't lie, it has been a tough season for the club with the team regularly changing and needing to try and recoup our starting 11, week after week it has made our first half of the season very disappointing,” he explained. “But on a positive we have not lost anyone one from our list and we are dedicated to getting out of this drop zone.”
In their last league game Floreat fought back at the death to earn a point at Sorrento, and Saldaris said it showed the fighting spirit they have in their side. “We have started to get back our players back from injury, and the last league game was positive going into our cup clash with Perth SC,” he said. “We managed to fielded a strong starting 11, and in both games, we showed that we should be in the top half of the table competing for the league.”
Saldaris said Saturday’s game is crucial, and they are determined to start the second half of the season better than the first, but he said Forrestfield are a good side and they will need to be at their best. “Saturday's game will be tough, they are a good footballing side, but our season needs to start now,” he said. “We now have a bit of confidence behind us rolling into the second half of the season every point will count.”
Forrestfield are currently third bottom, only one point ahead of Saturday’s opponents, and midfielder Thomas Jebb said they have performed well so far in the NPL, but he is well aware there is still a lot of hard work to do. They have dominated games but haven’t put teams away when they’ve been on top and that needs to change in the second half of the season. “Completely agree, we could have turned a lot of draws so far into wins which we are working on,” he explained. “We just need to be clinical in those parts of the game and grab those few extra points, but we’re confident we can.”
United were beaten at Stirling last time in the league, and Jebb said it was a disappointing result, but that is now in the past. “We tried a new formation to start the game which I don’t think as a team we were fully prepared for, and Stirling took advantage of that,” the midfielder said. “But that is now in the past and we will learn from our mistakes and make sure it never happens again, starting on Saturday at Floreat.”
Jebb said Saturday with another test for their young side, and after resting six first team players with niggles in the FFA Cup defeat at ECU Joondalup, it will hold them in good stead on Saturday and three points will be vital to move away from the foot of the table. “We’ve had a very busy past few weeks so it was probably the right idea to rest some of the boys for the cup game as our main focus is the league season,” he said. “Floreat are a top side with some of the best players in the league so it will of course be a difficult game but not one in which we feel a win is out of our reach. Our squad will be near back to full strength and a good performance will defiantly be the start to the second half of the season we are looking for.”
League leaders Bayswater City hit the road this weekend, when they travel to Grindleford Reserve to take on Italian rivals Balcatta. Both sides have strengthened their squads in the transfer window, and Bayswater are coming off a hard-fought win against ECU Joondalup, while Balcatta were beaten by Inglewood. Balcatta midfielder Jon Corness said it was a disappointing result, but they need to stay focused. “It was a tough one against Inglewood, we played some good football in the first half, after going into the break at 1-1,” he explained. “We wanted to keep a good intensity in the second half, but Inglewood were that bit more clinical in front of goal and it cost us, which was disappointing.”
Corness said it’s been a positive first half of the season for the Grindleford Reserve club, but he knows Saturday is a huge test against the Champions and current league leaders, but they are looking forward to the challenge. “It’s not been a bad first half of the season but it could be better looking back, we've set ourselves a target for where we want to finish come seasons end and it starts with a big one against Bayswater at home,” the midfielder said. “We've had our best results when we play a fierce, aggressive and brave type of football which we need to replicate on Saturday to get the best result possible.”
Perth Glory will be looking to make it four games without defeat when they host Perth SC at Dorrien Gardens. (Note – Ashfield Arena is being used so the game has been changed to Dorrein Gardens). Glory maintained third spot on the table with a big win against Subiaco last week, while Perth, who have stumbled in recent weeks, bounced back to winning against Joondalup United. Perth midfielder Harley Orr said it was good to get the three points and end their poor league form “It’s been a disappointing run since beating Bayswater at their ground, and we’ve hit a real purple patch and things just weren’t going our way and we were certainly not playing the football that we know we can play which was the most disappointing thing,” he explained. “But the win against Joondalup was a really solid win, we played a full 90 minutes of good football instead of just 45 minutes like we have so many times this year so it was good to get back into the winners’ circles again.”
With Perth celebrating their 70th anniversary this season, Orr said the players are working hard to bring more success to the club, but he is aware they face a tough challenge against a talented Glory outfit on Saturday. “The players know how much success the club has had in those 70 years, and the squad that we have are trying to create our own little slice of success to add to the already big trophy cabinet, so it would be nice to do something this year,” he said. “Saturday is a massive game, as they have been playing some real good football this year. They have some really good players who can do a lot of damage, but if we just stick to what we have been getting told by our coaches I’m sure we can come away with the win and start to close the gap at the top.”
It’s the “City of Joondalup Derby” late on Saturday afternoon when Sorrento host local rivals ECU Joondalup at Percy Doyle Reserve (5pm). Both sides are coming off disappointing results, Sorrento threw away two points after Floreat scored late to take a point, while ECU were beaten at Bayswater. ECU skipper Daryl Nicol said it was a game they dominated but couldn’t break them down. “The result against Bayswater was hugely disappointing but we took a lot of confidence from the performance,” he said. “Failing to take anything from the game hurt, but you could see from the performance in the cup it didn’t dent our confidence.”
The Jacks moved into the next round of the FFA Cup, and Nicol said it has given the club a huge lift, ahead of the derby. “A good cup run lifts everybody at the club and to have the younger lads progressing in their competitions is fantastic also. But getting to the semifinal means nothing and we’ll be doing everything we can to make that final,” he said. “I think in derby games form goes out the window, but to be honest that’s been the case for most games in our league this season. League position has meant nothing, and it will be the same again this weekend. We’re in good form at the moment and we’ll need another strong performance to get the points on Saturday.”
Inglewood United make the trip to Macedonia Park to take on Stirling Lions and will be hoping to end a five-game hoodoo against Keegan Ashley’s side. The last time Inglewood beat the Lions was in 2015, and Andy Keogh will be hoping they can repeat that on Saturday. They are coming off a win against Balcatta, while the Lions have made great progress and are currently on a four-game streak without defeat and they easily beat Forrestfield last time out. Ashley has been delighted the way his side have turned their season around. “It was a great a great win against Forrestfield, we were solid across all lines and the younger lads showed plenty of maturity,” he explained. “It’s a long season, so I always had belief in the boys and knew that once we started to work as a team on and off the ball we are every chance to win games on matchday.
“The cohesion between the boys is starting to show and as long as we are prepared to put in the work rate and required effort, then the boys know they can beat anybody.” The Lions are seventh on the table, two points behind Saturday’s opponents, and the coach said it should be a great game. “All games we take seriously, and only go out there trying to play our brand of football in order to win the game,” Ashley said. “Inglewood are a strong outfit but we think we are as well, so we are looking forward to the game and the challenge ahead.”
Subiaco have home ground advantage when they host second placed Cockburn City at Rosalie Park. City are coming after a tight 1-0 win against Armadale last time out, while Subiaco went down to Glory. Subiaco defender Alex Castiello said they were disappointed with the result against Glory, but he said they did play well on the day. “I thought the 3-0 loss was not a true reflection of the game, in my opinion,” he said. “We conceded a goal from not being aggressive enough and we didn’t take our chances, so we need to be better and we will.”
Castiello said Cockburn are a good side, with some quality players but he is confident they can get their season rolling with a win on Saturday. “Saturday’s game is again a massive game for us as is every game at this point, so we will be putting every ounce of energy we have to grab those three points,” the defender said. “Cockburn are a good team, well organised and managed well, so we have to stay discipline in our defensive shape and be clinical, and we have some new additions who I think will really help us.”
The final game see’s bottom of the table Joondalup United hosting Armadale at Percy Doyle Reserve. (3pm) Armadale were beaten last time out by Cockburn but progressed to the Semi Finals of the FFA Cup last week, and they head into this game full of confidence. On the other hand, Joondalup were beaten at Perth SC last week, but Coach Nick Jennings said they were in the game for long periods. “Early on we rode our luck, but after that the boys executed our game plan and we more than held our own for long periods of the game,” he said. “But once again it was mistakes at either end of the pitch which caused our downfall and in the end the team with more quality came out on top even if they were flattered by the final score line.”
Jennings will be looking for another performance like when they beat Inglewood in their last home game, and he said it’s another tough challenge but one they are all looking forward to and the new signings will help them. “We lacked a real cutting edge in the first half of the season and bringing in two proven goal scorers in Jamie Gibson and Lee Jones will make a huge difference and ask a lot more questions of our opponents,” he said. “No one at the club is under any illusions of how difficult it will be to get out of our current predicament but we will have a real go in the last 13 games of the season, in football funny things can happen. Armadale like everyone it appears have strengthened in the transfer window will come to Percy Doyle super confident after progressing to the semifinal of the cup and sitting pretty in mid table. But we know the time for excuses has to stop and nothing but three points for us will do so like every game we’ll prepare properly and come out firing on Saturday.”
25.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND SEVEN – PREVIEW
It's week seven of the State League Division One and the Footballwa.net “Match of the Round” takes us to Hilton Park for the top of the table clash between second placed Fremantle City and league leaders Gwelup Croatia (3pm). Both sides had tough 3-2 wins last week, Fremantle beating Morley Windmills on the road, while Gwelup beat a fast finishing UWA-Nedlands.
Fremantle’s Alec Robinson said it was a good result at Morley, who are improving all the time, and to come home with three points has given them confidence going forward. “I thought it was a good win against Morley, who will take points off a lot of teams this season,” he explained. “This league is very tight and we saw how picking up points on a regular basis can propel you up this league very quickly, but we are aware the same is true if we have any slip ups like the Phoenix game earlier in the season.:
City have begun the season well and carried on from winning the State League Night Series, and Robinson said the club are working hard both on and off the pitch and NPL is the clubs ultimate aim. “The club do have big ambitions and that’s great, but for us it’s about performing well each week,” he said. “For us as a playing group we just need to concentrate on getting consistent results week in week out, and if we do that we will do our part.”
Robinson said Saturday will be a great game, against a good side, but he is looking forward to the challenge. “Going into Saturday it’s well documented what a good side Gwelup have been in rising through the leagues very quickly, so it should be a good challenge,” he said. “We are missing a few key players, but it’s early days and we would feel that despite picking up a few results we haven’t really played as well as we can, so if we can get it right Saturday it could be a very tasty game between two strong sides.”
Gwelup are still unbeaten after six rounds and skipper James Sammut said last weeks’ win against UWA was a good performance, and it should have been over by half time, but they scored two second half penalties to make it close. “It was a good win against UWA, but it was a game of two halves,” he said. “The first half, we played some of the best football we’ve played all year and in the second half we didn’t come out and credit to UWA who fought back late. It was good to get the 3 points but looking forward to when we string it all together for 90 minutes.”
It’s not been a bad season for the Wishart Street side, unbeaten in the league and an FFA Cup Semi Final against Floreat Athena to look forward to, and Sammut said they are focused on just one game at a time. “We have had a good run in the cup and playing some good football in the league, and hopefully we can continue our unbeaten run in the league this weekend and take that form into the FFA cup semifinal,” the skipper said. “Floreat are a strong side who have also beaten quality teams to reach the Semi Final of the Cup. They have quality players who can turn a game so it will be another good test for us.”
Sammut said Fremantle will be another big test and will be a great game, and he said they need to be at their best to get the win. “Every weekend is a big game and no one wants to be dropping points at any stage of the season, but especially early,” he said. “From all reports, Fremantle are also having a good season, and will be another test for our lads. We will be looking forward to getting out there and hopefully come away with another 3 points.” Gwelup new signing Angel Andres will be available for his debut in the game.
Ashfield have made a return to form after a slow start to the season and on Saturday they host Rockingham City at Ashfield Reserve. Ashfield are coming off a big win at Dianella White Eagles last week, which moved them up to seventh, and they sit one place and two points behind Saturday’s opponents. Rockingham are coming off the bye, and the cup break, but won the local derby with Mandurah in round five, and coach Cameron Lord, said the break wasn’t ideal. “The cup round after our bye probably wasn’t the best timing for the momentum we were creating after UWA and Mandurah,” he explained. “But it has given us the chance to work on a few things that we will be taking into the Ashfield game.”
Lord said Ashfield are a good side, especially on home soil, so he is expecting a tough game. “Every game is a challenge in this league, it is a new challenge against different opposition and another opportunity for us to show the way we want to play football,” he said. “However, we know that we need to perform at our maximum capacity if we want the three points. Having watched the Dianella v Ashfield game two weeks ago, we will be trying to exploit certain areas to put us in a position to win the game.”
In other games Joondalup City, whose game at South West Phoenix was postponed last round, host Dianella White Eagles, who were beaten at home by Ashfield at Iluka Sports Complex. It will be the first game in charge for new Eagles coach Salv Todaro. South West Phoenix will look to move up the table when they host fifth placed Western Knights at WML Stadium, while in the final game Mandurah City host UWA-Nedlands at Securitas Protect Stadium. UWA sit on the bottom of the table and were beaten at Gwelup in the last league game, but they are a good side and have been unlucky in recent games. Likewise, Mandurah, who came home from Nash Field with a point against the Knights. Mandurah coach Alex Grayson said it was a good performance. “A clean sheet was a big step in the right direction for ourselves, and to get it away at tough opposition was a huge bonus,” he said. “I don't think many teams will keep Western Knights off the score sheet all year so we took a lot of positives from the game.”
Grayson said Saturday will be another tough game, with both sides need the points, but he said new signing Mitch Firth has strengthened his squad. “Mitch, who has recently returned from a spell in England, has been a good pick up for us, his experience from last year and the wealth of knowledge he has brought back with him, it's a fantastic addition for us,” he said. “On Saturday both sides are in desperate need for a win and both sides will be approaching the game thinking they can win it. It's going to be another great test for our boys and the work they have put in over the last two weeks has been tremendous. Mentally and physically we are still in great shape so hopefully we can start seeing some rewards from it.” - Morley Windmills have the bye this week.
25.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND SEVEN – PREVIEW
The Footballwa.net Match of the Round in State League Division Two takes us to the Murdoch University Synthetic Ground on Friday evening when Quinns FC take on Murdoch University Melville (8:30pm). MUM is coming off a hard-fought win against Curtin last week, while Quinns are coming off the bye. Quinns centre half Ross Edwards said their form has been up and down in recent weeks, a big win at Kelmscott, but a heavy defeat against Kingsway, but he said they will take positives and negatives out of both games. “The Kingsway game was good, we use games like that to fuel the passion and desire for the next,” he said. “They (Kingsway) pressed very well, were organised and had some good quality, three very good traits to have and something at Quinns we are trying to implement.”
Edwards joined the club from NPL side Joondalup United, and he said it was a tough decision to leave the club but is happy with his choice. The decision to move from Joondalup was extremely tough, as I had four very successful years there,” he said. “So yes, it was hard to leave the team and everyone involved, and I’d like to thank everyone involved at the club, from the President down. Everyone does so much, the love for the club, the emphasis on being one is addictive. “For me though I was lucky to have Quinns nearby and I know all of the boys. A number were with me at Wanneroo and Joondalup and I consider these to be very close mates and it made it easy for me settle in very well.”
The defender said Friday will be a challenge, against a side who are unbeaten in three games, but he said new Coach Ian Ferguson will have them prepared well for a tough game. “I think it will be a great game, and the bye last week and it gave the new manager 3/4 very good, hard and intense sessions,” he explained. “They (MUM) have started well this season and had a good win last week. We have been disappointing at the levels we should be achieving, so Friday should be entertaining with both teams having a point to prove and looking for three points - lets hope the weather stays decent.”
MUM midfielder Dean Thurston said the win at Curtin was well-deserved and kept their good form going. “Although the score line was 1-0, I thought that it could have easily been 3-0 or more and we would have been disappointed with anything other than the three points, especially with the quality of the lads we have at the club,” he explained. “We’re growing in confidence with every game, and our coach (Gavin Brown) always been a manager to give the young lads a chance and as such we have a fantastic culture and have a great mix of youth and experience.
“The young lads coming through are all playing with a smile on their face, showing plenty of promise and seem to get better and better. Our biggest strength, however, is the depth in the squad. We have 22 players in and around the first team that could easily get a game, it must be a nice headache for the gaffer to have.”
Thurston said Quinns have some dangerous players and will be another good game, but they are looking forward to i “I think Quinns’ players will be feeling the pressure to impress their new manager, and I think they’ll get a big shock when they see how massive our pitch is and how we play on it. We’ve scored 13 in 5 games for a reason, but whatever the result, it will be a very entertaining game I’m sure.”
League leaders Kingsway Olympic head back home and entertain Kelmscott Roos at Kingsway Reserve, looking to continue their perfect start to the season. Kelmscott on the other hand have struggled in recent weeks and are coming off a 1-4 defeat at Wanneroo last time out, but I’m sure Coach Aron Beatie will have them fired up for a big performance against the leaders. Kingsway came home with a 1-0 win from bottom of the table Shamrock last week, with Danny Hodgson scoring the winner.
The English striker said it should have been more on the day. It was a frustrating game against Shamrock. I think they had 1 shot on goal in the full game. They put 11 men behind the ball on a really small tight pitch and defended all game,” he explained. “But as a team we’ve showed that we can win scrappy games that we have to battle for 90 minutes which is good, and1-0 wins in hard games that are the games that win you leagues, so we were happy coming away with a 1-0 win.”
Hodgson said he is expecting more of the same against Kelmscott on Saturday, who will be desperate for the points. “We’ve had a little break with the cup round last week, and that’s helped us freshen up for the game, but Kelmscott are looking for points at the other end, so they’re not going to hold back on Saturday they’re going to give us a good game,” he said. “Where back playing at home where the pitch suits our style of play. There is a target on our backs now after the great start we’ve had, but we’ve been working hard since the night series. The next five weeks are going to define our season. We’ve got some hard games coming up which we know we need to win, starting on Saturday.”
In other games on Saturday, second placed Swan United entertain Curtin University at Francis Street, while the bottom two teams meet at Harold Rossiter Reserve as Shamrock Rovers host Canning City. In the final game fourth placed Wanneroo City make the trip to Walter Padbury Reserve to take on Gosnells City. It’s not been the best of starts for Gosnells since relegation last season, and they still in search of a new coach after Alan Dunlop resigned last week. They did show good signs at Balga last week, but still went down, and they will be hoping to make home ground advantage count.
Wanneroo were back in the winners’ circle last time out against Kelmscott and Coach Tim Kantor said it was good to bounce back after the loss to Swan. “It was a really good win against Kelmscott and the most pleasing thing was the way that we constructed the goals,” he explained. “The recent signing of Jamie Stewart has given us more options going forward and his experience in the final third is invaluable to the youngsters around him.”
Kantor said Saturday will be another tough test. “There are no easy games in this league this year and we are expecting Gosnells to be another tough game. They are a proud club and I’m sure they will want to turn their season around sooner rather than later,” he said. “We go into the game with a couple of injury concerns to key players but this year we have great depth and should be able to fill any voids created by injury. It’s a huge game for us Saturday and we will need to be at our best to take the points.” – Balga have the bye this weekend.
25.5.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND SEVEN – PREVIEW
It's week seven of the Belt Up Amateur Sunday Premier Division and the Footballwa.net – “Match of the Round’ is the game between Kwinana United and Jaguar FC at Kelly Park. Jaguar have started life in the league well and sit fifth on the table, level with Sunday’s opponents, but with a better goal difference. The Jags are coming off a huge win last week, when they beat Kingsley 5-1, with Michael Wantee bagging a brace. The striker said it was a great victory for the club. “The win against Kingsley was a great win for the boys, and we’re all excited to see where our season goes from here on,” he said. “As a striker I was happy to score some goals, but what matters more is that we got the three points and continue our good start to the season.”
Wantee said Kwinana will be another tough test for them, especially after their loss in the cup last week. “We know that Kwinana are a very good team, and it’s going to be a tough game,” he said. “But we are in good form and are looking forward to the challenge.” Jaguar Coach Chol Kong added. “The boys are looking forward to the challenge coming up against a tough Kwinana side. As we all know this league is full of surprises any team at any time can pull an upset and that’s what we plan to do,” he said. “I am sure they (Kwinana) are looking to continue their winning ways, but the game is an important game for us, as we are looking to maintain a status in the top half of the league. The opposition won’t make it easy especially at their home ground. It’ll be a tough game against them so we will go there and give it our all to get all three points."
Kwinana beat Ellenbrook in their last league game to keep them in touch of the top four, and Coach Kris Donnell said it was a good team performance. “The win against Ellenbrook was the best we had played all season,” he explained. “It was also a new system which the team adhered to well.” Donnell said that win was good but the whole club were disappointed to go out of the cup last weekend. “Yes, it was disappointing to go out, but you have to give Cracovia the credit they deserved,” he said. “In the second half we threw everything at them and they defended very well so fare play to them.”
The coach said Jaguar’s have shown already they are a good footballing side, and he is expecting a tight encounter on Sunday. “This league is one of the most open I’ve been involved in as a coach and every team you play fight to the end,” Donnell explained. “It all comes down to who wants it more on the day. There really isn’t a great deal in it this year in terms of teams being far ahead technically. So, it’s a pretty simple team talk these days. - Go out and don’t leave anything in the tank - make sure when you come off your heads held high knowing you’ve gave everything you could for your team mates and the club.”
In other games this weekend, second placed Kingsley are at home to Subiaco AFC, while league leaders Leeming Strikers entertain Belmont villa at John Connell Reserve. Ellenbrook United make the trip to the UWA Sports Park to take on UWA Nedlands. In the final game Wembley Downs host Hamersley Rovers at Butlers Reserve. Wembley were held to a 2-2 draw at Subiaco last week, while Rovers beat Southern Spirit 3-1, and three points took them above Sunday’s opponents. Rovers’ coach Joe Wright said it was an important win for the side, after back-to-back defeats. “It was a solid team performance against Southern Spirit who looked better than their results suggested,” he said. “We’d played well in previous games but hadn’t put our chances away so it was good to score three and get the win.” Wright said Wembley may have struggled early in the season after taking out the title last season, but he well aware the talent they have in their side. “We beat Wembley in the night series but they have strengthened since then with players like Banin coming back in,” he said. “We expect it to be a very tough game and we’ll have to be at our best to get a result.”
24.5.2018
CASTRO ALL SET TO RE-SIGN WITH GLORY, SAYS SAGE
Spanish wizard Diego Castro is “99.9% certain” to re-sign with Perth Glory after owner Tony Sage held face-to-face talks with the playmaker. Resolving the future of the 35-year old has been one of coach Tony Popovic’s priorities as he seeks add to his ten currently contracted players.
While bringing in at least six fresh faces, nailing down fan favourite Castro for a fourth season appears a fait accompli. “Castro and I have an excellent relationship and I’ve visited his home in Spain twice now,” said Sage. “The first time was to sign him initially and then to subsequently re-sign him.
“The only issue is that his family want a full three-month break in Spain but it may be that they stay there and he comes out a bit earlier. I’m 99.9% sure that he’ll sign on the dotted line and be with us next season. Hopefully this time he remains injury free and has yet another huge year for us.”
Sage is hopeful Castro will be available for Glory July 23 glamour friendly against FA Cup winners Chelsea. “The length of Castro’s next contract will be up to Tony (Popovic) but if you look at the stats and data records for last season, he was third best across the board for passing accuracy etc, and he missed six games,” added Sage.
Sage has had to reach deep into his pockets to capture marquee coach Popovic, not to mention the influx of players he will bring. It’s probably cost $1 million more than I was budgeting for but we want to bring success to this club and he was the man I wanted,” Sage commented.
“He’s a proven winner and will bring a different mentality to the club and a desperation to win trophies. He’s the right man at the right time. He has a lot of players who also want to come to our club and play for him and it’s a chance for him to put his stamp on things.”
Sage is open to bringing in a business partner at Glory but insists he is not prepared to sell his controlling stake in a club he’s already ploughed over $20 million into. “I’m looking for an appropriate football-focused partner,” he said. “I want us to go into Asia and win trophies and we have a coach with the ruthless attitude to do that.”
24.5.2018
RISDON LOOKING FORWARD TO FRANCE, WORLD CUP TEST
Facing one of the favourites for the World Cup in the opening game of the tournament is a monumental task which some might shy away from. Australia's first opponents France boast some of the world’s undisputed superstars, including the likes of Paul Pogba, Antoine Greizmann and Olivier Giroud.
But the Socceroos are embracing the challenge ahead with right-back Josh Risdon keen to test himself against some of the world’s best. “It will be a tough test, they’ve got a lot of good players, world-class players so no better test in the first game than them,” said Risdon.
“It will be really hard, they can throw anyone in that squad, in the forward line and it will be unreal so a massive test for us but getting them first game is a real positive, adrenaline will be flowing and hopefully we can get a good result.”
If Risdon gets the nod and makes an appearance against France on June 16, he’s likely to be directly faced with the huge task of keeping Atletico Madrid winger Antoine Greizmann quiet. “For me personally, I just go about it the same as I’m playing any player and obviously you do a bit of background homework on the player,” said Risdon.
“In terms of mentality you go out and play like it’s anyone else, if you decide to let it get in your mind that this player is a world class player and that sort of stuff it plays on you a bit so I’ll just go out and play my normal game and hopefully I can do well.”
Should Australia perform well and secure a positive result against France, Risdon believes it would lay the foundations for further success. “Getting them first game is a positive,” said Risdon. “Hopefully we can get a good result and confidence will be up going into those next two games (against Denmark and Peru) and hopefully it can progress us out of the group stage.”
It’s been a roller-coaster ride for the right-back, who married his partner Ebony just last Saturday and then jumped on a plane just 24-hours later to link up with the squad in Turkey. “It’s not ideal timing, but full credit to my wife she’s supportive and she knows what kind of an opportunity this is for my career,” said Risdon.
23.5.2018
"WE'LL GO ON A RUN IN RUSSIA" SAYS SAINSBURY
Injury denied him the chance to play at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury isn’t going to let the 2018 edition pass him by. Despite being just 26, Sainsbury is the most experienced defender in Bert van Marwijk’s 26-man extended squad with 33 appearances for the national team.
Not one of those outings has come at a World Cup though, and the centre back is keen to right that wrong. “It will be hard not to imagine what’s ahead, what’s at stake and what the possibilities are of the games,” Sainsbury told socceroos.com.au “Every kid dreams of going to a World Cup and I still dream that to this day. Until I’m out there on the pitch, I’ll keep dreaming.”
The Socceroos haven’t made a secret of how tough their pre-World Cup camp in Turkey has been so far. Appearing nine times for Swiss club Grasshopper Zurich since February this season, Sainsbury is one of the more rested players in camp.
“I’m feeling good. It’s nice to be in camp again and have a professional staff who can take care of me and get the rig in order,” said Sainsbury. “We’re training the hardest we possibly can at the moment. The way you train is the way you perform on the pitch – we give our all in training and we’ll give the same when it comes to the match.”
Group stage matches against France, Denmark, and Peru are soon approaching but preparations aren’t being rushed. Friendlies against the Czech Republic and Hungary will give the squad a good idea of where they’re at ahead of the tournament – and the closer it gets, the more things will ramp up.
“(Van Marwijk) knows what he wants and he has to get that across to the boys. He’s teaching us slowly but quickly enough to be ready for what’s ahead. He has a specific idea which he’s implementing now,” added Sainsbury. “This team has untapped potential at the moment and we’re going to go on a good run in Russia.”
“I can feel it in my bones so I’m excited for the games coming up. It’s a bit difficult to say (how things will ramp up) at the moment because it feels like any other camp. But once the second week starts to roll around and we’ve been here for another week and another week then it will feel a bit different.”
“Preparations and the tackles might get a little bit more (frequent) and the desperation might be a bit higher and you’ll start seeing some of the boys not trying harder but the desperation will come out because everyone wants to be in that final squad.”
22.5.2018
DUNFERMLINE SIGN BEADLING
Tom Beadling has signed on with Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic after impressing while on loan from Sunderland. A graduate of the Black Cats academy, the 22-year old's performances in the centre of the park for the Pars have been rewarded with a two-year deal amid interest from several Scottish Championship clubs.
Beadling played locally with the National Training Centre and represented West Australia at Under-14 level before entering the Sunderland academy. While he didn't feature in the first team, he captained Sunderland's Under-23 side and made two appearances for Bury while on loan in early 2017.
21.5.2018
VALENTINI KICKS ON IN GERMANY
Australian striker Stefan Valentini has no regrets about swapping Perth Glory for a crack at breaking into German football. Valentini played juniors for Balcatta and had a stint with South Melbourne before joining Glory's youth team at the age of 18. He progressed to the first team squad and made his debut aged 19 in the FFA Cup in 2015.
But after failing to get an opportunity in the A-League, Valentini decided in January 2016 to head overseas and chase his dream. "After the few games in the FFA Cup I was hoping my performances would secure a part with the Glory moving forward, but unfortunately, the club signed two more young strikers and I was overlooked," the 21-year old told theworldgame.sbs.com.au
"I then decided to try my luck overseas, through a local agent. I bought a one-way ticket to Germany, where I trialled with few clubs. One of those clubs, Eintracht Braunschweig, offered me my first professional contract for 18 months with their under-23's team."
Valentini spent 18 months with Eintracht Braunschweig in the Regionaliga Nord, Germany's fourth tier, after securing a contract through a trial. “Eintracht Braunschweig was very professional, they had a plan to put me in accommodation and put me through German classes," he said.
"The first team at Eintracht Braunschweig was challenging for promotion to the Bundesliga so players were being dropped down to the under-23's, which play in the Regionalliga North. Game time became limited as I had to make way for these players. So I decided to move to a smaller club to ensure I could play first team football."
In July last year Valentini signed with TuS Erndtebruck. The club play in the Regionaliga West and the forward has scored nine goals in 29 appearances this season. He believes that while leaving Perth was difficult, it was necessary for his career to progress. He said his development in Germany, both on and off the field, has accelerated rapidly in the past two years.
"Whilst I have some family close by, I was prepared for living away from home as I have been to Germany previously, when I was younger," he said. "I dropped out of school to do this. It was a tough decision to leave my family, friends and my hometown comforts but at the end of the day it needed to happen to make football my life and career."
"There are the clichéd things such as becoming physically and mentally stronger, becoming fluent in German and maturing from a sheltered teen to an independent man. But the development on the pitch has come from what I have learnt off it ... I am very fortunate the sacrifices my entire family made to get me over here but it forces me every day work that extra bit harder."
TuS Erndetbruck play in the fourth division against the reserve teams of the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach, Cologne, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke. "One of my first tastes of football in this shirt was against Eintracht Frankfurt in front of 13,000 people booing us, which funnily enough was probably one of the best feelings I've had in my professional career," he said.
"Being new, no matter how good you might think you are, you need to build that trust and need time. I got my chance to get a string of games together, started to score and began to get more game time until our last four to five games got cancelled because of the weather. Then I got injured so it was back to square one getting back to fitness and started the last nine games of the season."
Valentini has also been inspired by the exploits of his cousin, Nurnberg right-back Enrico Valentini. "I speak to Enrico weekly, we are close and he is like an older brother to me," he said. "I look up to him, I saw how hard he worked and he just got promoted to the 1.Bundesliga, which shows me hard work really pays off and gives me so much more motivation."
"At times when I'm down or frustrated all I need is a five-minute conversation with him and I'm feeling much better. But that goes to the whole family over here, each and every single one of them are supporting me, which I can't thank them enough."
Valentini is unsure at this stage of where he will end up when his TuS Erndtebruck contract ends next month, with a return to Australia possible. "As my contract ends in June, I need to make the tough decision on whether to stay in Germany or test myself somewhere else in Europe," he said. "If the right offer comes from the A-League, I'd definitely consider it."
20.5.2018
REDEVELOPED FREMANTLE OVAL MOOTED AS POTENTIAL HOME FOR FREMANTLE CITY
A boutique 15,000-capacity stadium at a redeveloped Fremantle Oval has been mooted as part of Fremantle City’s ambitious A-League push. Football Federation Australia’s A-League expansion process begins in earnest this week, with at least a dozen clubs/consortiums set to lodge submissions by Thursday’s Expression of Interest deadline.
Fremantle City claims to have at least $10 million pledged from local backers, amid ongoing talks with Italian giants Juventus about a football partnership. While initially playing out of Perth Oval, a redevelopment at Fremantle Dockers’ old training base would create a clear point of difference from Perth Glory and become the centrepiece of the new club, whose training and administrative bases would be south of the river.
It also evokes memories of Perth Glory’s early National Soccer League years when temporary stands were erected at Perth Oval - WAFL club East Perth’s former home ground - prior to its redevelopment. “Raising capital is not an issue,” Fremantle City president Maurice Oteri said. “It started four years ago and we brought together two clubs, East Fremantle Tricolore and Fremantle United, two staunch Italian-backed clubs and we got a junior NPL licence.”
“For the last 12 months we’ve had a separate taskforce in play, a core group of people of note working behind the scenes and waiting for the time for the political dust to settle before declaring our hand. We’ve got a heads of agreement already signed off (to play at Perth Oval), they’ve been very supportive.”
“The City of Fremantle have also been supportive. We’ve spoken about trying to make Fremantle Oval not just another training facility, but also, if an investor were to come along and redevelop Fremantle Oval into a little boutique 15,000-18,000 stadium, would the City of Fremantle keep an open mind about that?”
While they understand FFA is leaning towards expanding into Melbourne or Sydney, they believe there is a place for two professional soccer clubs in the west. “I’m no fool, I’m very conscious of what the FFA may consider. It would’ve been great if Glory had (grown quicker) but our pitch is different from other A-League bidders,” Oteri said.
20.5.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR CUP - ROUND TWO – REVIEW
It was a huge second round of the Belt Up Amateur Cup on Sunday, and the biggest shock came at the Cracovia Sporting Complex where last season’s Cup Winners Kwinana United were beaten 3-2 by Division 2 side Cracovia White Eagles. The home side were ahead when Ollie Taseski scored but United hit back with Alex Jones on target. It was end to end football and the hosts regained the lead with top scorer Jacob Wemyss finding the net. But United restored parity with an own goal, but the home side weren’t to be outdone and regained the lead just before half time with Taseski added his second.
United through everything at Cracovia after half time but the home side hung on for a memorable victory. Wemyss said it was a great win. “We had to defended manfully after half time and Kwinana pushed everyone up, including the keeper going up about five times in the last 5-10 minutes,” he said. “We were lucky not to concede, but we defended well and got the result.” United coach Kris Donnell was gracious in defeat. “We throw everything at them in the second half but it wasn’t our day,” he said. “But credit to Cracovia for doing the business in the first half, and defending very well in the second.”
In another upset Division 3 side Olympic Kingsway beat Premier League Ellenbrook United 3-0 at Ellenbrook Sports Hub. Calum How scored a brace, with Daniel Cuticone added the other for a comprehensive win. “The lads bounced back from a difficult result last week really well, and the work rate and effort on Ellenbrook’s hard pitch won us the game,” Sam Ellis said. “It showed our boys that hard work can always get a result and we can beat anyone on our day.” There was no upset at Challenge Reserve with Premier League side Kingsley thrashing South Perth United 14-0. David Ashworth scored four, with Mark King scoring a hat-trick, Jayden Drummond and Lee Thomas two, and others to Josh Waldock, Cameron Bishop and an own goal.
Southern Spirit progressed to the next round after a hard fought 2-1 win against Gosnells City at Walter Padbury Reserve. The visitors opened the scoring with a stunning strike from Jacob Ledo, but Gosnells leveled before half time, with Luke McCord converting a penalty. Both sides had chances to win it but it was the visitors who scored the decisive second, also from the penalty spot, with Matthew D'Antonio keeping his cool to score. “We thought the penalty they scored was a bit soft, but overall it was an even game with both teams having chances,” Gosnells Coach Peter Allen said. “I thought we had the better of the first half, but just couldn’t beat there keeper who was in fine form, but best of luck to them in the cup and for the rest of their season.”
Wembley Downs were taken to extra time by Perth Royals but run out 4-2 winners. Anthony Jones put Wembley ahead, but they then had centre half Juraj Garba sent half and Royals levelled from the spot. Substitute Banin Hashem came on and changed the game and gave Wembley the lead. But the home side pressed late and were rewarded six minutes from time with the equaliser. Wembley took over in extra time and Hashem added his second, and after good combination play between Banin Buic and Ryan Fish ended with Fish scoring to seal the win. Meanwhile Jaguar were made to work hard before beating Curtin University 3-2, with Akuei Guot, Michael Wantee and Gojam Nyuon on target.
Hamersley Rovers eased into the next round after goals from Dave Morris and Mike Howard gave them a 2-0 win against Fraser Park. “It was a solid effort from our boys, we contained their main threats pretty well and had the majority of play and chances on goal,” Rovers’ Joe Wright said. “They are a dangerous team though and you can see why they win so many games. They certainly wouldn’t look out of place in the Premier League.” Leeming Strikers beat Stirling Lions 3-2, with Ben Reaves, David Palin and own goal, Joondalup United moved through after a 4-0 win against Bassendean Caledonian at Beldon Park, Drew Kirkpatrick scoring a brace with others to Andreas Bouzinekis and Joshua Kennedy-Edwards, while Belmont Villa beat North Beach 2-1, with a brace from Ahmed Raheen. Goals from Myo Kyaw and Pum Arthur gave Westnam United a 2-0 win against Emerald at Shelvock Reserve.
In other games East Perth beat Peel United on penalties after the game at Bortolo Reserve, while Perth Hills United beat Wanbro Strikers 3-1 at Harry Riseborough Ground. Ballajura travelled to St Andrews Park and beat Yanchep United 4-0, while Stirling Panthers edged out Fremantle City at Yuluma Reserve. In the final game there was another huge upset with Division 4 side Woodvale FC beating Premier League side Subiaco at Timberland Park. The goal scorers for Woodvale were Steve Vinall and Glen Atkinson with two. “After taking the lead within two minutes of the kick off we then found ourselves 2-1 down early in the second half,” Woodvale Coach Martyn Day said. “But then two quick goals, both from set pieces saw us take a 3-2 lead, which we were able to hold onto for the last 20 minutes for a deserved victory.”
20.5.2018
HEAGNEY AT THE DOUBLE FOR GWELUP
A brace from Gwelup Croatia striker David Heagney saw the State League Division One side produce the biggest upset in the FFA Cup Sixth Round with an extra-time win against NPLWA side Subiaco at Wishart Street on Sunday. Subiaco had led with a first half striker from Josh Booysen, but the former St Johnstone’s striker leveled to send it to extra time and he popped up again to win it. “Obviously it is a massive game for the club, and for us to come back and win it in extra time was a very special day,” Heagney said. “We showed great team spirit and in the end deserve to be in the semi-finals, and it’s always nice to score goals as well, but it was a great team effort.’
Subiaco opened the brighter in front of a good crowd, and player-coach Ian McMurray fired wide with the goal at his mercy, before Jonas Dorling effort forced a good save from Gwelup goalkeeper Riley Stephenson. Their good start was rewarded with the lead on 24 minutes, Manase Abendelwa’s corner was dealt with by Stephenson, and he was made to pay with Booysen firing home.
Gwelup looked to hit back immediately and Victor Brauner effort whistled wide, before winger Isaac Koomson shot flashed across the face of goal. Subiaco almost doubled their before half time, when a defensive error let in Robert Harding, who raced clear, but Stephenson made up for his error for the goal to deny him.
The home side were on the front foot early in the second half and Ryan Montgomery had to be alert to deny Heagney. But on 62 minutes the home side did level, second half substitute Benjamin Kouakou sent Heagney in on goal and the striker finished well past Montgomery much to the delight of the home faithful. Subiaco went close to regaining their lead three minutes later, Jackson Dongray’s long-throw found Booysen, but the winger couldn’t keep his header down. Subiaco were ending the game the better, and Dorling and Harding both went close to winning it so we were off to extra time.
Then 10 minutes into the first period of extra time the home side hit the front. A super through ball from Kouakou sent Heagney clear of the Subiaco off-side trap and he finished clinically past the on-rushing Montgomery. Subiaco pressed late but couldn’t find the equaliser and at the final whistle it was Gwelup celebrating the win. “I couldn’t be happier for the playing group and club to progress into the semifinal,” Gwelup Coach Taki Nicolaidis said. “Once again the boys showed some great character and hunger to get themselves back in the game after being behind at the break, and come away with a much deserved win.”
Gwelup Croatia: GK Riley STEPHENSON, 2 Michael PUGLIESE (18 Isaac NEHEMIE 74’), 4 Cameron YORKE, 5 Kwangmook LIM, 6 Brodie MARTIN (10 Benjamin KOUAKOU 53’), 7 James SAMMUT (17 Sebastian MUNOZ 99’), 9 David HEAGNEY, 11 Isaac KOOMSON, 14 Victor BRAUNER, 16 Stephen O’LEARY, 20 Bobby WILSON - Subs not used: RGK Connor CAMPBELL, 3 Nelson TSHONGO
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 4 Robert HARDING, 5 Manase ABENDELWA, 6 Jackson DONGRAY, 11 Joshua BOOYSEN (7 Leigh MORGAN 75’), 12 Nathan SMITH, 13 Jonas DORLING, 14 Ross JARMAN (8 Jack BARDSLEY 60’), 16 Dean APLEGREN, 17 Alex CASTIELLO, 19 Ian McMurray (2 Jack Andrews 60’) Subs not used: 9 Matthew CLARK, 21 Teophile BROWN - Referee: Michael Jasinski
19.5.2018
ATHENA SPOT ON TO BEAT PERTH
Floreat Athena have come from behind to beat Perth SC 4-3 on penalties in an action packed FFA Cup Sixth Round tie at E&D Litis Stadium on Saturday evening. Richard Howles scored for the visitors 13 minutes from time, and it looked like they had done enough to win it. But a second yellow card to Niccollo Sabatini five minutes from time turned things around, and Floreat levelled four minutes into stoppage time to send the game to extra time.
Both sides had chances to win it in the extra 30 minutes, but it went to penalties, where Floreat prevailed. “We showed great spirit to go right to the death and get the reward to push it to extra time,” Floreat Coach Howard Tweats said. “It was a close game, and we stuck in there and we were disappointed we didn’t kill it in extra-time, but (keeper) Jason (Saldaris) stepped up for us.”
It was a typical quarter-final cup tie, with both sides not giving an inch. Both sides haven’t been in the best of form in the league and first half chances were few and far between. The best for the home side fell to Jon Stynes, whose effort flashed the wrong side of the upright, before Jason Saldaris had to be alert, saving bravely at the feet of Howles.
Jason Saldaris was in splendid form after the break producing a great save to thwart young midfielder Kristian Santich. His Perth counterpart Malek Kuc was also called into action moments later, making smart saves to deny Phil Arnold and Keylun Pollard. But it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 77 minutes, Howles was sent clear with a long ball, before rounding Jason Saldaris and rolling the ball into an empty net from an acute angle.
It looked like Perth would hold on for the win, but the game took another twist on 85 minutes when Sabatini was shown a second yellow card by referee Steven Gregory, and sent off. Floreat pushed men forward, and with Perth missing skipper Adrian Madaschi, they couldn’t hang on to their lead and with the last kick of the game Whitney levelled. Pollard and Dean Evans combined on the edge of the box and Evans played in Whitney to fire home past Kuc.
Both teams had chances to win it in extra-time with Arnold’s header crashed off the crossbar before Jason Saldaris produced a great save to deny Howles. So it went it to penalties, and Jason Saldaris saved from Gustavo Catarcione in the shootout, and Jon Stynes stepped up to seal the tie and set off wild celebrations both on and off the park.
Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 2 Marco SANTALUCIA, 4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 6 Jesse FULLER, 8 Jon STYNES, 10 Calvin WHITNEY, 11 Dennis GALAN, 15 Chris SALDARIS, 17 Dean EVANS, 18 Phil ARNOLD (13 Hamza HINA 109’), 21 Keylun POLLARD - Subs not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 5 Jamie STREET, 12 Declan HUDSON, 20 James OWEN
Perth SC: GK Malek KUC, 2 Alex SILLA, 5 Niccolo SABBATINI, 6 Harley ORR, 10 Nicholas AMBROGIO (9 Gustavo CATARCIONE 91’), 11 Matt MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 14 Kristian SANTICH, 16 Kieran COLWELL, 18 Richard HOWLES, 19 Adam ZIMARINO (20 Paul ZIMARINO 87’) - Subs not used: RGK Daniel PASSARELLI, 7 Aleks JOVIC, 21 George FESTA - Red Cards: Sabatini 85’ - Referee: Steven Gregory
19.5.2018
REDS BRING DOWN THE EAGLES
Armadale moved into the FFA Cup Semi-Final for the first time in their history, after a well-deserved 5-2 win against Dianella White Eagles at Alfred Skeet Reserve. Reds defender Billy Quinncroft opened the scoring early, but Eagles top scorer Angel Andres levelled two minutes before half time. Dannie Richman restored the Reds led in first half stoppage time, before Dhamon Kalamaras made it 2-2 with 20 minutes remaining. But three goals in a nine-minute spell from Ryan Haslett, Josh Kuser and Chris Jackson gave the home side a comfortable win.
“It was a good win for us, but they didn’t make it easy for us,” Quinncroft said. “They were well organised and worked hard as a unit, but I’m glad we had enough quality to pull off the result but it came with a few lumps and bumps. Worse for me as I ended up with a broken nose ha ha. But now we’re in the semifinal so only one win away from getting into the national draw, which would be a massive experience for Armadale.”
The home side made the perfect start and were ahead on 10 minutes. Nathan Costello’s free kick picked out Quinncroft who headed past Joel Driscoll. It was nearly two a couple of minutes later, Josh Kuser cross from out wide found Jackson, but the strike blazed over the top. Dianella lifted and began to take control of the game and they were level in the shadows of half time, Andres finishing well on the turn. But there was still time for Armadale to regain the lead, Charlie Kenna’s cross headed home by Richman.
The second half started on a low key but it was Dianella who started to get in good areas and on 70 minutes they restored parity. Ibrahim Hamad corner was met by substitute Kalamaras who headed home past Sam Hutchings. It looked like a cup shock was on the cards but Armadale had other ideas and they went in front again four minutes later. Jackson laid the ball off to Haslett, who finished at the near post.
Armadale added a fourth four minutes later, Haslett’s raced to the bye line and cut the ball back to Kuser at the back post who scored from close-range. The icing was put on the cake for the home side seven minutes from time, a quick throw in from Kenna sent Jackson in on goal and he finished with aplomb much to the delight of the Armadale faithful. “We had a very makeshift side today so I’m very proud of the players and thought they did very well,” Dianella Coach Robbie Dunn said. “I think we had a chance of winning it at one stage but as we pushed forward Armadale kept punishing us on the break. “We’ve lost five or six players in the last few weeks to injury so we will work with the players we have and see how far we can get in the league.”
Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 2 Joshua KUSER (13 Hasan EL YASSIRI 64’), 3 Delan DE SILVA, 4 Nathan COSTELLO (C), 7 Charlie KENNA, 9 Billy QUINNCROFT, 10 Chris JACKSON, 11 Michael RIZIDIS (22 Ryan HASLETT 61’), 12 Dannie RICHMAN (16 Milan OGNJENOVIC 7’4), 15 Ali GHOLAMI, 21 Beau RAHIM - Subs not used: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 17 James ATKINS
Dianella White Eagles: GK Joel DRISCOLL, 2 Sotiris THEODOSIADES (15 Dhamon KALAMARAS 66’), 3 Spiro NENADIC (7 Yves MWILA 69’), 4 Bojan RADINOVIC (C), 6 Josam MUWOWO, 8 Ibrahim HAMAD, 9 Angel ANDRES, 10 Jose ZUNIGA, 12 Branimic DRAGOJEVIC, 13 Jimmy TABAN, 16 Mordecal APPIAH (11 Komando SIKAZWE 74’) Subs not used: 14 Phil ANGELO, 23 Mackenzie FERGUSON - Referee: Tom Glavovic
19.5.2018
NICOL’S HAT-TRICK SINKS FORRESTFIELD
ECU Joondalup have moved into the FFA Cup Semi-Final after thrashing Forrestfield United 5-0 at the ECU Football Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Sam Pollard opened the scoring before skipper Daryl Nicol took over, bagged a hat-trick before half time. After the break Tom Hough scored his first senior goal for the Jacks to round off the scoring to move them into last four of the FFA Cup in WA.
“Getting to a semi-final of a cup competition is a great feeling, and that was what we focused on this week, and the boys were magnificent today,” Nicol said. “We were clinical and put in a very professional job, and you could tell from the start the lads were up for it and we want to go on and win the cup. I’m delighted to have got the goals today, and it gave us a good cushion at half-time. But it was also good to get a clean sheet today, especially after we copped six against them last time.”
The home side looked switched on early and Nicol’s cross picked out Gordon Smith after only two minutes, but his header was saved by Ben Parry. But on eight minutes their early pressure was rewarded with the lead. A short corner caught Forrestfield napping, Pollard found Nicol on the edge of the box, who gave it back to the youngster, and his shot from the right of the box beat keeper Ben Parry at the near post. It was 2-0 five minutes later, Doyle made a darting run into the box and was brought down by Will Tshubangu and referee Josh Mannella pointed straight to the spot. Nicol stepped up and sent Parry the wrong way to score from the resulting penalty.
ECU were totally dominating and it wasn’t long before they added a third. Shane Cassidy’s ball was flicked on by Doyle, and Nicol finished clinically past Parry. Then in the shadows of half time Nicol completed his hat-trick. A great through ball from Doyle sent Nicol clear and the Jacks skipper lobbed the on-coming keeper to round a great first half for himself and the home side.
ECU went close to a fifth early in the second half, Pollard and Doyle linked up well, and Pollard’s shot from the edge of the box flashed wide.
Forrestfield went close to pulling one back on the hour, Kristian Despotovski played in Jamie Duncan, but his shot was saved low by Johnny Perkins. Moments later Sani Sinclair’s long-range shot flashed wide of the target. The home side still looked dangerous going forward, and three minutes from time they added a fifth. Nicol’s corner was met by Hough, his first effort was well saved by Parry, but the teenager defender made no mistake with the rebound. “I think they had a point to prove today after what we did to them in the league. They started well and got the early goals and it was tough from there on in,” Forrestfield skipper Rhys Loxley said. "We had a few senior players out today but it was good to blood a few youngsters. But we now turn our attention to league matters, which is our main priority, and staying in the NPL, so we will put all our focus into that.”
ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 2 Cian HIRRELL (12 Ryan MCDARBY 69’), 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 6 Tom HOUGH, 8 Josh WHITMORE (18 Declan HUGHES 60’), 9 Daryl NICOL (C), 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Paddy DOYLE, 13 Sam POLLARD (7 Cameron MURRAY 79’) – Subs not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 17 Lukas DE LIMA
Forrestfield United: GK: Benjamin PARRY, 2. Will TSHUBANGA, 4 Jamie DUNCAN, 5 Mitchell NORMAN, 6 Kristian DESPOTOVSKI, 7 Mitchell CROCKER, 8 Josh APPLEBY, 9 Hasani SINCLAIR (10 Ben ROGERS 73’), 12 Callum DOBBS, 14 Antoine LEMARIE, 23 Rhys LOXLEY (3 Leslie MARI 60’) – Subs not used: RGK Luke MARTINO, 16 Sammy ATTA – Referee: Josh Mannella
18.5.2018
DUNN LEAVES HIS ROLE AT DIANELLA
Former Socceroo Robbie Dunn has stood down head coach of Dianella White Eagles, due to work commitments. Dunn joined the Eagles in 2016 and helped them avoid relegation and has took them on two good FFA Cup runs, but he said it's in the best interest of both parties to move on. “Due to increasing business pressures I have to stand down as head coach of the Dianella White Eagles Soccer Club effective immediately,” Dunn said.
“It is something I don’t want to do but as I would be away for eight games and 17 training sessions between now and the end of the season, so it is in the best interest of the players and the club that I stand aside now and let another coach come in and give him a decent chance to stamp his mark in the job.
“I came to the club at the end of 2016 to help my good mate Vesko try and avoid relegation and we achieved that. Vesko convinced me to stay on last year and with his help and my assistant Steve Huxtable we turned the club around and with the hard work of a newly assembled amazing playing group Dianella again became a force to be reckoned with.
“I will miss the players and the great supporters who have been nothing but terrific with me during my tenure. There is a very good core of players and I know that it is only a matter of time before they come good and start winning again. I wish Vesko, the players, the new coach and the club all the very best and am sure that they will continue to be a big part of WA soccer.”
18.5.2018
JACKS SIGN STALLARD
ECU Joondalup have added experienced defender Kieron Stallard to their squad, after the Scotsman joined from Cockburn City. The 28-year-old played for Falkirk in the Scottish Premier League, after coming through the youth ranks, before signing for Airdrieonians for two seasons before coming to WA, where he is has played for Balcatta and Cockburn. He also joined the A-League Central Coast Mariners Academy side in the NSW Premier League in 2013.
Stallard said he’s delighted to head to the Campus. “Dale got in contact late last week and said he was after a defender to add to the squad and asked if I was interested at all, and I jumped at the chance,” he said. “Whether I signed or not the quality is already there to be pushing for the title, but hopefully I can contribute to an improved second half of the season on the park and off it.
“The ambition of the club is fantastic but I’m a big believer in just approaching each game at a time in the correct manner rather than looking too far ahead, as everyone’s seen this season, if you’re not 100% up for the fight each game you will drop points. So the way I see it, pushing for the title should be at the back of our minds, winning the next match each week should be the only focus.”
Jacks head coach Dale McCulloch Stallard is a great fit for the club. “We’re delighted to have signed Kieron, he’s a great defender and with injuries within our squad in the first half of the season, he was the one we wanted and the committee at the club have back me, and to get him on board has given us a huge boost for the second half of the season,” McCulloch said.
“He brings vast experience in the game, after a number of season’s playing in Scotland, and has shown in his time in the NPL he is a great organiser and leader and will add some strength to our back four, and I’m delighted to have him.”
Stallard said the decision to leave Cockburn was hard, but he believes it’s the best for him going forward. “To be honest I loved it at Cockburn and it wasn’t an easy decision at all to leave. They are a fantastic club who are doing very well and I think a lot of clubs should be looking at how they go about their business on the park at all levels,” he said. “They have a very close group of lads and have Scotty Miller as manager, who is a mate as well as the coach. I wasn’t looking for a move but I live in Wanneroo and when ECU contacted me I had to have a good think about it as it’s an opportunity that probably wouldn’t have come my way again. For me the ambition of the club, welcoming atmosphere around the place, and the quality that’s already here in the squad made my mind up.”
The defender will fit in well and he is hoping to bring success to the Campus. “I bring a lot of organisation to the team, a voice who will try to encourage and organize the boys on the park, though some might say I just moan,” he joked. “I always try have a laugh and a joke as the most important thing for me is about having a laugh and enjoying it, and when everyone’s enjoying it the good results usually follow. So hopefully I can slot in easily with the lads and hit the ground running.”
18.5.2018
TITLE IN YEAR ONE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION SAYS POPOVIC
New Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic is confident he can reboot the club and revitalise it, building a side that A-League rivals will fear. He expects to give the competition a shake next season but is looking for sustained success and will demand consistency, something missing in a club that has made just one Grand Final in 13 A-League seasons.
“It’s not easy to have success but the driving force is to be the best,” Popovic said. “We want to win things. I believe we can be successful in the first year. We’re not going to put a time frame on when that will happen but we want to be a team that can be challenging for honours in year one. And why not? This isn’t just about ‘can we have one good season and tick a box’.”
“This is about building a team and a club that can be successful over a long period. I don’t think the team will be, in the first year, exactly where I want the team to be, but I’m not going to make an excuse and say ‘OK, let’s wipe the first year and say we need time’. We have to have a desire to win, to be a team that people fear in the west and be a team that can get points away from home, which has been a problem.”
Popovic, who has signed a three-year deal at Glory, said he will bring a new, faster brand. “We want to win first and foremost. We want it to be exciting, yes, but we also want to win games,” he said. “You will see a difference in terms of the speed which we play. We want to play quick, we want to play aggressive. To do that, players need to be at a certain level consistently.”
Eleven players from last season are already signed and Popovic said his phone had run hot since his appointment late last week. One player on the radar is fringe Socceroo Craig Goodwin, who has been released by Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam. Popovic, who has spoken to current players and potential recruits, said he wants “good players, determined players, players that want success, players that want to get better”.
18.5.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR CUP - ROUND TWO – PREVIEW
The league takes a break this weekend, and the Belt Up Amateur Cup takes centre stage. The Footballwa.net ‘Match of the Round takes us to Walter Padbury Reserve, where Division One side Gosnells City host Premier Division side Southern Spirit (2.30pm). It’s not been the best of starts for The Spirit and they sit bottom of the Premier League table, and have conceded 29 goals in their six games, but they will be hoping things change, and a good cup win on Sunday could be the start. Standing in their way is Peter Allen’s Gosnells, who sit third in Division One and have only lost once this season. City were promoted last season just edging out Ballajura to the title on goal difference, but while Ballajura have struggled, Gosnells have continued to improve and Allen said its business as usual for the players. “It’s been a great start to the season, and we have gone into the new division setting no targets,” he explained. “We are just keeping it like the last few seasons in playing our way enjoying are football and fearing nobody.”
Gosnells reached the second round after a 2-0 win at Quinns in the first round, with Jason McGovern opening the scoring, before a last minute volley from Chris O’Donnell sealed the win. City will have captain Ale Paredes back for Sundays game, his first start for the year in midfield after injury, and he will form a good partnership alongside the inform Luke McCord, both very creative players, along with his rock at the back Blayne Upton, and Allen believes if they all fire they are a big chance. “We’ve seen they (Spirit) haven’t had the best of starts but there still a Premier Division team and we won’t take them lightly,” Allen explained. “But like I said we don’t fear anyone and will give it our best shot. The lads are pumped for this game, and we have a shocking record in the cup and haven’t been past round two in 12 years, so we aim to put that right this Sunday.”
Defending cup winners Kwinana United begin the defence of their title when they visit the Cracovia Sporting Complex to take on Cracovia White Eagles. United Coach Kris Donnell said last season’s win in the final was a fantastic day for the club. “It was a really special day for everyone involved at the club,” he said. “The boys put everything in to every game in that cup run and to get the reward at the end was a great feeling.” The Eagles are currently second in Division Two and Donnell said they be a tough opponent. “They (Cracovia) are going to be a tricky side they look well organised and are playing well,” he said. “So none of the players are expecting an easy ride, and know it’s a cup battle. Our best performance in a long time was last weekend so were hoping to carry that into this game.”
Another Premier Division side with a tricky tie is Kingsley FC, who visit Challenger Reserve to take on Division One side South Perth United. Kingsley were surprisingly well beaten by Jaguar on Sunday in the league, and Coach Steven Dimitrovich said he didn’t see it coming. “It was a game to forget alright, especially when playing with 10 men for 88 minutes after having one of our players sent off for been last man,” he said. “But having said that our lads responded quiet well and hit the front, but in the end Jags deserved their win and we just move on and leave that game in the past.” Dimitrovich said Sunday will be another tough test and he’s sure South Perth will be up for the game. “We know little about them, so it will be a game that we need to be switched on for, because as we know from last season cup games can throw up some big surprises and we don’t want to be on the end of it like we were last season,” he said. “We know that they’ll be up for it as with them playing a Premier Division side they will want to take a big scalp, but I’ll be looking for a big response from my lads this week to show that last week was a one off for us.”
In other games (2.30pm unless stated) Joondalup United (Div 1) v Bassendean Caledonian (Div 4), Peel United (Div 2) v East Perth, Ellenbrook United (Premier) v Kingsway Olympic (Div 3), Fraser Park (Div 3) v Hamersley Rovers (Premier), Belmont Villa (Premier) v North Beach (Div 2), Perth Hills United (Div 2) v Warnbro Strikers (Div 1), Stirling Lions (Div 3)v Leeming Strikers (Premier), Westnam United (Div 3) v Emerald FC (Div 2), Yanchep United (Div 4) v Ballajura (Div 1), Woodvale (Div 4) v Subiaco (Premier), Stirling Panthers (Div 1) v Fremantle City (Div 4), Curtin University (Div 2) v Jaguar FC (Premier)- 4.30pm.
In the final game last season’s Premier Division Champions Wembley downs head to JA Lee Reserve to take on Perth Royals. The Royals were relegated from the Premier Division last season and are currently fifth on the table, and beat Lynwood United Div 3 in the last round, while Wembley edged past Division Two side Floreat Athena 1-0, with a goal from Jason Trepevski. Wembley Coach Sully Sullivan said they were made to earn it. “It was a difficult game for us although we had all the possession we couldn’t break down a stubborn Floreat,” he explained. “But saying that we looked comfortable throughout the tie and deserved the win.” Sullivan said Sunday will be another tough game as all clubs lift for cup games, especially against Premier Division sides. “Sunday will be another tricky tie as we don’t know what to expect from division one sides,” he said. “It’s as close as the Premier Division with some tough sides but we approach it like any game, with a game plan we worked on during training. We had two tough sessions and we hope to get the job done on Sunday.”
18.5.2018
WESTFIELD FFA CUP - ROUND SIX – PREVIEW
The FFA Cup Preliminary Round Six WA takes centre stage this weekend with four intriguing ties across the metropolitan area. We sat down this week to chat to the coaches from the eight clubs to get their thoughts on the games.
ECU Joondalup v Forrestfield United – Saturday May 19 – Kick-off 3pm
It’s an all NPLWA clash in the opening game, with ECU Joondalup entertaining Forrestfield United at the ECU Football Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Jacks, who have won the State League Cup on two occasions, in 1998 and 2002, moved through to the sixth round with a big win at fellow NPLWA side Inglewood United, with Lucas De Lima, Cian Hirrell and Adam Tong scoring before a 5-0 win against UWA-Nedlands in the last round, with Daryl Nicol bagging a hat-trick.
Assistant Coach David Tough said both wins were clinical, and he will be looking for more of the same on Saturday. “I thought we were great at Inglewood in round four, and it was probably one of the best performances of the season, while the UWA game could have been a banana skin, but we scored at the right times and won comprehensively in the end,” he explained. “The club haven’t had a good cup run in recent years, and we spoke at the start of the season that we wanted to go deep into the competition, and we are looking to progress on Saturday.”
Tough saw at first-hand what Saturday’s opponents (Forrestfield) can do in the league four weeks ago, when they won at the Campus 6-1, but he said he’s hoping Saturday will a different story. “In the league game at our place, it wasn’t our best performance, which is not like us,” he said. “Take nothing away from Forrestfield, they deserved the win, but our performance on the day was not acceptable, and we will be doing all we can to turn that around. “We have focused this week on progression in the cup, but once the whistle goes, we will be back to our main focus, the league, with tough trip to Sorrento, but we are gradually getting our full squad back, and once we do I believe we will push up the table.”
Forrestfield United are still to win the State League Cup, but under the guidance of Rod Banjac are producing some good performance. They reached this stage with a 3-0 win at South West Phoenix in round four, with Rhys Loxley bagging a brace, before they travelled to Joondalup United in the last round and a double from skipper Liam Merigan helped them to a 4-1 win.
Banjac said his side have adapted well in the NPL and their performances in the cup has also been pleasing. “Yes we’ve had two good wins but more importantly very satisfied with the way we played in both games while taking full advantage of our chances,” he said. “But our U20’s have also reached the quarter finals of their cup competition and although the club is proud of the achievement it brings added pressure to the squad which is stretched beyond limits while still acclimatizing to high demands of the NPL.”
The Hartfield Park club have performed well in the NPL, and Banjac said the cup is a distraction for his players, but he would have liked a week off to get his players back to shape, with so many injuries. “The FFA Cup is special, and without saying all players love taking part with a possibility of playing against some of the A League giants firmly in their sights,” he explained. “But to be completely honest I would prefer a week off, as we are on the back of an extremely busy three week schedule and we as a club are nowhere near the situation to be able to challenge on both fronts, but that being said we’ve embraced the competition and we’ll doing all we can to progress.”
Saturday’s opponents will be smarting after United’s big win in the league, but Banjac knows they will be up for this one, but we said the club would love to move through and get a packed house at home. “It’s been our dream to bring the FFA Cup semifinals to Hartfield Park but we are realistic and very much aware of challenges associated with facing ECU after giving them a hiding last time round on their own turf,” he said. “They are a genuine title contender with a great memory, and we are expecting them to come out all guns blazing but we will be up to the challenge while focusing on good football.” – Referee Josh Mannella
Armadale v Dianella White Eagles – Saturday May 19 – Kick off 3pm
Dianella White Eagles make the trip to Alfred Skeet Reserve to take on Armadale on Saturday afternoon as underdogs, but they have been in that position over the last three years, and have beaten a number of NPL sides, so it should be an entertaining game. Armadale have had two hard fought wins to reach this stage. They edged out a gallant Rockingham City 3-2 in round four, coming from 2-0 down to win, with Ryan Haslett scoring a late winner, before a brace from Chris Jackson gave them another 3-2 win at Balcatta in round five. Reds Head Coach John O’Reilly said in both games his players fought it out well, especially coming from behind at Rockingham. “The last two rounds have been hard fought affairs, and to come from behind in both games showed the character we have in our side,” he said. “It’s also been great to see the lads willing to go that extra yard to get the job done.”
Armadale are yet to win the State League Cup, but O’Reilly said they will be doing all they can to get into the Semifinals. “We’re delighted to be in the sixth round, and it shows having a good cup run highlights the higher level of ambition that this Armadale team have,” he said. “We all know were two games away to the National games, and we’ll fight tooth and nail to get to the finals and an opportunity to get our day in the sun on a national level.”
O’Reilly is well aware Dianella have some dangerous players, but he is confident they can get the job done on Saturday. “They (Dianella) always have the capacity to get a win, they have some strong players in there group with ability and experience, but so do we,” he said. “Over the last couple of seasons we have been learning our trade, and know how to get a win or grind out a result if we have to. But it will be a tough game, but to get this far and beyond in the cup it is expected.”
Dianella have been the cup giant-killers in recent seasons, and reached the Semi-Finals last season, and beat ECU Joondalup and Cockburn City along the way. They have played three games to get to this stage, and started with a big win against Curtin University, with Angel Andres scoring four, then they beat Canning City 5-1 with Andres bagging a brace, before beating Swan United in the last round 6-1, the Spanish striker (Andres) scoring another hat-trick, with Jose Zuniga scoring a brace. Dianella Head Coach Robbie Dunn has been pleased the way his side have progressed in the competition. “We have done well scoring 18 goals and the lads really have played well,” he said. “We all know any cup game can be in the balance as history shows, so it win well was very pleasing.”
Dunn said last season’s cup run was great for the club and their passionate supporters, especially after flirting with relegation to division two the year before. “Last year we had a great run and were very unlucky when injuries and suspensions went against us in the semifinals against Sorrento where we lost a game that we shouldn't have,” he explained. “It was a good run especially as Dianella were very close to being relegated the year before, so it helped the club, the supporters and the players tremendously, and we get some well-deserved self-respect and belief back.”
The coach said they head to Armadale as underdogs, but he said they are looking forward to the game. “We see ourselves as hugely being the underdogs as Armadale have been doing well in the NPL lately, and to be honest we have not been at our best leading up to this game,” Dunn said. “The players know that they are up against a tough side and the game will be physical and again injuries have not been our best friend. But saying that this is the semifinals of the cup and if our players get focused and committed then it will be a very good contest indeed. Our style of play is very much different to Armadale and I think it is going to be down to which team wants the win the most that will come out on top.” – Referee Tom Glavovic
Floreat Athena v Perth SC – Saturday May 19 – Kick-off 7pm
It’s another all NPLWA clash at E&D Litis Stadium on Saturday evening when Floreat Athena entertain Perth SC. Floreat Athena haven’t had the best of starts to the NPL season, but they have had two hard fought wins in the FFA Cup to reach this stage. The travelled to Division Two side Balga in round four and came home with a 1-0 win, with Jon Stynes scoring the winner late. In the last round they headed to Bayswater City and ran out 2-1 winners, with Dean Evans scoring a last minute winner. Head Coach Howard Tweats said both games were tight affairs, but they fought it out and got the right results. “They were two very hard fought wins for different reasons, Balga away on a restricted size pitch with a thin squad was a potential banana skin but resilience against a spirited side showed the players commitment to dig in and work for the victory,” he explained.
“After victory over Bayswater in the League fixture leading up to the cup game, for the first time in the season we had more than 10 of the senior players available for selection and proved our position in the league is not a true reflection of our capabilities, in a game which mirrored the game previous the players were prepared to take the game to Bayswater in the cup and another tight bruising affair saw the group match the League leaders and hold their nerve to take the game late on. On reflection I think the two victories were deserved. The two performances set a benchmark to exceed if we are to overcome Perth.”
The cup run has given some confidence to Floreat and Tweats hope it can help then in the league, but he knows Perth will be a tough challenge. “The cup has served as a distraction from our league programme, and the longer we are involved in the competition will instill confidence in the group which will hopefully transfer into our League campaign in the second half of the season,” he said. “Athena-Perth fixtures historically are always close affairs being the 'Vincent' derby, I really don't expect this being any different. Perth returned to winning ways Saturday so they will be buoyed. Ramon has the edge with the depth to his squad, so he'll be set up and the team well prepped as always. Collectively we know we have the personnel that on their day can roll any team, so come Saturday if our Goddess 'Athena' bestows a healthy and generous squad to us we shall be having 'A Right Old Go'.”
Perth reached this stage after a 4-0 win at Ashfield in round four, with Matthew Milenkovic scoring a brace, before they played a seven goal thriller at Sorrento in the last round, with Paul Zimarino scoring a hat trick in the 4-3 win. Perth Head Coach Ramon Falzon said the cup run has been pleasing, and both games so far have been tests for his side. “It was not an easy game against Ashfield as the 4-0 score might suggest. Our squad remained patient for lengthy periods while waiting for the right opportunities to strike, but once we established the 3-0 lead our job became easier and we focused on managing the time left so as to retain the clean sheet,” he explained. “At Sorrento, we dominated for lengthy periods and took a 4-0 lead on the hour, and the score line could have even been bigger because we missed some clear cut goal scoring opportunities. Typical Sorrento, they never give up and in a do or die match, they pushed hard in the last 20 minutes to get back in the game. They scored two quick goals just before the 75th minute mark, so we had to absorb the pressure to come away with the win.”
Perth have won the State League Cup on 11 occasions and Falzon said it would be nice to claim another one as the club are celebrating their 70th anniversary. “A good cup run means a lot to the Club in a special year like this one, and as coaches, we are proud of the improvement shown by the playing group and that we were competitive from the beginning till the end of the season in the last two years,” he said. “It has been great to win two trophies in the last two years and we would like to add to that tally, however, we do not focus our attention on winning a trophy because we have zero control on it. We focus our efforts on what we can affect, being our performance in the next game against Floreat.”
Falzon said despite Floreat’s indifferent stat in the NPL, he is expecting a tight encounter on Saturday evening. “It is surprising to see Floreat in this situation because in my opinion they have a very strong squad, and they have recently displayed their strength when they won two games against Bayswater away from home,” he said. “I’m expecting Floreat to come out showing enormous fighting spirit to battle it out from the first till the last minute. We have been experiencing a number of injuries, mainly collision and impact injuries, to key players and this doesn’t help, because it becomes very hard to gain consistency in the starting eleven. That being said, it still does not shift our focus from expecting a solid performance from our players, no matter who goes on the park on Saturday.” – Referee Steven Gregory
Gwelup Croatia v Subiaco – Sunday May 20 – Kick-off 2.30pm
The final game of the round takes us to the Croatian Sports Complex – Wishart Street on Sunday afternoon where State League Division One leaders Gwelup Croatia host Subiaco. The home side entered the competition in round three and overcame Quinns FC 3-1, with Gavin Knights scoring a brace, before a trip to Kelly Park to take on Sunday Premier League side Kwinana United and came home with an 8-0 win with Noah Shamaki scoring four. That set up a home clash with NPL high flyers Cockburn City, and goals from David Heagney and Isaac Koomson in extra time gave Taki Nicolaidis’ side a 3-1 win. The coach said all the games were tough, and he was really pleased with the performance against the Cockerels. “All three games have been challenges we’ve had to overcome to get to this stage with the Cockburn game by far the most challenging,” he said. “To concede so late in the game (for them to draw level), and then find the strength to win it in extra time showed a lot of character from the group.”
Gwelup have had a good record in the cup in recent seasons, and reached the semi-finals in 2015. They beat then NPL side Mandurah City in the Sixth Round, before losing to Perth SC, and Nicolaidis said another good cup run will give the club a huge boost. “A good cup run is a reward for the hard work that the playing group have been putting in this season,” he said. “A good cup run will also be a big boost for the clubs profile and ambition to improve.”
Nicolaidis said cup games are one off games and they must be switched on from the first whistle against a good Subiaco side. “Previous form goes out the window in one off cup games, and I know Subiaco have shown their ability by making the NPL Night Series Final this year, along with winning 11 league games last year,” he said. “We are under no illusion that we will need to be at our very best if we are to progress into the next stage.”
Subiaco reached the sixth round after a long trip to Busselton and came home with a 5-1 win, with David Perich scoring a hat-trick. They then entertained fellow NPLWA side Stirling Lions at Rosalie Park, with goals to Alex Castiello, Perich and Rob Harding. Subiaco Head Coach Ian McMurray said both were hard games, but they managed to get the job done. “Busselton was a long drive and a tough match in the heat, and they made it tough for us but eventually we came through,” he said. “Against Stirling we played well, scoring some good goals. They beat us narrowly the week before which was disappointing but was good to see us perform as we did to continue into the next round.”
Subiaco began the season well reaching the Night Series Final, before losing to Floreat Athena. McMurray said the league is important for the club, but a good cup run I great for the players. “Obviously our league position come the end of the year is most important but we all want to have the opportunity to play in cup finals so having a run is great,” he said. “But we know we are only two wins away from this, so the boys are looking forward to the match and who knows what might happen.”
McMurray believes Sunday’s game is a tough task, but he said they have prepared well and ready for the challenge. “Gwelup have a very good team, full of players who have or could easily play NPL,” he explained. “They are doing well in the league and I’m sure they will be looking to get another win under their belts. Taki has done a great job with them and it will be a tough challenge for us and we realise we will need to be at our best to give us a chance of making the semi-finals. Our players know what's required and will be prepared and ready for the match on Sunday.” – Referee Michal Jasinski
17.5.2018
ROTHERHAM’S WILLIAMS PLAYING LONG GAME
His name never figured in Bert van Marwijk’s World Cup calculations - but Australian attacker Ryan Williams is banking on promotion to the Championship propelling him into Asian Cup contention. The 24-year old is just one game away from a League One play-off final against Shrewsbury at Wembley later this month.
And the uncapped Williams views a Socceroos breakthrough as the next logical next step in his career trajectory. But first there’s the obstacle of Scunthorpe United to be overcome in Thursday’s play-off second leg, with Williams’ Rotherham heading on to home turf at the New York Stadium with the tie poised at 2-2.
The Millers are looking to boomerang straight back to English football’s second tier after last year’s relegation woes. And Williams - who took out man of the match honours in the first leg - has been a big part of their resurgence, with eight assists and four goals from his 43 league appearances.
“There’s still a lot of work to do but we’re determined to finish off what we’ve started this season,” Williams said. “Obviously going up was always the goal having had a taste of the Championship with Barnsley. It would mean so much to the town and the fans, especially after the disappointment of last season.”
Williams feels a move into the Championship would put him in the sights of national team selectors. “Going back up a level would put me in contention, and I’d live to be a part of Graham Arnold’s plans for the Asian Cup (in January),” he said. “I just have to keep knocking on the door and hopefully my chance will come.”
The key for Williams, who has a year left on his Millers deal, has been an injury-free season. It has allowed him to flourish playing on either the left or right wing under coach Paul Warne as Rotherham became the division’s third top scorers on the way to finishing fourth.
16.5.2018
FERGUSON JOINS QUINNS AS NEW COACH
Quinns FC announced the appointment of former Perth Glory senior coach Ian Ferguson as the new man in charge of the State League Division Two side. Ferguson represented Scotland eleven times during his successful playing career and scored the winning goal for St Mirren in the 1987 Scottish Cup Final before moving to Rangers in 1988 where he played for twelve years. Ferguson moved to become the assistant coach at the Perth Glory in 2010 and became the senior coach later in the year. He guided the Glory to the runners-up position of the A-League in season 2011/12 when they reached the Grand Final.
Quinns are currently in seventh position, and Ferguson's first game in charge will be away to Murdoch University Melville next Friday night.
16.5.2018
POPOVIC DUE TO ARRIVE IN THE WEST
Talks with Diego Castro about his future and a review of Perth Glory's salary cap sit at the top of incoming coach Tony Popovic's to-do list. The Asian Champions League winner arrives in Perth today to begin his tenure of the A-League club.
Popovic has plenty on his plate, with the number of players signed up for the season in single figures. "It's something we need to address," Popovic said. "I'm going over on Wednesday to have a closer look at the details of everything in terms of how the club's run on and off the park."
"We have several players we can bring in and possibly more. It all depends on what we have remaining in the salary cap. This is certainly a challenge for us but there are opportunities to bring in fresh players, players have that hunger and desire to make Perth Glory great again."
Among those contracted for next season are Andy Keogh, Chris Harold, Liam Reddy, Neil Kilkenny and Shane Lowry. Popovic said there were no imminent arrivals at Glory and that he would meet Spanish midfielder Castro and owner Tony Sage this week to discuss future plans.
14.5.2018
NEW GLORY BOSS PIGNATA TELLS SAGE TO SPLASH THE CASH
Perth Glory owner Tony Sage will need to spend the club’s entire salary cap if he wants success, says new chief executive Tony Pignata. Last season the club had a small A-League squad with salaries well below the current cap of $2.928 million.
“To be successful in this league you need to spend up to the salary cap,” said Pignata. “I haven’t really sat down and talked and worked it out with Tony, but my role is to make sure we get the best available squad within the salary cap. There are nine or 10 players to sign but it’s truly about seeing what players are available.”
Pignata said the ultimate call on players would sit with new coach Tony Popovic. “I’m sure Tony is already working on players he wants,” Pignata said. “Ultimately it’s going to be Popa’s call, who he wants and how he wants it. To have a player outside that salary cap has to be decided by Tony and what player he may want, whether it’s a striker, a midfielder or defender is up to him.”
Pignata, who was confirmed to take over from out-going chief executive officer Peter Filopoulos on Friday, said he was only aware of rumours that Glory had snared Popovic when he accepted the role at Perth. “It’s a fantastic appointment,” he said. “Perth has really made a splash and I’m looking forward to working with him to bring success to Perth Glory.
“It is a chance to really push forward. I know what it takes. I know what needs to be done. I’ve been involved with Wellington Phoenix and five years at Sydney FC. I’m sure we can deliver the success that Perth really craves. I’m privileged to be here. It’s a fantastic opportunity and I’m looking forward to my next chapter.”
Pignata joins Glory with a decorated resume. He was at the helm of Sydney between 2012 and 2017 during which they claimed the A-league Premiership and Championship. Prior to that, he was Wellington Phoenix’s inaugural chief executive (2007-2010) after filling the same position at Football Federation Victoria. He will take up his new role with Glory early next month.
14.5.2018
WILLIAMS ADMITS ‘STRANGE FEELING’ GOT VICTORY OVER THE LINE
Melbourne Victory defender Rhys Williams says there was a strange feeling of optimism at the club leading into the A-League finals series. Victory were crowned 2017/18 A-League champions last weekend after defeating Newcastle Jets 1-0 in the Grand Final.
The club didn’t have the greatest of start to the season but came good when it mattered most. “We knew we had it in us, but it just never came out,” said Williams, whose team finished the regular season in fourth spot before downing Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets in finals series.
“We went out on a great run in the middle of the season, it just died off a bit and then we picked it up towards the end again. Going into all three (finals) games, we knew we were going to win. It’s a strange feeling, I haven’t had it much as a professional, but you could feel the mood in the camp was unbelievable.”
Victory’s Championship triumph did not come without controversy with the Video Assisted Referee failing to rule out Kosta Barbarouses’ match-deciding offside goal. Football Federation Australia conceded the following morning that a technological error led to the goal being allowed to stand.
“No one is thinking about it anymore, we’ve got these (medals) around our necks and that’s the most important thing,” Williams said. “We felt good going into the night, we felt amazing and prepared well as normal. We went in with high spirits and it showed.”
Williams is one of Victory’s most experienced players having captained English club Middlesbrough and also donned the colours of Burnley, Charlton Athletic and Perth Glory. The defender could be forgoven for contemplating a return to England, however, he says he has no intention of leaving the A-League.
“You never cancel anything out, I feel like I left England and Europe on bad terms, so if something did come up you never know,” Williams admitted. “I’m not actively looking to move, I love it here, this is the biggest club, I’ve already captained them and we have a trophy, so why wouldn’t I stay?
"Then again, if something pops up and there’s unfinished business, who knows? Right now, I’m extremely happy here and I’ve got another year, so we’ll see how that goes. I enjoyed every minute, I missed a few games through suspension. Leroy George is a deserved winner of the Victory Medal, he had a great season and he helped us through the tough times.”
13.5.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND SIX – REVIEW
It was a weekend of surprises in week six of the Belt up Amateur League Premier Division, with the top two teams both going down. The biggest upset came at Herb Graham Recreation Centre where Jaguar FC thrashed a ten man Kingsley 5-1. The home side were on the front foot from the first whistle and when Michael Wantee raced clear he was dragged back by Brett Cutting and the defender was sent off after only two minutes. But the ten men hit the front when Sean Johnson raced clear of a static Jags defence and lobbed the on-coming keeper. But the lead didn’t last long, Juma Wade on target. The Jags had the ball in the net moments later, Wantee scoring but the goal was disallowed. But they did take the lead before half time, Wantee was brought down in the box and he picked himself up to send the keeper the wrong way from the resulting penalty.
In the second half the home side took control, and Nasir Komi made it 3-1, and a couple minutes later Wantee and Komi added their second goals giving Chol Kong’s a fantastic victory. “I was proud of how the lads went about their business to today, and beating one of the favorites for the title,” he said. “Last week against Wembley we were unlucky not come with a point, the lads did well but didn’t take our chances. They (Kingsley) are great side, and even with a man down, they played really well."
The league leaders were also beaten, 2-1 against North Perth United at Woodville Reserve. It was Leeming who started the better but were unable to find the crucial opener. Paul Gabel almost put the home side ahead on 25 minute but his close-range header flashed wide. Leeming keeper Jordan Jones nearly handed North Perth the opener when his poor clearance went straight to Emmon Kelly near the half way line, and his first time shot saw Jones scramble back and tap the ball to safety to ensure the game remained scoreless at half-time.
Brad North almost snatched the lead for Leeming on 63 minute when he found space inside the box but he could only send his shot wide. But on 76 minutes North Perth broke the deadlock, Thiery Berard’s free-kick was cleared by the Leeming defence but the ball was whipped across the face of the goal before rebounding off a couple of players out to an unmarked James Steedman who finished low past Jones. It was 2-0 on 82 minutes, Steedman crossed to the back post and Gabel made a gut busting run into the box and headed home at the back post, much to the delight of the home faithful on the hill.
“It was a physical game in terms of intensity on the ball from both sides, with very few clear cut chances at either end however late on we got presented with two and took them,” North Perth Coach Alex Carter said. “It was how a football game between two good sides should be played. The other positive thing was that we’ve brought on two subs in the 65th minute and they’ve helped change the game. “
Belmont Villa closed the gap on the top two after a 2-0 win against UWA-Nedlands at Gerry Archer Sports Complex. They hit the front after the break, midfielder Ahmed Raheen shot was well saved but James Fay fired home the rebound. They made sure of the points with Raheen firing home at the back post from a Paul McCormack corner. “It was tough hard fought game against a well organised UWA team,” Subiaco Coach Phil Weall said “But credit to the players for bouncing back after last week’s loss, it was a good team performance.”
Wembley Downs travelled to Rosalie Park to take on Subiaco and came home with a 2-2 draw. The visitors were ahead when Nico Riveros pouncing on a Subiaco mistake to round the keeper to score. But Subiaco were level in the shadows of half time, Ian McCollum got on the end of Paddy Begley’s free kick to send the teams in level at the break. Wembley regained the lead after the break, and error from the Subiaco keeper allowed Riveros to tap home into an empty net. But Subiaco hit back late to restore parity, Kevin Beattie put a through ball to Paul Sopp who calmly slotted the ball in the net. “Overall a bad performance from my lads we just never got going all game,” Wembley Coach Sully Sullivan said. “I think Subiaco deserve credit as they battled all game and scored with their last attack, so it’s back to the training pitch for us and hopefully a response next game.”
In other games Hamersley Rovers beat Southern Spirit 3-1 at Carine Open Space, while Kwinana United beat Ellenbrook United at the Ellenbrook Sports Hub. Lee bates scored first with nice build up play in the first half, while they sealed the win with a 25-yard cracker from Fraser Marr. Ellenbrook were reduced to ten men late in the game, with a horrendous challenge on Kwinana’s Alan Benson knocking him into the concrete footing and he will be out for 6 to 8 weeks with a wrist fracture and back injury.
12.5.2018
NINKOVIC WINS IT FOR BAYSWATER
Bayswater City maintained top spot on the NPL-WA table after a hard fought 1-0 win against ECU Joondalup at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday afternoon. The only goal of the game came early, with Luka Ninkovic heading home Arron Maplestone’s cross at the back post after only two minutes. But it was the visitors who dominated late, but they couldn’t breach at back four, superbly lead by skipper Trent Kay. “It was a tough game today, we got the early goal, but I thought we defended really well to hold on to the lead,” Ninkovic said. “I was happy to get the winner, a great ball in from Arran the defender hesitated and I managed to get in front of him, so considering we had the bare eleven out there today it was a great win.”
The home side made the perfect start and were ahead on two minutes. Maplestone raced down the right and whipped in a great cross to the back post, and Ninkovic gambled, and got in front of his marker, and powered a header past Johnny Perkins. The young striker went close again 10 minutes later, but this time his shot from the edge of the penalty area flashed wide of the target. Bayswater were dominating and Ninkovic headed wide again from Todd Howarth’s in-swinging corner, before Gino Albano fired over the top, after a defensive mistake at the back by the visitors. As the half ended ECU started to get on top, Sam Pollard’s long-range shot was well held by Devon Spence, before they had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Steven Gregory after Daryl Nicol fell under a challenge of Kay, but the referee was well placed to wave away their protests.
The visitors were on the front foot after the break and Spence had to be alert to claim Pollard’s cross early, with Gordon Smith ready to bounce at the back post. It was backs to the wall for the home side as the Jacks pressed. Second half substitute Paddy Doyle had a shot whistle over the top, before Smith headed wide. Bayswater thought they had a penalty on 78 minutes, substitute Luke Salmon was sent down the right channel, and cut inside the box, and he fell under a challenge from ECU keeper Perkins, but again the referee waved away their claims, much to the frustration of the home faithful.
It was one way traffic, but ECU failed to create any clear cut chances. Nicol headed wide and Cameron Murray’s shot deflected over the top, but Spence wasn’t to be beaten. In the final minute the Bayswater custodian was out bravely to save at Ethan Brooks’ feet, and at the whistle it was the home side celebrating a battling three points. “I thought we dominated for 75% of the game today, and we had them on the back foot, but we didn’t take our chances when they came,” ECU Coach Dale McCulloch said. “They (Bayswater) are a good team but I thought we were the better team today, so to come away empty handed is a disappointment, but we’ll take a lot of positives from the performance.”
Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 4 Arran MAPLESTONE, 5 Adam HARRIS, 6 Todd HOWARTH, 8 Paul MCCARTHY, 12 David STOKOE, 13 Trent KAY (C), 17 Gian ALBANO (22 Luke SALMON 50’), 19 Luka NINKOVIC (14 Tristan COLLI 85’), 24 Jake SARDELIC, 26 Paul LLOYD (15 Jordan POKLER 79’) - Subs not used: RGK Dejan ALEKSIC, 23 Eraste VYAMUNGA
ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 2 Cian HIRRELL, 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 6 Tom HOUGH (16 Ethan BROOKS 82’), 8 Josh WHITMORE (12 Paddy DOYLE 50’), 9 Daryl NICOL (C), 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Andy HIGGINS, 13 Sam POLLARD (7 Cameron MURRAY 73’), 18 Declan HUGHES - Subs not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 3 Logan MCISAAC - Referee: Steven Gregory
12.5.2018
PERTH BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Perth Soccer Club have bounced back from four games without a win with a morale boosting 3-0 win against Joondalup United at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday afternoon. After a frustrating first half, Perth took control after the break and a brace from Matthew Milenkovic and a late strike from second half substitute Frank Furfaro wrapped up the win. “It was an important win for us as we’ve had a turbulent few weeks,” Milenkovic said. “After playing so many games in such a short period of time and not always getting the result we wanted, it was important to get some goals on the board and keep a clean sheet to get our confidence back. It was also good to see the depth in the squad as despite some injuries everyone that played stepped up to the plate and did a great job.”
Perth bossed the game early had numerous chances to go ahead in the opening quarter of the game, but a combination of great goalkeeping from James Bosdet and some poor finishing prevented the home side from going ahead early. United hit back and Elliott Tattersall tested Malec Kuc from long range, before he curled a free kick inches wide moments later. Both sides had late chances the best fell to the visitors, Joel Ledsham’s long-range shot fizzed inches over the top. But four minutes into the second half Perth hit the front. Kristan Santich’s cross found an unmarked Milenkovic, whose looping header gave Bosdet no chance. It was 2-0 seven minutes later, former Joondalup striker Richard Howles crossed to the back post and Milenkovic made no mistake from close-range.
The visitors still pressed and went close to reducing the margin nine minutes from time, Danny O’Shea’s cross found Alex Wild, whose header crashed off the crossbar and away to safety. It summed up the day for United and it got worse in stoppage time when Perth added a third. Milenkovic was the supplier this time playing in Furfaro who finished well. “I was very pleased with the performance; I don’t think the result does us justice. I’m very disappointed with the result,” Joondalup Coach Nick Jennings said. “The goals came from moments we should have dealt with better, but it is what it is, when you’re down the bottom of the league you don’t get much luck.”
Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 2 Johnny CHALMERS, 4 Danny O’SHEA, 5 Joel LEDSHAM (19 Adam BUCKLEY 70’), 6 Sam WYNNE (25 Greg PELLOW 89’), 7 Matthew SPARROW (C), 8 Jay MARSDEN, 9 Alex WILD, 10 Elliot TATTERSALL, 14 Liam MOONEY, 15 Callum STOCKS (12 William KESSEL 58’) – Subs not used - RGK Luke GREEN, 3 Fraser GARNAUT
Perth SC: GK Malec KUC, 2 Alex SILLA, 3Andreas THEODOSIADES (17 Frank FURFARO 63’), 5 Niccolo SABATINI, 6 Harley ORR (C) (10 Nicholas AMBROGIO 83’), 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE (7 Aleks JOVIC 75’),11 Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 14 Kristan SANTICH, 16 Kieran OLWELL, 18 Richard HOWLES - Subs not used:?RGK Daniel PASSARELLI, 21 George FESTA - Referee: Nico Hoyle
12.5.2018
SALMON SWOOPS FOR INGLEWOOD (courtesy www.inglewoodunitedfc.com.au)
A brace from Alex Salmon has guided Inglewood United to a deserved 3-1 win over Balcatta on a warm afternoon at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium. Salmon scored either side of the break before Kenny Keogh sealed the win and reclaimed Inglewood’s place in the National Premier Leagues top five. “We were a bit sloppy in the first half hour but once some of our players picked up the tempo we controlled the game and should have won by even more,” said coach Andy Keogh, who was particularly pleased with Salmon’s performance. “He was linking the play very well and took his chances in front of goal excellently.”
Inglewood opened by launching a series of attacking raids, the best of which saw Salmon nod wide from Hanafi Ghazali’s delivery. However, as has been the case often this season, the breakthrough came at the opposite end where Kris Gate slotted into an empty net after evading oncoming goalkeeper Alex Dunn. This failed to snap the hosts’ momentum. Keogh curled narrowly beyond the top corner, Salmon crashed into the upright and Farrell’s long-range effort was parried by Kyle McDonald. That persistence was rewarded on 41 minutes when Salmon stooped to head in Keogh’s delightful dipping cross.
It was more of the same after the interval from Inglewood. David Cyrus nodded narrowly wide before a fierce Jason Barrera strike rose over the crossbar. Salmon put the hosts in the driving seat midway through the half by arrowing beyond McDonald’s reach after the ‘keeper parried another shot by Barrera. Keogh made the points safe soon after by glancing in Ellis Healing’s cross from the left. A superb last-gasp tackle by Barrera prevented Anton De Francesch from cutting the deficit. Brian Woodall should have added his name to the scoresheet but, with two minutes remaining, blasted across the face of goal
Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 2 Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS (6 Miki VUJACIC 53’), 3 David CYRUS, 7 Kenny KEOGH (12 Feisal ZAW 82’), 8 Jason BARRERA, 9 Alex SALMON, 11 Ellis HEALING, 14 Hanafi GHAZALI, 15 Brian FARRELL, 16 Jamie MURPHY (23 Brian WOODALL 60’), 19 Connor BECSI - Subs not used: 4 Scott BLACKMORE, 17 Rikki SMITH
Balcatta: RGK Kyle McDONALD, 2 Joseph MARINO, 3 Hayden STEVENS, 4 Calum O’CONNELL, 5 TOM PELLIZZARI (9 Dejan ANDRIC 76’), 6 Kris GATE, 8 Carmelo GIUFFRE (22 Tom LOGAN 60’), 10 Jonathan CORNESS, 15 Adriano JELENOVIC (12 Anton DE FRANCESCH 56’), 20 Shubbham MOKALA, 23 Lawrence SHURAMA - Subs not used: RGK Damien STANOEVSKI, 11 Renee ALBA Referee: Matthew Southern
12.5.2018
KNOWLES SHINES FOR GLORY
Perth Glory have kept the pressure on the NPLWA leaders after a dominant 3-0 win against Subiaco at Ashfield Arena on Saturday afternoon. A first half strike from Daniel Stynes put them on the way, before Joe Knowles and Michael Domfeh added the others after the break to seal the victory. “It was a good win, and I thought we absolutely dominated them and kept patient and it paid off,” Knowles said. “Results against Subiaco haven’t gone our way in the past, but I don’t think we have struggled against them in any fixture, we have just been unfortunate with previous results in the past but we made no mistake this time.”
The home side opened brightly and Stynes laid the ball back to Brandon Wilson, whose curling effort drifted just wide of the post. Moments later a ball into the box wasn’t dealt with and Ollie Annis shot was well saved by Ryan Montgomery. But on 13 minutes Glory hit the front, Knowles cross picked out Stynes at the back post and he lobbed the on-coming keeper to give the home side the lead. Subiaco went close themselves moments later, David Perich’s searching ball into the box was headed just wide by player/coach Ian McMurray, before Steve Purton’s shot whistled just wide.
After the break Glory continued to dictate terms, and Knowles shot on the run flashed wide, but with only a one goal cushion the game was still in the balance. But that all changed five minutes from time when Glory added a second. A superb through ball from Walter Scott sent Knowles in on goal and the striker made no mistake from the edge of the penalty area. They added a third late deep into stoppage time, and Knowles was involved, this time Jake Brimmer played him down the left, before he unselfishly squared the ball to Domfeh who finished clinically past Montgomery.
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luca BODNAR, 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Riley WARLAND, 5 Ollie ANNIS, 6 Callum TIMMINS (13 Henry HORE 64’), 7 Yacoub MUSTAFA (14 Michael DOMFEH 88), 8 Brandon WILSON, 9 Joe KNOWLES, 10 Jake BRIMMER, 11 Daniel STYNES (12 Chok DAU 75’) - Subs not used: RGK Nicolas SPECA, 15 Sam RIAK
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 3 Dean APELGREN (14 Ross JARMAN 75’), 5 Manase ABANDELWA (10 Asher NELSON 53’), 6 Jackson DONGRAY, 11 Joshua BOOYSEN, 12 Nathan SMITH, 13 Jonas DORLING, 16 Steve PURTON, 17 Alex CASTIELLO, 18 David PERICH, 19 Ian MCMURRAY (4 Robert HARDING 67’) - Subs not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 2 Jack ANDREWS – Referee Julian Serra
12.5.2018
TRISTAO HEADER GIVES COCKERELS THE POINTS
Cockburn City scored early and held on to beat Armadale 1-0 at Alfred Skeet Reserve on Saturday afternoon. The win maintained the Cockerels second place on the NPL-WA table, at the half way mark of the season. Ruben Tristao scored the only goal of the game heading home Luccas Mello’s cross. “This was an important win to end the half way point,” Cockburn midfielder Cameron Edwards said. “We played really well first 30 minutes, but second half wasn’t our best showing but we defended well and showed resilience which was a good sign.”
The visitors began the game well and they took the lead on nine minutes. A deep cross found Tristao at the far post and he powered the ball past Sam Hutchings and into the back of the net. Reds English striker Chris Jackson had a chance to level for the home side just eight minutes later, when he was sent clear, but Cockburn ‘keeper Luke Radonich stood tall to deny him. The Cockerels went close to a second on 35 minute, when a low cross found David Araya, whose shot was well saved by Hutchings.
The Armadale custodian was involved again early on in the second half, when he produced a smart save to thwart a powerful effort from Luccas Mello. Armadale continued to press and had Cockburn on the back foot, and they had another opportunity to draw level on the hour, but Jackson’s header was cleared off the line. The home side continued to put the pressure on but were unable to find the decisive final ball, much to the disappointment of Armadale faithful.
“Armadale made it really tough for us in the second half but in the end we held out which we couldn’t do last week and it’s a good three points for the team.” Cockburn skipper Euen Grant said. “I think collectively as a team we defended for our lives and when it counted in the big moments in defence we stood up well. We’re happy to finish the first half of the season on a high and hopefully we can continue where we left off in the second half.”
Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 2 Joshua KUSER, 3 Delan DE SILVA, 4 Nathan COSTELLO (C), 5 David ANNALL, 7 Charlie KENNA, 10 Chris JACKSON, 11 Michael RIZIDIS (13 Hasan EL YASSIRI 58’), 12 Dannie RICHMAN, 15 Ali GHOLAMI (9 Billy QUINNCROFT 66’), 21 Beau RAHIM – Subs not used:? RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 17 James ATKINS, 19 Brad GREIPL
Cockburn City: GK Luke RADONICH, 4 Euen GRANT (C), 5 Keiron STALLARD, 6 Rueben TRISTAO, 7 Luccas MELLO, 8 Cameron EDWARDS, 10 David ARAYA, 15 Daniel SANTICH, 16 Daniel ROBINSON, 17 Jesse LAZZARO, 19 Anthony SKORICH (12 Ryan PRATT 51’) - Subs not used: RGK Ben RADONICH, 2 Chris THACKRAY, 9 Julian TELES,18 Adam ANFUSO - Referee:?David Bruce
12.5.2018
OWEN LATE GOAL EARNS POINT FOR ATHENA
A last-minute goal from James Owen earned Floreat Athena a 2-2 draw against Sorrento at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday. Kieran Pollard gave the visitors the lead on the hour, before Jordan Roberts levelled from the spot. It looked like Reece Vittiglia had won it for the Gulls, but Owen had other ideas scoring late. “There’s still half the season to go, so there's still a lot of points available,” Floreat coach Howard Tweats said. “(I'm looking forward to) picking up no more suspensions and getting the injury list clean, so that we can have 18-19 players to choose from rather than nine or 10."
It was a tense first half with both sides creating half chances, but keepers James Morgan and Jason Saldaris weren’t beaten, but that all change after the break. The visitors were first on the board Hamza Hina cut in from the flank on 57 minutes, and he picked out Pollard, who finished well from range. Sorrento went close to a leveler Jordan Brown unable to turn a corner home at the back post.
Floreat went close to a second when Ludovic Boi’s cross picked out Owen, in the box, but the young striker sprayed his shot wide. But Sorrento did level on 72 minutes, Jack Salter was brought down in the box and referee Michal Jasinski pointed to the spot, and Jordan Roberts scored from the resulting penalty.
The home side then hit the front nine minutes from time, Salter was brought down on the edge of the penalty area and Vittiglia placed the free kick past Saldaris. It looked they had won it, but in the final minute Floreat restored parity. Pollard cut in from the wing and played in Owen, one-on-one with James Morgan, and the youngster finished well. Sorrento almost won it late but Danny Jones fired wide in the six-yard box.
“Our first half wasn’t good enough; the second half was a bit better but a goal like that just sours everything,” Sorrento Coach Jamie Harnwell said. “We should have been three or four up, the game should have been done and dusted, but we didn’t take our chances and we got bitten on the backside for it."
Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 10 Jordan ROBERTS, 11 Tim HILL, 13 Steve MCDONALD, 14 Scott WITSCHGE, 16 Chris BALAZS, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA, 18 Jordan BROWN 19 Jack SALTER, 20 Brad MCDONALD, 21 Godwin DARKWA – Subs: RGK Anastasis FARSALEAS, 3 Jaxon TEMATA, 5 Joel SANDERSON, 22 Danny JONES, 27 Sam LANE
Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 2 Marco SANTA LUCIA, 4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 6 Jesse FULLER, 8 Jonathan STYNES, 10 Calvin WHITNEY, 12 Declan HUDSON, 13 Hamza HINA, 14 Ludovic BOI, 20 James OWEN, 21 Keylun POLLARD - Subs: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 3 Juma AWAKA, 5 Ethan KERRIDGE, 17 Patient ILHAMBAYE - Referee: Michal Jasinski
12.5.2018
LIONS ROAR TO BEAT FORRESTFIELD
Stirling Lions stretched their winning run to three matches after a 4-0 win against Forrestfield United at Macedonia Park. Alex Suleski opened the scoring, before David Micevski added a brace either side of Steve Sokol’s goal. “It was a dominant performance today, and I think we could have had a few more if I’m honest, but we scored four goals and kept a clean sheet so I’m happy,” Lions coach Keegan Ashley said. “The boys are working hard, they have things in sight and now we have to keep pushing ahead. We’re always trying to push through the young players. We like to move the ball quickly and get in behind the defence and the boys are really starting to do that and get their rewards.”
Stirling got off to the ideal start as Suleski leaped unmarked and planted a firm header past Luke Martino after only four minutes. The Lions were dominating and Dean Cummings fired inches past the post, before Alex Tanevski cut inside from the flank and fired over. Sokol went close to a second minutes before the break when he lifted the ball just over the bar with Martino off his line.
The home side needed only three minutes after the restart to double their lead as Micevski stepped up and superbly curled a free-kick from the edge of the box into the top corner. Two became three as Sokol beat the offside trap and ran clear before rounding Martino and stroking into an empty net. It went from bad to worse for the visitors when Tom Southgate saw a second yellow card and was sent off, before Micevski tapped in from six yards to put the icing on a big win for Stirling.
Stirling Lions: GK Pasquale GIOFFRE, 3 Darren O’RIORDAN, 4 Alex SULESKI, 5 Liam HENDERSON (2 David MOLINARI 74’), 6 Dhhors CHOL (19 Zane CASELLA 90’), 7 Dean CUMMINGS, 8 Dejan SPASESKI, 10 David MICEVSKI, 11 Alex TANEVSKI, 14 Steve SOKOL (13 David FILLIPOY 74’), 15 Nathan DE ABREU - Subs not used: RGK Lance ALAVAKIS, 18 Ben CAMPBELL
Forrestfield United: GK Luke MARTINO, 2 Tom SOUTHGATE, 5 Scott BARKER, 6 Kristian DESPOTOVSKI (4 Jamie DUNCAN 55’), 8 Josh APPLEBY, 9 Hasani SINCLAIR, 10 Jordan HART, 11 Liam MERIGAN, 12 Callum DOBBS (7 Mitchell CROCKER 74’), 16 Thomas JEBB, 23 Rhys LOXLEY (14 Antoine LEMARIE 66) - Subs not used: RGK Benjamin PARRY, 3 Josh KOTIO - Red cards: Southgate 62’ - Referee: Tom Glavovic
12.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND SIX – REVIEW
State League Division One league leaders maintained their unbeaten start to the season, but were made to work hard for a 3-2 win against UWA-Nedlands at Wishart Street. It was a tight opening with both sides producing some good chances, but it was UWA who on the front foot, but on 23 minutes, and against the run of play, the home side hit the front. UWA only cleared to David Heagney, and the strikers stunning curling effort from long-range flew into the top corner of the net. They doubled their lead three minutes later, Sebastian Munoz getting on the end of a great passing move to finish well at the near post.
It was 3-0 on the half hour, Brandon Naude bringing down Isaac Koomson and referee Anthony Walsh pointed straight to the spot. Heagney stepped up and sent Rhys MacFarlane the wrong way from the spot. UWA went close late in the half, Conor Devlin’s free kick was well saved by debutant Gwelup keeper Riley Stephenson. UWA continued to dominate after the break and they were rewarded with a goal on the hour, Stephenson brought down Alex Kretowicz, who picked himself and confidently stepped up to make it 3-1.
It was game on five minutes later when UWA were awarded another penalty, after another foul by the Gwelup keeper, and this time Devlin stepped up to the spot kick and Stephenson guessed the right way to save, but Devlin was quickest to react to dispatched the rebound with aplomb to make it 3-2. UWA pressed for the equaliser, but they couldn’t find it and Gwelup went close to extending their lead late, with Heagney and substitute Kurt Kouakou going close. Gwelup Head coach Taki Nicolaidis said after good first half lead they let UWA back into the game. “I thought we were very good in the first half leading 3-0, but in the second half we put ourselves under a bit of pressure conceding two soft penalties in quick succession,” he said. “But it was good to see us finish strongly to come away with the three points.”
Fremantle City moved into second place on the table after a come from behind 3-2 win against Morley Windmills at Wotton Reserve. The home side were ahead when Fremantle lost the ball in the middle of the park and Ben Wantee played in Dion Berman and he finished well from a tight angle. But the visitors hit back immediately, with Josh Wade playing a long through ball to Callum Roberts, who rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.
After half time Fremantle hit the front, a corner was cleared to Alan Carroll on the edge of the box, and he finished well. But Morley were then reduced to ten men when Jan Urgela was sent off, but the they did level, when a ball into the box was controlled on his chest by Abraham, and his volley on the turn from 20-yards flew past the keeper. But Fremantle won it late, when Wade’s free kick picked out Alec Robinson at the back post and he made no mistake heading home to seal the win.
“It was a good win and hopefully we can built on the three points going forward,” Robinson said. “I thought we started well playing some of the better football and creating chances, although Morley always posed a threat on the counter attack. I think their second kicked off us into life again, and I managed to come up with the winner. But the manner of the win means there was a bit of a buzz and it’s often a good sign when games like that go your way.”
Ashfield moved up to seventh on the ladder after a 3-2 win against Dianella White Eagles at Dianella Reserve. The home side opened brightly and deservedly took the lead with striker Angel Andres on target. But after the break was a different story and Ashfield wanted the ball more and levelled. A cross from Francis Kamau found Daniel Tait at the back post and his looping header beat Joel Driscoll. It was 2-1 when Jordan Clark lost his marker in the box and headed home Mike Kenny’s corner from close-range. They added a third when Ismael Bangura raced past two Dianella players and finished under Driscoll.
Dianella did pull one back late, with Andres adding his second but it was too little too late. “Is very pleased with the result against a strong Dianella side away from home,” Ashfield Coach Matt Wardle said. “But it was a deserved three points and I look forward to building on this result.” Dianella coach Robbie Dunn was disappointed how they conceded their goals. “I am at a loss as to why we are such an easy team to score against this year when we were so good last season and no one out played us,” he said. “All teams have a rough patch and hopefully the lads can lift and get back to where we know we can be.”
In the final game Western Knights missed the opportunity to jump to second after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Mandurah City at Nash Field. The visitors went close early with Andy Brown’s shot crashing off the crossbar, while the Knights were awarded a penalty late in the half but Graham Tough saw his spot kick saved by Kieran Shail. Joe O’Brien went close to the winner in the second half but the Knights keeper produced a great save to deny him. The game between South West Phoenix and Joondalup City was postponed due to the Bunbury festival being on at the weekend, it will now be played on July 14. – Rockingham City had the bye this week.
12.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND SIX – REVIEW
Kingsway Olympic still lead the State League Division Two table, but they were made to work hard to beat Shamrock Rovers at Harold Rossiter Reserve. The only goal of the game came on the half hour mark, Ben Fairbairn’s shot was parried by the Rovers’ keeper, but Danny Hodgson was quickest to react to fire home the rebound. “The boys really fought hard on Saturday, and we had to earn the points,” keeper Todd Hoyle said. “But you have to give credit to Shamrock they were up for this one and gave us a good game.”
Swan United were also made to work hard to keep the pressure on Kingsway, after a 2-1 win against Canning City at Burrendah Reserve on Sunday afternoon. They took the lead in the first half, James Shamim picked the ball up in midfield turned and played a through ball John Monterosso, who raced clear and lobbed the oncoming keeper. They wrapped up the points in the second half, Nick Tatasciore beat his man on the right and whipped in a cross and Gavin Knight lost his marker and headed home via the post. Canning scored a penalty with the last kick of the game but it was the Black and Whites with the points.
“It was a tough test for us on a mother’s day Sunday afternoon as Canning had 11 men behind the ball from the start and made it difficult to break down,” Monterosso said. “We managed to get the goal and soon after if not for their keeper it could’ve been 5 or 6 more. We were disappointed with conceding late and losing a clean sheet as we were never really threatened in the game, but we’ll take the 3 points away on a Sunday afternoon any day of the week.”
Balga continued their good form with a 5-3 win against Gosnells City at Princess Road Reserve. City arrived without a coach with Alan Dunlop resigning in the week, and Jamie Burn and Dion Selby took control of the team. There was a somber start to the game with a minutes silence was held for Balga committee member and Footballwa’s Jacob Aufdemkampe, whose father passed away earlier that morning, and the Balga players wore black armbands as a mark of respect. The home side were ahead when Daniel Moss broke through down the wing and his flew in low at the near post.
But Gosnells hit back and scored twice to take the lead, but Balga levelled before the break with Jake Verini was brought down in the box and Vlad Naumovski scored from the spot. Naumovski added another penalty after half time, and Moss added his second to make it 4-2, before Naumovski completed his hat-trick with the fifth. Gosnells pulled one back late, but it was too little too late. “I thought is a great footballing exhibition, but there were poor lapses of concentration on the goals conceded,” Balga coach Aleks Vrteski said. “But I thought there were some fantastic build up play for goals scored.”
Wanneroo City moved into fifth place after a 4-1 win against Kelmscott Roos at Wanneroo Reserve. The home side dominated possession early and after 20 minutes they were rewarded with a goal courtesy of a clever chip from Gareth Lloyd who found Scott Johnston and the finish was clinical. Wanneroo continued to dominate and shortly before half time a great ball into the box found Jack Hailstones who brought the ball down well rounded a defender and slotted home cleverly. They started the second half the way we ended the first and some outstanding combination play from Hailstones and Jamie Stewart found Scott Johnston who brought the ball down on his chest and finished well.
It was 4-0 when some great build up play that eventually found Hailstones who finished with power into the roof of the net. Kelmscott pulled one back late but it was too little too late. “Overall very pleased with not only the result but the way in which we constructed the goals,” Wanneroo Coach Tim Kantor said. “A special mention to young Joe Allsop who came into the team to replace injured Davy Whillians and had an outstanding game. Hopefully we can string some wins together now and with the reserves unbeaten on top of the ladder, depth will be the key as we progress into the winter months.”
In the battle of the University’s, Murdoch University Melville have come out on top, with a 1-0 win against Curtin University at Edinburgh Oval. Dean Thurston’s first half header was enough to separate the two sides and extend the visitor’s unbeaten run to three games. It came in the shadows of half-time, Matt Sljivic chipped the ball across goal and Thurston nodded home from close range. The hosts almost pinched a draw late when Dilip Masrangi wriggled into the box, but Alec Radonich made a superb stop from close range to deny Curtin a share of the spoils. – Quinn had the bye this week.
12.5.2018
POPOVIC THE NEW COACH OF GLORY
Perth Glory have made an enormous statement of intent by signing Asian Champions League winning coach Tony Popovic for 2018/19 A-League season. The 44-year old Socceroo was officially unveiled at Glory’s annual awards presentation last night, along with new chief executive Tony Pignata, formerly of Sydney FC.
Both appointments represents a new era for a club that has underachieved for many years. Glory were one of the powerhouse sides of the National Soccer League but haven’t won any silverware since the competition was ended in 2004. Their best achieved in the A-League era was a Grand Final appearance in 2012.
Popovic, who guided the Wanderers to the 2012/13 A-League Premiership and an Asian Champions League title the following year, said he was ready for the challenge. “I’m very excited to have the opportunity to coach Perth Glory, a club very rich in football history,” Popovic said.
“Now we’re at a stage where we want to create some new memories, some new history for this club and I’m really excited to be a big part of it. The greatest excitement is the potential that the club has. The potential that WA has for football, the passion of the fans – the people love football there.”
Popovic achieved considerable success as a player, chalking up over 420 outings with Sydney United, Canberra FC, Sanfreece Hiroshima (Japan), Crystal Palace (England), Al-Arabi (Qatar) and Sydney. Amongst the highlights of his career are wearing the captain’s armband at Palace and 58 appearances for Australia.
On hanging up his playing boots, Popovic turned his hand to coaching. After spells as assistant coach at Sydny FC and Palace, he became Western Sydney’s inaugural coach in 2012. Over five seasons he guided the club to the A-League Premiership, three Grand Finals and the Asian Champions League title in 2014.
Glory chairman Tony Sage is understandably delighted to have secured the services of Popovic. “Tony was our number one target from day one and we beat off some stiff competition in order to bring him here,” Sage said. “His resume, reputation and pedigree are hugely impressive, as is his vision for the future of Perth Glory.”
“Tony recognises that his own ambitions are matched by ours as a club and we are confident that he can help bring the success, both domestically and in Asia, that our loyal members and fans crave and deserve. This appointment marks one of the most exciting moments in Glory’s illustrious history and one that I know will have our supporters counting down the days until the start of the 2018/19 season.”
11.5.2018
NPL-WA ROUND THIRTEEN PREVIEW
This week’s Footballwa.net Match of the Week takes us to Frank Drago Reserve where league leaders Bayswater City entertain fourth place ECU Joondalup (3pm). City are coming off a big win at Forrestfield last week, while ECU bounced back from two heavy defeats to beat Perth SC 1-0. This game is always entertaining and this weekend’s game should be no different. The last time the two sides met at the venue was in round nine last season when Bayswater scored five minutes from time to draw 2-2. A stunner from Daryl Nicol gave the visitors the lead, before Tommy Amphlett doubled their lead moments later. Borbor Sam pulled one back for Bayswater before half time and Devon Gibson earned them a hard-earned point. City Coach Chris Coyne said his players have worked really hard this season, and although results didn’t go their way early in the season, his group have been outstanding and they put a five star show on against Forrestfield. “I thought that the boys were excellent against Forrestfield. We controlled the game from start to finish and played some tremendous football as a group and some of the individual performances were superb,” he said. “We expect that from Lloyd, McCarthy, Howarth etc. but Stokoe and Albano who are a lot younger are showing great signs and were outstanding again on Saturday.”
The team has had a number of injuries, which have effected them, but Coyne has brought in a number of new faces, and they are starting to gel. “We are very pleased with the way the younger players are progressing, and last week the fourth goal that we scored involved all three of the young lads and the execution was superb,” he explained. “They need to keep listening, working hard and improve and they will get their chance to play regularly. Luke Salmon has now scored five goals and has taken his chances with great maturity.” Coyne is well aware the talent the Jacks have in their line-up but he said they will be worrying about themselves, and if they get their plans right he is confident of a positive result. “It is always a tough game for us against ECU and we expect no different on Saturday,” he said. “They have made no secret that they want to win the league this year and the squad they have assembled reflects that. They are very good up top and in Nicol and Smith they have a very potent striking force. We also back ourselves to win games but are under no illusion at the difficulty facing us on Saturday.”
ECU assistant player manager Steven McGarry said last week’s win against Perth was a battle, but he said it was good to get some of the experienced players back, after five missed, including himself, the midweek game against Balcatta. “It was a great win and the three points were crucial in terms of where we were at before the game on Saturday,” he explained. “Collectively we played and defended well but what was really pleasing was the individual responsibilities we spoke about on the training field and before the game that were bought into by the players and we nullified a very good Perth team to limited opportunities. Obviously the goal Gordon scored stood out because the quick combination play and great finish but the back four and Johnny were excellent.” There is a good mix of experience and youth at the Campus this season, and despite the poor results in round 10 and 11, McGarry said the young lads are coming on, and although injuries hurt them, there not the only club with them. “Everyone is dealing with injuries at the moment and we have a few still lingering to key players, but we will give them every opportunity to get right for Saturday’s game.’ He explained.
“For me those lads who are on the periphery of the team when given the chance they need to grasp it and keep that spot which creates some healthy competition that Dale, Toughy and myself love and a challenge to them.” McGarry said Bayswater are the benchmark in the competition, and they will need to play at their best and play to their strengths, and if that occurs they are confident of getting a result “Totally agree they (Bayswater) have been the benchmark in WA in recent seasons and they are sitting pretty at the top again this year,” he said. “I managed to catch the second half at Sorrento last week, so we know a lot of their threats and how difficult it will be to contain them. But if we can build on Saturdays performance and bring the confidence that’s back around the squad again we can make it an interesting game.” – Referee Steven Gregory
Cockburn City will be looking to bounce back from last week defeat against Perth Glory, when they head to Alfred Skeet Reserve to take on local rivals Armadale in the twilight fixture (6pm). The Reds are on o good run of form and are coming off a 2-1 win against Sorrento, while the loss for the Cockerels was their first in nine games and defender Kieron Stallard said fitness told late in the game. “If there was one team in the league who any team don’t want to play after a big run of games like we have all had it is Glory for obvious reasons, and I think their fitness showed come the last 20 minutes when they completely dominated us,” he said. “In all fairness though we will hold our hands up and admit when we have been beaten by the better team, and we were. Glory deserved the points and there is no excuses from us. It’s the only game so far this season that I think a team have been better than us and the boys were gutted in the changing room at the end, but I’m sure we will try use that result to get back to winning ways this weekend.” The Scottish defender said Saturday is another tough test, and it’s never an easy place to go, but he said they are confident they can get a positive result. “If I’m being honest I don’t really keep an eye on other teams form I just concentrate on how we approach the game as we have all seen this season that if you’re not at it every game you will drop points,” he explained. “But saying that Armadale Is always a very difficult place to go and get a win and is never an easy fixture. I’m sure the lads will want to make amends for last week and get the three points in the bag and on the flip side I’m sure Armadale will want to continue their climb up the ladder so hopefully it will be an entertaining game.” – Referee David Bruce
Stirling Lions made it back-to-back wins last week against Balcatta, and this week they host Forrestfield United at Macedonia Park. United had been on a good run, but were beaten by league leaders Bayswater last week, but they have made a good start to life in the NPL. The win for the Lions last week moved them up to seventh and defender Liam Henderson said it was more pleasing as it was another clean sheet. “Really happy with the win, and I was buzzing with the two clean sheets especially when your centre half,” he said. “It wasn’t the prettiest of results but a clean sheet and three points nothing else more you can ask for.” Henderson, who played for Heart of Midlothian, Falkirk, Stenhousemuir, Cowdenbeath and Edinburgh City back in Scotland, said they are expecting an entertaining game, as Forrestfield do like to play the ball around. “I’ve heard they try and play football and that they keep the ball well, so it will be a tough match,” he said. “But if we stick together as a team I’m confident we have the ability to win the game come Saturday.” – Referee Tom Glavovic
Perth SC have been on a form slump, and haven’t won in four games, and they will be looking to get back in the winners’ circle when they host Joondalup United at Dorrien Gardens. United won for the first time this season, a 3-1 win against Inglewood, while Perth lost at ECU Joondalup, but keeper Malek Kuc said they had chances late to take something from the game. “Any loss is disappointing at Perth SC, which we always have a winning mentality. We had our chances and unfortunately couldn’t take it, that’s what happens in football I guess. You win some you lose some. From this experience all we can do is learn. As a team we need to keep pushing, and working hard and the results will then fall our way - through hard work.” Kuc, a former Glory Youth keeper, said Joondalup will be on high after their first win, but he said Perth will be desperate to get back to winning ways. “The Joondalup United game is an important game for the team to get back to winning scenes,” the 17-year-old said. “We still have to respect our opposition even if they are a bottom side of the ladder team, as the score is determined due to who wants to win more. We have to go with the right mentality and just continue to work hard from the first whistle. I believe if we do this we will come on top this weekend.” – Referee Nico Hoyle
Subiaco were back amongst the winners last week, beating Floreat Athena, and this week they take on the in-form Perth Glory at Ashfield Arena. Glory scored two late goals to beat Cockburn last week to keep them in the top three, while the win for Subiaco moved them clear of the drop zone. Subiaco defender Dean Aplegren said the win last week was well-deserved. “After a tough fortnight, where we had played five games, there were some tired legs in the side (mainly mine) so we were very happy to come away with three points. We felt comfortable in the first half and worked hard to get the lead,” he explained. “We then switched off and let them straight back in which was disappointing. We weren't at our best but we fought hard and felt we deserved the win.” Aplegren said Saturday will be a huge test, but they head into the game confident they can get something from it. “We all know it's a hard league so every week feels like a tough week, and this weekend is no different,” he said. “But we're confident we can build on last week's performance and get another win, if we can find shorts that fit me, anything is possible.” – Referee Julian Serra
It’s not been the best start to the season for Floreat Athena, and this week they head to Percy Doyle Reserve to take on Sorrento, another club who are at the wrong end of the table. Sorrento were beaten at Armadale last week, the defeat dropping the Gulls into the relegation zone, while Floreat went down to Subiaco and had two players sent off. Floreat defender Ryan Malton said it’s been a frustrating start to the season, especially after a good pre-season. “After winning the night series it’s been a frustrating season for the boys, we have shown we can play quality football but it just feels like there is something missing,” he said. “A lot of goals have come from ourselves losing concentration, but we need to just take it one game at a time at the moment, Subiaco are a hard team to beat this year and they’ve shown that taking points off of a lot of clubs, but with injuries and suspensions to the squad that doesn’t help the cause.” Malton said a trip to Sorrento is never easy, and it will be harder with players missing due to suspension. “Playing at Sorrento is a very hard game for any team in this league,” said. “But again we have suspensions and injured players, so is just going to make the game a lot harder.” – Referee Michal Jasinski
Inglewood United were surprisingly beaten at Joondalup last week, and they will be hoping they can re-find the form that saw them go four games unbeaten when they host Balcatta at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium. Balcatta had also been in good form, including wins against Perth and ECU, but they were beaten in the local derby against Stirling last week. Inglewood striker Alex Salmon said last week was disappointing, but he said they (Joondalup) wanted it more. “Yes it was a bad end to what would have been the perfect week for us,” he said. “But take nothing away from Joondalup they 100% deserved the win they were the better team on the day.” Salmon, who won the NPLWA Top goal scorer last season, said both sides on Saturday will want to get back to winning ways so it should be a good game. “I’m sure Balcatta will be in the same boat as us in wanting to get back to winning ways after their defeat at Stirling,” he said. “So both sides will be looking to bounce back, so should be a good game.” – Referee Matthew Southern
11.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND SIX – PREVIEW
We head into Week 6 of the State League Division One and the Footballwa.net Match of the Round takes us to Wishart Street, where league leaders Gwelup Croatia entertains bottom of the table UWA-Nedlands. Gwelup returned to the top of the table last week, but had to settle for a draw at Joondalup City, while UWA are coming off the bye. It’s not been the best start to the season for UWA, and they have only won once this season but Joshua Marocchi said the bye came at the right time for the side to re-focus. “The bye allowed us some time to work on a few things that haven’t gone to plan to start the season, although in our last outing our second half against Rockingham was exceptional we just couldn’t find a way past Alfie in goals,” he explained. “Some basic errors across the board have allowed some easy goals for opposition teams at critical times, so maintain our focus and the hunger to turn things around will drive us forward.”
Last Season UWA finished fifth, their best finish since 1970, and Marocchi said they are determined to turn their form around. “Everyone has being very disappointed with our start, we set ourselves high expectations this season and haven’t delivered as yet,” he said. “But we know by working hard our luck will change and we will start to find consistency. It’s hard to focus on ladder positioning right now but some good performances will get us going in the right direction and after a few hard truths the time is now.” Their first challenge doesn’t get any harder, a trip to leaders Gwelup, but Marocchi said they are ready for the challenge. “To be the best you have to beat them, so it would be a great way for the lads to test ourselves and come away with a positive result Saturday,” he said. “It won’t be easy, they have quality across the pitch, but we are determined to grind games out and get back to what made us difficult in the past. The league is very tight this year, all teams are competitive and there are no easy games, so we have a close to full squad of players which will help the gaffer with team selection.”
Gwelup are still unbeaten this season, but the 1-1 draw at Joondalup ended their perfect start to the season, and midfielder Brodie Martin said it was a fair result. “A disappointing result and a disappointing performance, we let ourselves down,” he said. “But full credit to Joondalup though, they were committed, showed good character and very much deserved something from the game.” It’s been a meteoric rise for the Gwelup, as they were playing Amateur Division One football only seven years ago, but Martins said the club are well run and are all on the same page as they look to continue their rise. “You can certainly see the ambition the club has on and off the park, and there are a lot of people working hard behind the scenes making sure they club keeps moving forward,” he explained. “We as a playing group have to make sure we are doing our bit and matching that ambition, and that will continue on Saturday against UWA.”
Martin said they are ticking along nicely under new coach Taki Nicolaidis, but is well aware UWA are a good side and play good football, so they need to be at their best on Saturday to get the points. “It’s important for us to bounce back this week and get back on the horse, and the boys are very keen to get back to winning ways,” he said. “From what I hear UWA are a strong team and their league position is not reflective of where they are at, so we will need to improve from last week if we are to get the three points.”
Dianella White Eagles host Ashfield at Dianella Reserve and both sides will be looking to bounce back after defeats last week. Ashfield were beaten 0-2 home defeat against South West Phoenix, while Dianella lost top spot last week after a 1-2 home defeat against Morley Windmills. Dianella Head Coach Robbie Dunn said last week they dominated for long periods, but couldn’t turn their chances into goals. “We really were in the driving seat most of the game and just were waiting for that first elusive goal but it wouldn't come. Morley pounced on two poor unusual defensive lapses and scored from both of the chances that we presented to them,” he explained. “Hats off to Johnny and his team they put up a tough fight and managed to get away with the points. Our lads were very disappointed but at least they never gave up and kept pushing right till the final whistle.” Dunn said Saturday is an important game, and he is expecting another tight game against a good Ashfield side. “They (Ashfield) are always a tough side for us to play against, and we know that Matt will have them up for this one,” he said. “Both of us lost games last week that we didn’t expect to, but that's football. I am sure this week’s game will be another hard fought affair and if we can tighten up a bit at the back I am hopeful that our strike force will get across the line.”
In other games fifth placed Western Knights entertain Mandurah City at Nash Field, while third placed Morley Windmills entertain sixth place Fremantle City at Wotton Reserve. Fremantle drew 1-1 last week against the Knights, while a brace from Dion Berman gave Morley a 2-1 win at Dianella. Berman said it was a good win, especially after back-to-back losses. “It was a very good win against a quality side, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but we worked hard at training and fought hard till the 96th minute,” he said. “We knew we had to get back to winning ways after a disappointing fortnight, and I’m just glad that I could do my bit for the team with two goals.” Berman said Fremantle are a good side and he knows they need to be at their best on Saturday to get the win. “Fremantle are another very physical, but are a quality side so I have heard,” he said. “We understand that we have to be at our best every week to win games in this league, so were looking forward to challenging ourselves again against one of the best this week.” - Rockingham City have their bye this weekend. The South West Phoenix vs Joondalup City game has been postponed.
11.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND SIX – PREVIEW
The Footballwa.net week six State League Division Two Match of the Round is the battle of the Universities at Edinburgh Oval where Curtin University host Murdoch University Melville (4pm). MUM produced a good performance last week to beat Canning 6-0 and head coach Gavin Brown was pleased with the performance and delighted the way some of his younger players performed on the day. “We played really well versus canning, we created lots of chances and should have been 3/4 up at half time,” he said. “Their centre half could and should have been off before he got his red, he was late and dangerous a few times. But the second half was a bit like a training exercise, with Canning sitting really deep and us trying to break them down. I was pleased with the fact that we kept going and wanted to score as many as possible.”
Brown has a good mix of youth and experienced on the side this season, but he said they improving each week. “Throughout my time in charge, we have always been a club prepared to give youngsters a chance. It is a major part of our club model and we are proud that so many talented players continue to come through the youth pathway. At the moment, Daniel Davey and Matt Sljivic are playing every week and their pace and trickery is definitely causing other teams problems,” he explained. “We are also hoping to bring some more of the young players who left us to try the NPL pathway and have found first team chances hard to come by. Rion Robertson is still not 20, but is playing fantastically well and we have also signed Broden Brown who has really hit the ground running. Our older players deserve a lot of the credit for how well the youngsters are playing. We have a very good atmosphere around the squad and the competition for starting places is high. Scotty Campbell is the fittest I’ve seen him in 3 years and has been outstanding in the last 2 games.” Saturday is another challenge for Brown’s side and he said it will be an entertaining game. “Curtin have had a good start to the season too. They also drew with Balga and have won two, so we are expecting another good game,” he said. “We have talked a lot about consistency and that is key for a promotion challenge. We need to back up last week’s performance with another win and then we might just start to get some momentum.”
Curtin sit fourth on the table after last week’s draw against Balga and coach Campbell Ballantyne said they deserved more from the game. “I think we could have won it and we only conceded through a mistake,” he said. “However Balga were a very good side and really tested us. We will never know how things would have been, had they been more disciplined.” The club are well positioned on the table and Ballantyne said they are tracking nicely, but there is still room for improvement after a slow start. “Our start was poor and we have just recovered, we greatly regret not getting the points on the opening day against Shamrock, however we have bounced back well from a tough day at Wanneroo,” he explained. “There is a few young players in our squad, but I wouldn’t say more than usual and the core of the team are long term club players.” Ballantyne said MUM have really improved this season and he is expecting a tough game on Saturday. “I’ve watched them twice on the artificial surface and we have been very close to them as a club for years with games going either way,” he said. “They do seem to like to play the ball on the ground and have some pace out wide but we have also identified a couple of weaknesses in their team we are hoping to exploit.” In other games league leaders Kingsway Olympic travel to Harold Rossiter Reserve to take on Shamrock Rovers, while Gosnells City will be looking to kick start their season when they visit Princess Road Reserve to take on Balga.
The final game of the round is on Sunday where Canning City host Swan United at Burrendah Reserve. Canning have struggled this season and are yet to win and are coming off a heavy defeat at Mudoch-Melville last week, while Swan kept in touch of the leaders with a 4-2 win against Wanneroo City, with Gavin Knight scoring a hat trick on his home debut for the club. Knight said it was a good team performance, and a well-deserved win. “I thought we deserved the win as we battled for 90 minutes and took our chances, and it was also great to get on score sheet for my new club and a hat-trick made it more special,” he said. “The club have a lot of ambition and there main target is to get promoted and having Paul Dundo there is a step in right direction.” The striker said they set a standard last week and need to go to Canning and continue on with it “Canning will be a tough game as there trying to get off the bottom of the ladder,” he said. “But hopefully with our teams’ confidence from last two win, we can get another three points.”
11.5.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND SIX – PREVIEW
It’s week six of the Belt up Sunday Amateur Premier Division and the Footballwa.net ‘Match of the week’ takes us to Woodville Reserve where fourth placed North Perth United host league leaders Leeming Strikers. Both sides are coming off wins, North Perth scoring late to beat UWA-Nedlands, while Leeming beat Hamersley. The last time these teams meet at the venue North Perth ran out convincing 5-1 winners in round two last season. North Perth Coach Alex Carter said they struggled early last week, but he was happy to come with the points. “We never got out of the blocks until the second half, and that has been our problem all year,” he explained. “We are still only playing at about 50/60% capacity, but saying that it’s was three points in the bag and we are up to fourth.”
Carter said the table doesn’t lie and Leeming are playing well, but he said they are looking forward to the challenge of taking on the leaders. “This week presents a whole new challenge. Leeming are firing so we need to be focused from the get go,” he said. We have shuffled the deck this week and there are 4/5 reserve players that get a chance due to a massive injury list. We do however get to give league debuts to the two new lads who have recently played in the top leagues in Europe so it’s a fair balance. The lads are buzzing for it and they trained that way on Thursday night.”
Leeming head Coach David Palin said the win against Hamersley was a good team performance against a good opposition. “I thought it was a very disciplined performance by us, after being up 2-0 against Subiaco the week before, the boys were determined to make sure they put in a shift that would see us get the three points,” he explained. “They (Hamersley) are a good side but full credit to our players for putting in the work during the week and being able to execute the game plan on Sunday.” Palin said North Perth is never an easy game, especially at their place, and he said Sunday will be no different. “North Perth are a very good side and have been there or there about in the league for the last 4-5 years now, so it will be a tough test at their ground where they are always so strong,” he said. “We've had a really good start to 2018 and the players want to continue that on Sunday, but we need to play at our best if we want something from the game, there’s a real determination in the squad so hopefully that will reflect in our performance on Sunday.”
Belmont Villa have had a good start to the season, but lost for the first time at Ellenbrook last week, and they will be looking to bounce back this week when they host UWA-Nedlands at the Gerry Archer Sports Complex. Belmont Coach Phil Weall said they started well last week but it went downhill from there. “We played well for the first 20 minutes scoring first, but after that was all Ellenbrook,” he said. “They played well and we were just not up to it on the day, very disappointed in last weekend result so we’re looking forward to hopefully bouncing back this week.” Weall said they have added depth to their squad this season and they are improving, but he said Sunday will be another tough test. “We’ve added extra depth in the squads generally this year. Ahmed Raheen up top and Warrick Bates at the back have been very good inclusions this year,” he explained. “We played UWA in the cup and got through with a 2-1 win, so this will be another very tight tough game that will push both team, hopefully we are on the right side of it.”
In other games Ellenbrook United entertain Kwinana United at Ellenbrook Sports Hub, Hamersley Rovers host Southern Spirit at Carine Open Space, while Subiaco meet Wembley Downs at Rosalie Park. The final game is at the Herb Graham Recreation Centre, when Jaguar FC host Kingsley. Jaguar were edged out at Wembley last week, while Kingsley convincingly beat Kwinana. Kingsley midfielder Jayden Drummond said it was a great performance from the side late, but they were weren’t at the best early. “It’s always tough to travel down to Kwinana, and we had a very slow and scrappy start but after 40 minutes we changed formation and personnel at half time and turned it on in the second half to score six,” he explained. “We welcomed back Sean Johnson, who also got on the score sheet which was good to see after six weeks out.” Drummond said he knows very little about Sunday’s opposition, but he said their results so far shows they are a good team. “I don’t know much about Jags, but you don’t get promoted for no reason so I’m sure it will be a hard fought game,” he said. “Every game is big this year with everyone taking points off everyone so we will need to be at our best to keep the pressure on the[P1] leaders.”
11.5.2018
OXBORROW RETURNS TO BROADMEADOW
Mitch Oxborrow is focused on winning games at Broadmeadow Magic, and not another A-League deal, after returning to the Northern New South Wales club. The 23-year old played six National Premier Leagues games with Broadmeadow last season, helping them climb into the final four, before securing a deal with Brisbane Roar. It meant he missed Broadmeadow’s round of 32 FFA Cup match and the NPL finals.
Oxborrow, who repviously played in the national league with Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory, made 17 appearances for Brisbane over the summer but was not retained. He considered moving to Melbourne and back home to Perth but said it was a “no-brainer” to link again with Broadmeadow, who are coached by close friend and former teammate Ruben Zadkovich.
Oxborrow trained with Broadmeadow on Wednesday night and was cleared on Thursday morning to join their squad as an injury replacement. He will play against Newcastle Jets Youth on Sunday in round nine and was keen to help third-placed Magic, who are three points off the lead, push for silverware. “Last time I was so focused on still being in the A-League and getting another deal,” Oxborrow said.
“But I didn’t realise until I was gone how much I enjoyed being here and playing under Ruben and with such a good club in Magic, and the boys here were great as well. I’m just going to stay here for the rest of the season and enjoy it, and whatever happens, happens. I’m not focusing on the future. I’m just focusing on playing and winning games, and hopefully I can add to this team, because they are doing so well at the moment.”
Oxborrow was keen to jump straight in for Broadmeadow after limited minutes at the end of the A-League season and a two-week break since the finals. “It was pretty frustrating,” he said. “It’s hard to get consistency in the A-League, especially when there’s no second tier to get some time to play. Obviously things didn’t work out and this is the next best move for me for sure.”
9.5.2018
MRCELA SET FOR KOREA CHANGE
Australian centre back Tomislav Mrcela is set to be on the lookout for a new club following a frustrating injury spell with K-League club Chunnam Dragons. The Perth-born 27-year old will come out of contract on July 1 having joined the Dragons from Croatian club Lokomotiva in mid-2016.
Mrcela has struggled for game-time in 2018 due to what he claims was a misdiagnosis on a knee injury by Chunnam’s medical staff. As a result, he wants to secure a move away from the club when the K-League pauses from May 19 for the mid-season break.
“Most probably I’ll go to a new club,” Mrcela told fourfourtwo.com.au “My agent will talk to the club. I have some interest with a few Korean clubs so it’s a possibility to stay in Korea. I’m also watching around Asia, maybe Japan or UAE. I’m 99 per cent sure I’ll change my club in the summer transfer window.”
Mrcela spent his formative years at Western Knights before moving to Split in his mid-teens. He said he wanted a return to Australia one day but wasn’t in any rush when asked about A-League interest. “To be honest, right now no,” Mrcela said.
“I want to play at least one year in the A-League in my career but right now I feel I have a market here in Asia. I’ve played two good years here, almost 50 games in the K-League so I want to stay here, maybe Japan for a few years.”
“To be honest, everything is about money, you want to secure your life through football. Unfortunately, it’s much bigger money here than in the A-League or Croatia. But I do want to play in the A-League.”
Mrcela has only managed two appearances this season, having returned from his knee injury as a late substitute on ANZAC Day. He said he sustained the knee injury late last season but, on the advice of Chunnam’s medical staff, didn’t undergo an operation in the off-season.
“They were saying it’s not a big problem and you’re going to have holidays for three months where the pain is going to go away,” he said. “I was on holiday where I didn’t do anything, no running or training, and I didn’t feel the pain.”
“Once I came back here in January, in the first few trainings I was feeling uncomfortable. We did an MRI and they said it’s no big problem, only the patella but the Croatian doctors kept saying it’s meniscus damage, so I need a small surgery.”
“The club didn’t let me go to Croatia. I was here doing rehabilitation, drinking painkillers and going through day by day. I already had problems in the pre-season in January and February and they kept delaying and delaying. Now it’s May and I’ve still got problems.”
Mrcela said he would head back to Croatia during the mid-season break to get the injury resolved, having grown frustrated with Chunnam, who he alleges were suspect of his intentions. “Because my contract is finishing soon, they thought I might be faking it, so I could go to Croatia, make my knee better and claim a few more months salary,” he said.
“They said I cannot go to Croatia, ‘you’re going to do your recovery here’. I’ve done some rehabilitation but it’s not good. It’s better, but not 100 per cent fixed. Every time I’m on painkillers, I’m doing training I’m not 100 per cent. I can feel my knee is 100 per cent.
“I’m going to go through these games and then during the World Cup break I’ll go home, fix the knee and be ready for the second part of the season.” Mrcela's Chunnam Dragons are away to Jeju United in the K-League on Saturday.
8.5.2018
BURGESS REFLECTS ON HIS FIRST FULL SEASON WITH SCUNTHORPE
It has been a promising first season for Cameron Burgess at Glanford Park. The 22-year old signed for Scunthorpe United as a relatively unknown prospect from Fulham, having impressed during loan spells at Oldham Athletic and Bury the previous season.
In his 32 appearances for the club in his debut season, Burgess has impressed throughout the majority having been part of dominant defensive performances. He has found himself in and out of the team this season, not down to his poor performances, but to being a victim of circumstance – he had been a regular in the side when they played with three centre-backs earlier in the season.
When looking back at his first full regular season at the club, Burgess is pleased with his progress as a young player and is delighted with the club’s current position. However, the young West Australian admitted that he would have liked to have played more minutes.
“On a squad point of view, I’m delighted with where we are in the table, even though we would have liked to have finished higher,” Burgess told scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk. “Personally, I would have loved to have played a few more minutes, that’s for sure.”
“Sometimes it’s been frustrating, but that’s not through the fact that the other lads in the squad deserve to be playing - our recent record shows that. If we could put 20 guys out there on the field – that’d be great because a lot of players in this squad deserve to play! I just want to play as many minutes as I can.”
Playing behind two of the better centre-backs in League One in Rory McArdle and Murray Wallace, Burgess understands why he is not currently in the first eleven. However, still at a young age, he is focused on improving with each minute he plays and looks forward to building on this year’s performances going into next year.
Burgess signed a three-year deal with the club back in July and certainly has a big future at Glanford Park, and he hopes that will be in the Championship next season. “It’s all about improving each year for me – that’s the main thing,” he said. “When next year comes around, hopefully in the Championship I’ll be able to put myself forward for more minutes here at Scunthorpe.”
However, should McArdle or Wallace go down with an injury, Burgess has shown throughout this campaign that he is more than capable of stepping into the side at short notice and doing a good job at the heart of the defence. He played well during Saturday’s draw with Bradford, when taking into consideration that he hadn’t played in six weeks.
“It was quite tough to be honest, having not played in so long. But it was really good to get 90 minutes under the belt,” he said. “I definitely needed it and I enjoyed it out there – we’re disappointed not to have won, but now we’ve secured 5 place and we go into the play-offs.”
And ahead of Saturday’s first-leg against Rotherham United, Burgess stated that there is a real feeling of confidence around the dressing room. “We’re really confident, that’s for sure – our recent performances show that,” he said. “The results have been a lot better and the performances have followed also, so that brings us all confidence going into these games against Rotherham.”
8.5.2018
WHY ROTHERHAM'S WILLIAMS SAYS THEY ARE HEADING TO WEMBLEY
Ryan Williams believes Rotherham United will book their place at Wembley at the expense of play-off opponents Scunthorpe United, declaring: “I think we are the better team.” The Millers embark on their push for promotion to the Championship this weekend after finishing manager Paul Warne’s first full season in charge in fourth spot.
Warne’s men beat Scunthorpe home and away in the regular League One campaign and summer signing Williams is confident he and and his teammates can repeat that success over their two-legged clash for the right to contest the play-off final at the national stadium. “With the boys we have got, I can’t see us losing,” the 24-year old winger said.
Rotherham travel to the Iron on Saturday, with the return tie at AESSEAL New York Stadium the following Wednesday. “We’ve beaten them twice. We need to forget that, put that to bed,” Williams said. “They have been in good form, but that doesn’t scare us. I think we are the better team.”
“A plus is we don’t have to have an overnight stay or have far to travel ... the fans deserved that because they have stuck with us for the whole season. The play-offs are a chance to play at Wembley and get back to the Championship. It’s a place where this club belongs, with the stadium, fans, staff and players. It’s where we need to be.”
Williams arrived at New York last June from Barnsley, where a misdiagnosed injury kept him on the sidelines, and has proved his fitness over the last year. “It’s been a good season, considering my past injuries,” he said.
“I have been available for every single game. I’ve played 42 league games and missed out on only four. For me, it’s been a success. I feel fresh and hopefully there are another three games to come. When I signed here, I felt this was the best platform to get to the Championship.”
“My goal was to play as many games as I could. The other goal to be available for as many games as I could. I managed to start 33 games, which for me is big. I don’t think I’ve missed a training session, which is awesome, and the injury is way behind me. I am really happy with the season.”
“When I was at Barnsley and we got promoted through the play-offs, I was injured at the time, so, unfortunately I missed out on that. I felt on the outside at Barnsley, 100 per cent. But it was good for my career, in a way. It was bad I missed a lot of football, but I learned a lot.”
7.5.2018
CLISBY JOINS CENTRAL COAST (courtesy inglewoodunitedfc.com.au)
Central Coast Mariners coach Mike Mulvey has made his first move in the transfer market by luring left-back Jack Clisby to the A-League club on a one-year deal. The 26-year old defender joins the Mariners less than a fortnight after cutting ties with Western Sydney Wanderers, his club of the past two seasons.
“I can’t wait to get started with the Central Coast Mariners,” said Clisby, whose senior career ignited after starring for Inglewood United in 2012. “I’m at a point in my career where I should be hitting peak form and I cannot wait to go out there and prove to everyone what I’m capable of.”
“I’ve got a few mates throughout the A-League who have played under Mike Mulvey and they all have nothing but positive things to say. Mike’s building a great squad, we’ve got plenty of time to gel and it’s something I am really excited to be a part of ... I wish pre-season started tomorrow to be honest.”
Clisby shot prominence by winning the 2012 Gold Medal after starring locally with Inglewood. He signed his first professional deal soon after by joining Perth Glory and has gone on to chalk up 112 A-League, FFA Cup and Asian Champions League appearances through further spells at Melbourne City and Western Sydney.
6.5.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND FIVE – REVIEW
Leeming Strikers maintained their spot at the top of the Belt Up Sunday Amateur Premier Division after a 3-0 win against Hamersley Rovers at John Connell Reserve. The home side opened brightly and went close early, Brad North’s close-range effort was well saved by Hamersley goalkeeper Carl Diggins. But there was nothing Diggins could do six minutes later when the Strikers opened the scoring. Ben Greaves’ cross from the right found Leonard Fernandes, who made no mistake. But on the half hour Leeming’s pressure paid off, Greaves’ shot from the edge of the box gave Diggins no chance. The points were made safe nine minutes from time, Greaves racing clear, rounding Diggins and rolling the ball into the net. It went from bad to worse for Rovers and three minutes from time Bankue Manuer was sent off. “This week was about going back to basics and making sure we worked as a unit and we did that throughout which was pleasing,” Leeming Coach David Palin said. “We felt comfortable during the game and that was a result of the players on the field working hard. To score three past Hammersley who are very well organised and play the ball around well, was the icing on the cake.”
Kingsley moved into second place after a big 6-0 win against Kwinana United at Kelly Park. It was scoreless at the break, but the home side had the better of the chances, but that all changed after the break, and four minutes in Kingsley opened the scoring. David Ashworth crossed a ball in to the box and Jayden Drummond found the bottom corner. It was 2-0 on 52 minutes Sean Johnson robbed the Kwinana defender and finished calmly past the keeper. It was 3-0 on the hour, Drummond crossing to Ashworth to tap in from close-range. Moments later it was 4-0, Johnson’s sent Nick Lowe in who curled the ball home. It was 5-0 when Luke Coltman’s free kick was headed home by Jesse Higgins and Drummond finished off the scoring late on.
“A game definitely of two halves, where Kwinana were the better side and were unlucky not to be given a clear penalty in the first half with them controlling the first half we were made to change formation and personnel at half time with great effect in the second which completely belonged to us,” Kingsley Coach Steven Dimitrovich said. “We were able to score four goals inside the first 20 minutes to put the game to bed with our last two goals of the game coming toward the end of the game was really pleased with the way the lads adjusted at halftime took our messages on board and were able to implement it in the second half.”
Wembley Downs bounced back from back-to-back defeats after a hard fought 2-1 win against Jaguar FC at Butlers Reserve. The visitors took the lead early, after a mistake from keeper Niall McCarthy gifted a goal to Michael Wantee. Wembley hit back and began to dominate the game and found an equaliser just before half time, when 17-year-old Ryan Morris rose highest to put header into the top corner. Both teams went for it after the break, but it was the home side who won it. A great counter attack ended with Ryan Fish, who made no mistake. “Overall a battling performance from my lads with three points important as we chase the pack,” Wembley Coach Sully Sullivan said.
In other games Belmont Villa have lost for the first time this season after losing 1-7 to Ellenbrook United at the Ellenbrook Sports Hub, while Southern Spirit drew 3-3 with Subiaco. In the final game North Perth United jumped up to fourth after a 2-1 win against UWA Nedlands at UWA Sports Park. The home side were ahead after only after 2 minutes and held the lead until the hour, when Chris Wylie cut in from the left and hit a superb volley right across the face of goal into the top corner. His cartwheel and backflip celebration was as good as the goal. It looked like the points would be shared but with the last kick of the game Ago Mujic showed excellent composure in the box and finished low into the bottom corner from 12 yards to snatch the points.
5.5.2018
JACKS BOUNCE BACK TO BEAT PERTH
ECU Joondalup have bounced back from two heavy defeats, with a morale boosting 1-0 win against Perth SC at the ECU Football Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The only goal of the game came early, Gordon Smith finishing off a good move, but it was a battling performance from the Jacks and keeper Johnny Perkins pulled off a couple of great saves to seal the win.
“I’m really pleased for the players today,” ECU assistant coach David Tough said. “They have copped a lot this week, but we came in with a game plan against a very good Perth side and the players stuck to it and we were rewarded. The winner was fantastic, you will struggle to see a better goal this season, and Johnny’s save late was crucial too. So we’ll enjoy this then get ready for a big game against the league leaders Bayswater next week.”
ECU made a perfect start to the game and had the opportunity to open the scoring after only two minutes, when Ross Millard was brought down in the box by Tom King, and referee Tom Glavovic pointing straight to the spot. Daryl Nicol stepped up to take the resulting penalty, but he blazed well over the top. But it didn’t deter the skipper and four minutes later he was involved in the opening goal. He played a neat give and go with Smith, then intelligently rolled the ball into the path of the Jacks striker and Smith finished clinically past Perth keeper Malec Kuc.
Perth lost skipper Adrian Madaschi at the break with a groin injury, he was replaced at the back by Kieran Colwell, but it was the home side who had the first opportunity after the break. Tom Hough’s deep cross found Smith, but he headed wide of the target. Perth began to get a foot hold in the game and King fired over after on the hour after ECU failed to clear a corner. The game was opening up, and Millard’s long-range shot was straight Perth keeper Kuc, before second half substitute Niccolo Sabatini was denied by ECU keeper Perkins.
Perth thought they had a penalty of their own fifteen minutes from time, when Gustavo Catarcione fell under a challenge from Perkins, but the referee was well placed to wave away their claims. Perth pressed late and they thought they had levelled on 83 minutes, substitute Andreas Theodosiades found space down the left and crossed to Richard Howles, whose header looked destined for the bottom corner, but Perkins produced a stunning one-handed save to deny the English striker, one of the saves of the season from the Irish keeper. Moments later Matthew Milenkovic raced into goal, but again Perkins stood tall to make another important save. Then deep into stoppage time Perth had one final chance to salvage a point. King crossed to Catarcione, but his headed flashed over the top.
ECU Joondalup: GK Johnny PERKINS, 2 Cian HIRRELL, 3 Ross MILLARD, 4 Steven MCGARRY, 5 Shane CASSIDY, 8 Josh WHITMORE, 9 Daryl NICOL (C), 10 Gordon SMITH, 11 Andy HIGGINS (13 Tommy AMPHLETT 79’), 12 Tom HOUGH, 16 Lukas DE LIMA (7 Sam POLLARD 21’) (18 Declan HUGHES 74’) - Subs not used: RGK Jack NUNN, 15 Paddy DOYLE - Yellow cards: Pollard 61’
Perth SC: GK Malec KUC, 4 Adrian MADASCHI (C)(16 Kieran COLWELL 56’) 7 Aleks JOVIC (5 Niccolo SABATINI 61’), 8 Tom KING, 9 Gustavo CATARCIONE, 10 Nicholas AMBROGIO, 11 Matthew MILENKOVIC, 12 Jordan DE LEO, 17 Frank FURFARO (3 Andreas THEODOSIADES 68’), 18 Richard HOWLES, 20 Paul ZIMARINO - Subs not used: RGK Daniel PASSARELLI, 14 Kristan SANTICH Yellow cards: King 86’ - Referee: Tom Glavovic
5.5.2018
HARDING SEALS SUBIACO WIN
Subiaco piled more misery on Floreat Athena’s season with a 2-1 win at Rosalie Park on Saturday afternoon. Both sides sat in the relegation zone before kick-off and Alex Castiello gave the hosts the lead four minutes before half time, but Dean Evans levelled before the break. But the decisive second goal for Subiaco came from second half substitute Robert Harding, his first in the NPL-WA to win for Ian McMurray’s side.
“I think it was a well-deserved win,” Subiaco midfielder David Perich said. “Playing the fifth game in two weeks meant everyone had tired legs, but we still worked incredibly hard. Having Dean sent off made it a bit easier, but we were already well on top in the game. It was great to see Robbie get his first goal and we probably should have finished the game further ahead.”
It was a tight first half, in a game neither side wanted to lose as not to lose ground on the team above, but it was Subiaco who opened the scoring in the 41st minute. Perich was the provider cutting the ball back to Castiello, and the big defender made no mistake. But Subiaco’s lead didn’t last sixty seconds, Floreat skipper Evans was given far too much room on the edge of the box and his deflected shot beat Ryan Montgomery.
There was more of the same after half time, but sides creating chances but it was Subiaco who scored the winner on 77 minutes. A long throw by Jackson Dongray was knocked down and Harding, who had only been on the pitch for eight minutes after replacing Monase Abendelwa, was on hand to steer the ball home, much to the delight of the home faithful.
Things went from bad to worse for Floreat, and two minutes later Evans was shown a straight red card by referee Shane Skinner, and in stoppage time they were reduced to nine men when Calvin Whitney was also sent off. “I’m absolutely delighted, we knew it was going to be a tough game with the position of the two teams, and the boys battled very hard and it’s a great three points,” Subiaco Coach Ian McMurray said. “It was disappointing the way their goal came about, we went to sleep at the back and got caught, but credit to the boys, we never dropped at half-time and went into the second half ready.”
Subiaco: GK Ryan MONTGOMERY, 3 Dean APELGREN (14 Ross JARMAN 77’), 5 Monase ABENDELWA (4 Robert HARDING 69’), 6 Jackson DONGRAY, 10 Asher NELSON (11 Joshua BOOYSEN 46’), 12 Nathan SMITH, 13 James DORLING, 16 Steve PURTON, 17 Alex CASTIELLO, 18 David PERICH, 19 Ian MCMURRAY - Subs not used: RGK Josiah GODFREY, 2 Jack ANDREWS
Floreat Athena: GK Jason SALDARIS, 4 Andrew SCALDAFERRO (5 Tyler HOLDEN 83’), 6 Jesse FULLER, 8 Jonathan STYNES, 10 Calvin WHITNEY, 12 Declan HUDSON, 13 Hamza HINA (20 James OWEN 81’), 14 Ludovic BOI, 16 Ryan MALTON (3 Ethan KETHRIDGE 62’), 17 Dean EVANS, 21 Keylun POLLARD - Subs not used: RGK Jordan BARBAS, 2 Ben MEIER - Red cards: Evans 79, Whitney 90+4 - Referee: Shane Skinner
5.5.2018
LIONS TAKE OUT THE DERBY
Stirling Lions have leapfrogged their local rivals Balcatta after a 3-0 win in the local derby at Macedonia Park on Saturday afternoon. David Micevski gave the home side the lead from the spot just before half time, before Alex Tanevski doubled their advantage early in the second. The points were made safe in stoppage time with Dhhors Chol adding the third. “It was a good team win, as Balcatta are a very strong side,” Tanevski said. “The chemistry is very high and everyone is working hard for each other to win games.”
Both sides were buoyed by midweek wins, Balcatta big winners at ECU Joondalup, while the Lions beat Joondalup United, but it was Balcatta who were on top early. They went close to the lead when Shubham Mokala eased past his marker out wide, but his shot flashed wide of the target. But as the half went on the Lions began to get into the game and skipper Dean Cummings shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Balcatta keeper Kyle McDonald.
But three minutes before half time the home side were awarded a penalty. Cummings was impeded in the box and referee Joshua Nixon pointed straight to the spot. Micevski stepped up to take the resulting penalty and the former Perth Glory midfielder found the bottom corner to send the Lions into the break with the lead.
The home side were out of the blocks early in the second half and they doubled their lead six minutes in. An in-swinging corner wasn’t dealt with by McDonald, and Tanevski steered the ball home from close-range. Balcatta hit back and they had a perfect opportunity to reduce the deficit three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty of their own. Sadly for the visitors Adriano Jelenovic’s shot was well saved by Pasquale Gioffre.
It was a huge blow for Goran Stajic’s side but they continued to press and some desperate defending from the Lions kept them at bay. But in stoppage time the Lions sealed the three points with a third, with Chol scoring, and ensured they claimed all three valuable points. “We were the better team today but not on the scoreboard.” Balcatta coach Goran Stajic said.
Stirling Lions: GK Pasquale GIOFFRE, 2 David MOLINARI (13 David FILIPPOU 75’), 3 Darren O’RIORDAN, 4 Alex SULESKI, 5 Liam HENDERSON, 6 Dhhors CHOL, 7 Dean CUMMINGS, 8 Dejan SPASESKI, 10 David MICEVSKI (14 Steve SOKOL 70’), 11 Alex TANEVSKI, 19 Zane CASELLA (18 Ben CAMPBELL 90’) – Subs not used: RGK Lance ALAVAKIS, 16 Nicholas ASHLEY
Balcatta: GK Kyle MCDONALD, 2 Joseph MARINO, 3 Hayden STEVENS, 4 Calum O’CONNELL, 5 Tom PELLIZZARI, 6 Kris GATE (9 Dejan ANDRIC 70’), 8 Carmelo GIUFFRE, 10 Jonathan CORNESS, 15 Adriano JELENOVIC (7 Matthew MCROBERTS 65’), 20 Shubham MOKALA, 23 Lawrence SHURAMA (19 Nic CHALLOT 80’) – Subs not used: RGK Domenico SAVOLDELLI, 22 Tom LOGAN - Referee: Joshua Nixon
5.5.2018
JOONDALUP STUN INGLEWOOD
Joondalup United have surprised many in the NPL-WA with a stunning 3-1 against the in-form Inglewood United at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday evening. Many were surprised but Joondalup had been very competitive in recent weeks but hadn’t take their chances, that all changed on Saturday. Callum Stocks gave the home side the lead on the quarter hour, but Alex Salmon levelled for the visitors before halftime. But second half goals from Sam Wynne and Alex Wild gave them a well-deserved win.
“It’s just a big relief for the club, but we deserved the win,” Joondalup keeper James Bosdet said. “The whole 11 were fantastic and battled hard, we’ve been unlucky in some games and on a different day could have picked up more points, but hopefully yesterday is the start of a good spell for the boys.”
Inglewood arrived into the game as one of the form sides in the competition, having won their three previous games but it was the home side who came out firing. In recent games Joondalup have done the same but missed their chances, today they didn’t and on 14 minutes they were ahead. Elliott Tattersall’s corner picked out Stocks at the front post and he headed past Alex Dunn.
The home side should have been further in front, but missed chances hindered them again, and just after the half hour Inglewood levelled, Alex Salmon capitalised on a mistake at the back to send the sides into half time all-square.
Joondalup were not going to let conceding a goal late deter them, and after the break they set about regaining their lead. The front three of Wild, Stocks and Tattersall were outstanding, and it wasn’t a surprise when the home side did hit the front again 20 minutes from time. There looked little danger when Wynne received the ball, but he raced past three static Inglewood defenders before rounding Alex Dunn and rolled the ball into the net.
Inglewood rallied, but it was Joondalup’s night and they secured their first win of the season on 84 minutes. A great through ball by Johnny Chalmers sent Wild clear, and he finished with aplomb past Dunn from a tight angle, much to the delight of the home supporters. “I’m absolutely buzzing, we thoroughly deserved all three points. We controlled things throughout and played the game on our own terms,” Joondalup Coach Nick Jennings said. “The boys were ready, they took all the information on board and tactically and technically did everything right today. I’m pleased for everyone after that.”
Joondalup United: GK James BOSDET, 2 Johnny CHALMERS, 4 Danny O’SHEA, 5 Joel LEDSHAM, 6 Sam WYNNE, 7 Matthew SPARROW (C), 9 Alex WILD, 10 Elliot TATTERSALL, 11 Anthony TAYLOR, 14 Liam MOONEY, 15 Callum STOCKS (19 Adam BUCKLEY 90’) – Subs not used: RGK Luke Green, 12 William KESSEL, 23 Harley CURRAN
Inglewood United: GK Alex DUNN, 2 Alex ISHIDA-LIVINGS (19 Connor BECSI 91’), 4 Scott BLACKMORE, 6 Miki VUJACIC (12 Feisal ZAW 63’), 7 Kenny KEOGH, 8 Jason BARRERA, 9 Alex SALMON, 10 Ashley ROSINDALE, 14 Hanafi GHAZALI (15 Brian FARRELL 46’), 17 Rikki SMITH, 23 Brian WOODALL – Subs not used: RGK Michael COHEN, 16 Jamie MURPHY - Referee: Anthony Walsh
5.5.2018
BAYSWATER TOO STRONG FOR FORRESTFIELD
Bayswater City maintained their lead at the top of the NPL-WA table after a big 4-0 win against Forrestfield United at the Wildlife Safari Stadium on Saturday evening. City scored a quick fire two goals mid-way through the first half with David Stokoe and Gino Albano on target. They wrapped up the points after the break with Paul Lloyd and Luke Salmon adding the others.
“I thought the boys played excellent today and all the other results went our way, so the boys are pretty excited about that,” City skipper Trent Kay told the NPL website. “The league has been very even across the board this year it’s the tightest it’s been since I’ve been playing and I’ve been playing for 10 years. It’s good, it’s more competitive and I love it but I still hope we can go on and get the wins.”
The home side were coming off a run of five games without defeat, but it was Bayswater who looked the livelier early. Luka Ninkovic had a goal disallowed after an earlier foul, before he saw a good shot deflect out for a corner. But from the resulting corner on 26 minutes Bayswater hit the front, Todd Howarth’s corner picked out Stokoe who rose highest to head past Luke Martino. They doubled their lead two minutes later, and great run by Albano saw him run at the Forrestfield defence before finishing clinically past Martino. Paul McCarthy went close to a third from a free-kick but for Martino got down well to push it around the post but at half time the visitors lead 2-0.
Bayswater left off where they ended the first and added a third on the hour. Good hold up play by Luke Salmon ended with a ball back to Lloyd who made no mistake. They added their fourth on 81st minute as Giordano Colli played in Salmon, who finished past Martino from a tight angle. “It was always going to be a tough game but we played good in patches and I’m happy with the boys,” Forrestfield Coach Rod Banjac said. “We were pretty flat tonight and I’ll give the boys most of the week off next week to recover and we start next Saturday, back into our routine again. But credit to Baysie, they’ve got the depth there and obviously a very mature side. They took advantage of our busy schedule, but in saying that I’m just so proud of the boys because this is the first loss in five games.”
Forrestfield United: GK Luke MARTINO, 2 Tom SOUTHGATE, 3 Wilbert TSHABANGU, 4 James DUNCAN, 5 Scott BARKER, 6 Kristian DESPOTOVSKI (12 Callum DOBBS 53’), 7 Mitchell CROCKER, 8 Josh APPLEBY, 9 Hasani SINCLAIR, 10 Jordan HART, 11 Liam MERIGAN – Subs not used: RGK Benjamin PARRY, 14 Antoine LEMARIE, 15 Josh KOTIO, 16 Thomas JEBB
Bayswater City: GK Devon SPENCE, 5 Adam HARRIS, 23 Andrija JUKIC, 12 David STOKOE, 17 Gian ALBANO, 24 Jake SARDELIC, 19. Luka NINKOVIC, 26 Paul LLOYD, 8 Paul MCCARTHY, 6 Todd HOWARTH, 13 Trent KAY, - Subs not used: RGK Dejan ALEKSIC, 22 Luke SALMON, 27 Neil GILIES, 20 Giordano COLLI, 15 Jordan POKLER - Referee: Michal Jasinski
5.5.2018
SCOTT SEALS THE WIN AT COCKBURN
A goal four minutes from time from Walter Scott has given Perth Glory a come-from-behind 2-1 win against joint league leaders Cockburn City at Dalmatinac Park on Saturday afternoon. Cameron Edwards had given the home side the lead early, and it looked like it would be enough to seal the points, but Glory hit back late and second half substitute Henry Hore levelled with nine minutes to go, before Scott popped up late to win it.
“Saturday was a great challenge for us, we were disappointed to go down early after having many chances and a vast percentage of the possession, but we trusted ourselves and followed the game plan,” he said. “They (Cockburn) were very dangerous from set-pieces and in wide areas and we worked hard to defend them, and our substitutes made a great impact again, with Henry equalising which gave us further belief to go on and win. I was really happy to score again, and win to keep our good form rolling, as we reach the midway part of the season.”
Only four points separated the two sides at kick off and it was a lively opening and the Glory went close early. Chok Dau found space, but his first time shot was well saved by Cockburn keeper Luke Radonich. But it was the Cockerels who hit the front on 15 minutes, Edwards side-footed home. The Glory hit back and in the shadows of half time they went close to the equaliser. Michael Domfeh cut the ball back to Daniel Stynes, whose shot looked destined for the corner of the net, but Radonich produced a stunning save to deny him.
After the break Glory continued to take the game to Cockburn and went close again on the hour. Ollie Annis’ played a free kick to Jake Brimmer, whose powerful shot beat Radonich, but the crossbar came to the rescue of the Cockburn custodian. Brimmer went close again 11 minutes later, his curling free kick crashed off the post, it looked like it wasn’t going to be their day.
But on 81 minutes they deservedly levelled. Dau played the ball over the Cockburn back four and Hore raced in to finish past Radonich. Glory continued to press for the winner and it duly arrived four minutes from time. Stynes beat his marker and whipped in a cross, Dau’s header was saved by Radonich, but Scott was on hand to ram home the winner.
Cockburn City: GK Luke RADONICH, 4 Euen GRANT (C), 5 Keiron STALLARD, 6 Reuben TRISTAO, 7 Luccas MELLO, 8 Cameron EDWARDS, 10 David ARAYA (11 Harry O'BRIEN 65’), 15 Daniel SANTICH, 16 Daniel ROBINSON, 17 Jesse LAZZARO, 19 Anthony SKORICH (12 Ryan PRATT 85’) - Subs not used: RGK Ryan BARKER, 2 Chris THACKRAY, 9 Julian TELES
Perth Glory: GK Jackson LEE, 2 Luca BODNAR (15 Riley WARLAND 64’), 3 Walter SCOTT, 4 Sam RIAK, 5 Ollie ANNIS, 6 Callum TIMMINS (13 Henry HORE 64’), 7 Chok DAU, 8 Brandon WILSON, 9 Michael DOMFEH (C) (12 Yacoub MUSTAFA 56’), 10 Jake BRIMMER, 11 Daniel STYNES - Subs not used: RGK Nicholas SPECA, 14 Michael MCDOUGALL - Referee: Steven Gregory
5.5.2018
REDS BRING DOWN THE GULLS
Armadale moved clear of the relegation zone after a 2-1 win against Sorrento at Alfred Skeet Reserve. The win moved the Reds to eighth on the table, while defeat saw the Gulls slip into the bottom three of the NPL. English striker Chris Jackson gave the home side the lead early, before Josh Kuser doubled their lead on the quarter hour. Sorrento hit back after the break with Cameron Teece shot deflected into his own net by Charlie Kenna, but try as they might, they couldn’t find the equaliser.
“First half we dominated and got our rewards, but second half was more even with some digging in at the end to earn the points,” Armadale coach John O’Reilly said. “We should have put the game bed when we were on top, but it was a solid team performance and I’m happy with the result.”
It was a perfect day for football, and the home side made the perfect start and were ahead after only five minutes. A cross from Delan De Silva, was only headed away by a Sorrento defender to Jackson, who met the dropping ball on the volley to score past James Morgan. Jackson turned provider for second goal on 15 minutes, shielding the ball and taking it to the by line before a slide rule pass to back post for Kuser to finish.
Sorrento lifted after the break and pulled one back on the hour, Teece’s shot hit the unfortunate Kenna, and the ball rolled into his own net. The Gulls almost levelled late Jason Roberts’ free kick looked goal bound, but Reds keeper Sam Hutchings made a superb save. The Reds were defending in numbers late, but they managed to hold, much to the delight of their faithful.
Armadale: GK Sam HUTCHINGS, 2 Joshua KUSER, 3 Delan DE SILVA, 4 Nathan COSTELLO (C), 5 David ANNALL, 7 Charlie KENNA, 10 Chris JACKSON, 11 Michael RIZIDIS, 12 Dannie RICHMAN, 15 Ali GHOLAMI, 21 Beau RAHIM – Subs: RGK Duncan LENNON-BLACK, 16 Charlie SIMPSON, 17 James ATKINS, 19 Brad GREIPL, 22 Sam LOVELESS
Sorrento: GK James MORGAN, 3. Jaxon TEMATA, 5 Joel SANDERSON, 10 Jordan ROBERTS, 13 Steve MCDONALD, 14 Scott WITSCHGE, 16 Chris BALAZS, 19 Jack SALTER, 20 Brad MCDONALD, 21 Godwin DARKWA, 23 Cameron TEECE – Subs: RGK Anastasis FARSALEAS, 7 Alex MORGAN, 11 Tim HILL, 17 Reece VITTIGLIA, 18. Jordan BROWN – Referee: Julian Serra
5.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND FIVE – REVIEW
Gwelup Croatia returned to the top of the State League Division One table, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Joondalup City at the Iluka Sports Complex. The visitors were ahead two minutes before half time. Bobby Wilson’s long throw was flicked home by Stephen O’Leary. Gwelup struggled in the final third, as Joondalup began to get in the game and they found the equaliser seven minutes from time. Substitute Brandon Prince crossed from the left and Connor Campbell parried Devon Rindell's effort, and Jason Rubidge was on hand to finish from close-range. “I’m delighted for our players who worked extremely hard today,” Joondalup coach Gary Kalaher said. “I thought we fully deserved at least a point out of the game against an excellent Gwelup side.”
Dianella White Eagles lost top spot after a 1-2 defeat against Morley Windmills at Dianella Reserve. The visitors were ahead on the half hour, Ben Wantee was found out wide, and he cut the ball back to Dion Berman, who finished well. They added a second after the break in similar circumstances, Wantee picking out Berman who finished from eight yards. Dianella pulled one back ten minutes from time, Angel Andres scoring from the spot. They pressed late looking for the equaliser but couldn’t find it. “After a couple of very poor performances, Saturday was a great result, we defended very well and soaked up a lot of pressure for long periods of time and fortunately for once finished a couple of the few chances we had,” Morley Coach John Castrilli said. “Very proud of the boys this week as they had to dig deep to grind out a great result. Also a special mention for one of our new players Marco Perizzolo who was outstanding in the centre of our defence.”
Rockingham City sit in fourth spot after beating Mandurah City 3-2 in the local derby at the Lark Hill Sportsplex. The visitors opening the scoring after Oscar Thompson was brought down in the box and Joe O’Brien stepped up to score from the spot. Rockingham levelled just before half time. Mitch Morrin was sent clear and he rounding the Mandurah goalkeeper and slotting it into an empty net. Mandurah hit back after the break and regained the lead. Andy Brown was picked out in the penalty area, who turned and played in O’Brien, who eased past his marker and finished well. But the home side restored parity, when Koty Millard finished superbly into the top corner of the net from 25 yards. Both sides pressed for the winner and it went to Rockingham five minutes from time. Ross Staley cut in from the right, his shot was parried by the Mandurah keeper, but Josh Mackinder was quickest to react to score from the rebound.
“We were all absolutely delighted to get a well-deserved win. We kept on trying to play right until the end and were rightly rewarded for trying to play. We showed wonderful fight, character and belief in the way we want to play in coming from behind twice to win the game,” Rockingham Coach Cameron Lord said. “What is more pleasing is what we discussed during the week to improve on the UWA result was executed. We must now continue to build on the past two results, and will enjoy the next two weeks we have off as we look to get a number of players properly fit looking forward to our next game against Ashfield in three weeks.”
Fremantle City and Western Knights have fought out an entertaining 1-1 draw in the derby at Hilton Reserve. Fremantle opened the scoring, a free kick from Josh Wade picked out Alec Robinson at the back post, who beat his marker and headed it back across goal and Callum Roberts was on hand to score from close-range. But the Knights levelled with a stunner. A free kick 20-yards out by Dean Hurley, which flew over the wall and into the top corner of the net.
South West Phoenix have won for only the second time this season after a 2-0 win against Ashfield at Ashfield Reserve. The visitors were ahead midway through the first half, Michael Evans found Lee Stewart, whose shot on the turn flew into the net. They wrapped up the points on the hour, Jayden Prosser picked the ball up in the middle of the park, and ran forward and hammered into the net. “It was a good win, away wins and clean sheets are not easy in this division and I felt as a team we were great yesterday,” Stewart said.
“We scored at key times and defensively gave nothing away. This division is very even with teams always taking points off each other so it was important for us to start getting some reward for our performances and as a team we are learning all the time. It was a very stop/start preseason and beginning to the league with injuries and players leaving but now we are starting to settle and gel it’s a shame we will head into a bye this week. But we will use the time to rest and prepare for our next game which will be a big one against Western Knights.” – UWA-Nedlands had the bye this week.
5.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND FIVE – REVIEW
Kingsway Olympic continued their unbeaten start to the State League Division Two after a solid 4-0 win against Quinns FC at Gumblossom Park. The visitors were ahead, with Chris Rizidis pouncing on a rebound, and Danny Hodgson added a second from the penalty spot. It was 3-0 after half time when Josh Pereira’s 25 yard strike flew into the top corner of the net. The icing was put on the cake when Daniel Corbett was picked out in the box and he finished low past the keeper. “We were expecting a tough and it certainly was, but the lads fought out a great victory,” Corbett said. “Quinn’s is always a tough place to go, and get a result, but the boys stuck to the task and played the way Normo wanted us to play, and it was nice to score with my first touch in a Kingsway shirt.”
Swan United kept pace with the leaders after a 4-1 win against Wanneroo City at Francis Street. The Black and Whites were ahead early, Brennan Borzecki raced forward, his shot was well saved by the keeper, but John Monterosso pounced on the rebound to score. Wanneroo levelled when Jamie Stewart beat the offside trap and raced into goal and lobbed the on-coming Swan keeper Joey Smith. But the home side were ahead at half time Nick Tatasciore crossed to Gavin Knight who fired home. Swan made it 3-1 after the break, Aaron Colli was brought down in the penalty area and Knight converted the resulting penalty. They made it 4-1 when Tatasciore’s corner picked out Knight, whose glancing header completed his hat-trick. Wanneroo added a second late in the game Joe Allsop’s shot beating Smith.
In Friday night’s game Curtin University and Balga have fought out a 1-1 draw at Edinburgh Oval. The visitors were reduced to ten men early when Danny Cain was controversially sent off when the referee judged he fouled Curtin’s Khaled Salhah. Carlo Chiellini stepped up to convert the resulting spot kick. Eddie Tikoft when close to a second after the break, but Jordan Howell saved well to deny. Even with ten men, Balga started to get into the game and they levelled on the hour, Daniel Moss finishing low past Jack Kenny to get a share of the points.
Murdoch University Melville moved to fifth on the table after a 6-0 win against bottom of the table Canning City at Murdoch University. Matt Sljivic scored the first finishing well from Tulie Mumbi cross. They then won a penalty when Daniel Davey was brought down, but Dean Thurston’s ‘panenka’ was saved by Anthony Iannantuod. Thurston made amends just before half time to make it 2-0, before Canning’s Peter Cartwright was sent off. The home side took control after the break, Thurston added his second before Ryan Tucker scored a brace and Davey added the other. “We should have been five up at half time,” Coach Gavin Brown said. “But quite pleased with 6-0 overall.” In the final game Shamrock Rovers won for the first time this season with a 2-1 win against Gosnells City at Walter Padbury Reserve. – Kelmscott Roos had the bye this week.
4.5.2018
NPL-WA ROUND TWELVE PREVIEW
It’s been a busy time in the NPL WA and fixtures are coming thick and fast, and all teams are coming off mid-week games, and they continue on Saturday with Round 12. This week’s Footballwa Match of the Week takes us to the Wildlife Safari Stadium on Saturday evening, where Forrestfield United host Bayswater City (7pm). It’s the first time these clubs have played in the NPL, but both are coming off big results last Saturday, with Bayswater beating Subiaco, while Forrestfield stunned ECU Joondalup. They also played in midweek Forrestfield were held at home by Subiaco, while Bayswater maintained top spot with a come-from-behind win against Sorrento.
Forrestfield Coach Rod Banjac said the win at ECU was outstanding, but they couldn’t find the winner in midweek. “ECU was a massive win and most thought that our boys would take time to “get back to earth”, but they even surprised myself with their level of professionalism,” he said. “We all knew that Subiaco will be a massive challenge as they are desperate for points and we were not wrong. They came out with all guns blazing, they were well structured, disciplined and whatever they lack in skill they made up with pure determination. Their defence was superb on the night and although we played well by dominating for long periods while creating chances we had no solutions to hitting the target.”
Banjac is proud of the way his young side have adapted to life in the NPL, but not surprised. “I am stand-alone the proudest coach in the whole league without shadow of a doubt,” he explained. “One thing our club prides itself on is the quality of football our coaches teach and our most senior team delivers the product in style, week in week out against the best in the state. It is a tough league where there are no guarantees as reflected through weekly results but we are adapting nicely while maturing and becoming cleverer after each outing.”
He is well aware the talent Bayswater have available, but he said they are looking forward to taking on the Champions. “This is the one that drives us, the one we all look to measure ourselves against - The reigning champions’ need I say more, we can’t wait,” Banjac said. “The only disappointing thing about the NPL is the crowd attendance, but we hear that Baysie enjoys a massive following and our own Mighty Forrie Army can’t wait to measure up against them.”
Bayswater have won back-to-back games to move them back to the top of the table and Coach Chris Coyne said Wednesday’s win at Sorrento was good, but they need to but in a full 90 minutes performance. “As always up at Sorrento it was a very tough game in testing conditions, but we were a little lethargic in the first half, probably due to the amount of games in such a short time, but the second half was very good,” he said. “We moved the ball around well and apart from conceding a poor goal I think there was only going to be one winner. We created numerous chances and got into some really good areas.”
Coyne said they have had a blip in results recently, but their performances have been good and he said the squad is working hard to improve. “The Perth game we were the better team and didn’t deserve to lose, but against Floreat we were very poor and didn’t deserve anything from the game,” he explained. “That being said the boys have been excellent through the year, we are missing some very big players and the squad has been stretched but to the player they have put in a huge shift. With the likes of Keltie, Griffiths, Marulanda, Allen, Mirco, Hargreaves and Doyle all out we have really called on the players to put in a shift which they have. That being said we have scored a lot of goals this season and from different areas. With four different scorers on Wednesday it means we have multiple threats that teams need to be very wary of." The coach said Forrestfield have been good in their first season in the NPL and is expecting a tough encounter. “Saturday is going to be a tough game against a young, energetic team that is well organised,” Coyne said. “They have adapted quickly after promotion and will be a huge test for the boys.”
ECU Joondalup have home ground advantage when they host Perth SC at the ECU Football Stadium. Both sides are coming off disappointing results, and both were beaten on Wednesday evening, Perth losing to Inglewood, while ECU were well beaten by Balcatta. Midfielder Declan Hughes said they need to lift for the visit of Perth. “It’s been a very bad week for us as a team with two results we’re not at all pleased with,” he said. “The injuries and suspensions don’t help and they all came at once, but we can’t blame it on that.” Hughes said they need to put in a strong performance against Perth and believes they will. “Every game in the league is a tough one and Saturday will be a huge test,” he said. “We can’t do anything about the last two games, but we will learn from it and hopefully we can get a good result against Perth and get our season back on track.”
Sorrento hit the road this week, a trip to Alfred Skeet Reserve to take on Armadale. Sorrento were beaten by Bayswater on Wednesday, while Armadale fought out a 1-1 draw against Perth Glory. Armadale Coach John O’Reilly said they deserved more from the game. “I thought we deserve more from the game, we created more clear-cut chances in that first half and it’s unfortunate we didn’t get rewarded for that,” he said. “But at the end of the day we were playing against one of the top teams in the league this season.”
O’Reilly said Sorrento as always will be up for a big game, but he has been pleased the way his side have performed this season. “Over the last few weeks the team has found its stride and its work rate, and all have been upping their game but extra recognition goes to Captain Nathan Costello and Billy Quinncroft who have been a rock at the centre of the defence,” he said. Josh Kuser has shone in the Floreat and Glory game, raising the bar of expectation, and we’re also delighted to see one of Armadale's favourites Dannie Richman back in the team doing what he does best in the centre of midfield.”
Cockburn City entertain Perth Glory in a top of the table clash at Dalmatinac Park. Cockburn stayed level with Bayswater with a win at Floreat on Wednesday, while the Glory were held at Armadale. Glory defender Walter Scott said it was a tough game. “The Armadale game was a difficult game, we have developed really high standards within our group this season, and the draw was very disappointing for us,” he said. “It was very similar to the weekend against Inglewood, we struggled to take our chances which cost us. Armadale gifted us a great challenge, with their competitive nature and certain gamesmanship techniques, which as young players some of us are yet to grasp, utilize and / or deal with, so we are happy we learnt that, and came away with something.”
Scott said the players are looking forward to Saturday’s game. “Cockburn will provide us again with a great game, the league this year is very tight and three points for us will be vital,” he said. “Daniel Robinson has been in great goal scoring form for Cockburn and we will have to be at our best and adapt what we have learned throughout the season so far, to get a positive result.”
Floreat Athena head to Rosalie Park to take on Subiaco, desperately needing a positive result to kick start their season. Floreat were well beaten by Cockburn in midweek, while Subiaco earned a point at Forrestfield. Subiaco midfielder David Perich said they had their chances to win the game, but it wasn’t to be. “I thought we should have won on Wednesday, but our quality in the final third wasn't good enough, but we had a goal disallowed that should have stood,” he explained. “I think we need things like that to go our way so we can take advantage of the great defensive work we are doing at the moment.” <
Perich said Saturday’s opponents are surprisingly at the wrong end of the table, and he hopes he’s got his scoring boots on. “It is surprising that Floreat are struggling since they have a really strong team. We played them in the night series final and it was one of the most competitive games we've played this year,” he explained. “I've bought new boots today so hopefully that means I can keep one of the 20 shots I take a game on target.”
Balcatta, fresh off a big win at ECU in midweek make the trip down the road to take on Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park. The Lions were also winners, beating Joondalup United 2-0, but Balcatta skipper Calum O’Connell said the win at ECU was their best performance of the season. “It was a good away performance by the group, we controlled the majority of the game and took our chances when they came, which we struggled to do against Cockburn on Saturday,” he said. “We showed again great character to not fall apart at 1-1 and finished the game off clinically in the last 20 minutes, its great when you stick to plan.”
O’Connell said they are looking forward to the derby, and an opportunity to build on Saturday’s performance. “We know Saturday will be another test, no easy games in this league,” he explained. “It’s another derby and another opportunity to build on the hard work we have been putting in. Stirling are a dangerous team when they want to be so we have to be aware of who we are up against, but another good game I think for the neutrals, so three points is a must to keep moving forward.”
In the final game Joondalup United go in search of their first win when they host Inglewood United at Percy Doyle Reserve. Inglewood scored late to beat Perth SC on Wednesday, while Joondalup went down 0-2 to Stirling. Joondalup coach Nick Jennings said he was impressed with the performance against the Lions. “I thought we failed to capitalise on the opportunities we created and were punished for mistakes at the other end,” he said. “I don’t want to whinge but I really do believe decisions at crucial times seem to go against us we, and continue to get absolutely nothing in our favour, but I guess unfortunately that’s what happens when you are bottom of the league.”
Jennings said Inglewood will be another tough game, but they will be doing all they can to get that elusive first win. “Inglewood presents us with a massive challenge, one I have to hope that our boys are up for. It’s now at the stage of the season where we are desperate to get our first win and add to our solitary point; we are marooned at the bottom of the league as we approach the half way mark of the season,” he said. “I’m proud the way that, despite the adversity of this season to date, how the small squad have stuck together on the pitch showing me great desire and commitment.”
4.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, ROUND FIVE – PREVIEW
It’s week five of the State League Division One and the Footballwa match of the week is Western Knights visit to Hilton Park to take on Fremantle City. City have made a good start to the season, winning the Night Series and returned to the winners circle last week with a win at Mandurah. The Knights moved to third with a win at home to Joondalup City and with only one point separating the sides Saturday should be a cracker. The last time the sides met at the venue was in round 14 last season, when Fremantle came from behind to win 2-1. The Knights were in front on 25 minutes, Kevin Ashwood finishing from the angle. Fremantle hit back twenty minutes from time with Rory Kiely scoring Alec Robinson won it from the penalty spot late.
Robinson said the win at Mandurah, which moved the club to fifth on the table, was much needed after the loss to the Phoenix the week before. “Mandurah was a game where the result was all that really mattered after the manner of the defeat to the Phoenix,” he said. “We played some good spells of football and did enough on the day where besides my error which led to their goal, they didn’t have a great deal to worry us and we should probably have won by a few more with some of the chances we missed. The night series is done and gone now, perhaps there’s been a bit of a hangover from us with regards how we started the season but hopefully the win.”
The Night Series win was the first trophy for the club for a while and Robinson said the club have big ambitions and everyone is pulling in the same direction to bring more success to the club, and that means league wins. “The night series is done and gone now, perhaps there’s been a bit of a hangover from us with regards how we started the season,” he explained. “Hopefully the win Saturday now puts that behind us, and we have reevaluated and refocused on the bread and butter of the league.
Robinson said the Knights are hitting some good form, and have picked up some good players, so he is expecting another tough game. “Going into Saturday, the Knights are always a good rivalry for us and are always a good side,” he said. “I know they’ve added to the squad the last few weeks and are getting back into their stride. But having beaten them in our last few encounters, we will go into it knowing what we need to do and will be well prepared for the task at hand.”
The Knights are starting to hit their straps after a horror start to the season at Dianella and skipper Graham Tough said they were made to earn the win against Joondalup. “I thought last week was a good "professional" win,” he said. “They (Joondalup) will take points off teams this year but we were always in control of the game but need to make the pressure we put on teams count.”
The Knights have re-built their side from last season, and Tough said they are ticking over nicely “We lost 12 or 13 players in the off season, so it's been a massive rebuilding job this season. It's been a big job but we are getting there week by week. At this level no-one is irreplaceable but it does take a little time to gel when there is such a vast turnover,” he said.
“I think we're starting to see that now with our performances and in training were all learning about each other every session. The Dianella game we could have been 2 or 3 up in the first 10 but never took the chances to perhaps change the complexion of that game and then the cracks started to appear with us looking like a team who hadn't played together much. That being said it was the wakeup call we all probably needed and we have improved drastically week by week since.”
Tough said Saturday will be a tight contest with both sides having started the season well, but he is confident they can get the right result. “Fremantle are a good side, and it’s never an easy match, and Marco and Lennie are good coaches who set their sides out well and they'll have the boys playing against us to combat our strengths,” he explained. “But having said that we owe them one for the defeat in the night series, we are aiming to be up there again come season end and going to places like Fremantle are where you need to go and come away with the 3 points in order to be up there. Confidence is high and with the gaffer and Ivan bringing in some new faces training has been great the last couple weeks high intensity with everyone wanting the jersey come 3pm on a Saturday.”
Ashfield won for the first time this season at Morley last week, and this week they host South West Phoenix at Ashfield Reserve. The Phoenix won for the first time against Fremantle in round three but were beaten at home by Dianella last week. Ashfield coach Matt Wardle said they played well and will need more of the same against a new look Phoenix side. “Last week was a great result for our players and the club as a whole,” he said. “We worked hard for our first win of the season and hopefully this is a result that sends us on a run of good results, after a tough start to the year. I’m well aware every game I have either coached or played against South West Phoenix are always tough encounters. Both clubs have tremendous respect for each other and this Saturday I expect another tough match.”
It’s the local Derby in the peel region with Rockingham City hosting Mandurah City at Lark Hill. Mandurah were edged out by Fremantle last week, while Rockingham came home from UWA with all three points. Coach Cameron Lord said it was a good performance and they will be looking for more of the same in the Derby. “It was obviously pleasing to get the three points last week against UWA, but there are aspects of our game that needs to be better, and will get better with time when those that have come back into the squad after injury and suspension are properly match fit and it is imperative that we now build on last week’s win and take that winning mentality and feeling into the Mandurah game.”
Lord has been aware of Mandurah’s form going into this game, but he said it’s a derby and form goes out of the window. “We try not to read into the oppositions previous results, as what happens on match-day is what is most important,” he said. “We need to make sure that we do things our way on Saturday to put us in the best possible position to win the game, and that will certainly be our aim.”
In other games Dianella White Eagles entertain Morley Windmills at Dianella Reserve, while Gwelup Croatia make the trip to the Iluka Sports Park to take on Joondalup City. Gwelup are coming off the bye, but are undefeated this season, and Coach Taki Nicolaidis said Saturday is another huge test against a good City side on their own patch “Last week’s bye came at a good time after our hard fought cup game which went into extra time, but the playing group have freshened up for this week’s clash and will be at full strength,” he said. “Joondalup City won’t be a push over as they had a good win against Morley and I watched them last week and they were very competitive against Knights.” - UWA Nedlands have the bye this week.
4.5.2018
STATE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO, ROUND FIVE – PREVIEW
It’s week five of the State League Division Two, and the Footballwa Mach of the Week is the clash at Francis Street, where Swan United host Wanneroo City. United came from behind to beat Shamrock last week, while Wanneroo are coming off the bye. The last time they met at the venue was in round six last season with Wanneroo running out 4-2 winners with Nathan Scully scoring a brace.
Swan sit third on the take, and defender Rory Mouttet said last week at Shamrock was a battle but they deserved the win. “Last week was a very difficult and physical match. The pitch was very small and tight and Shamrock played a hard and tough, uncompromising brand of football, but I felt we created more than enough chances to earn the points and the team really showed some character to grind out the result,” he said. “Saying that we did not capitalise on our chances and looked dead and beaten at 2-1 with 15 minutes to play. So to come back and win the game at the death was fantastic to be a part of and the subs we made contributed in a huge way to help us seal a valuable three points, it was a real team effort.”
The Swans have enticed a number of their former players back to the club and Mouttet said with Paul Dundo at the helm things are looking good. “I think our squad is starting to take shape and show some real depth. We have an experienced side with some excellent young players as well who are keen to win games of football,” he explained. “We have a very pacy attack and Gavin Knight brings a great focal point for us up front. Paul Dundo brings a refreshing, engaging and thoughtful approach to management and training. Everyone is on board and there is a real buzz around the club. Every drill is implemented to teach us how we are desired to play as a unit and with hard work on the training track, retaining our focus and discipline as much as possible and playing to the level we know we are capable of, I believe we can match anyone in the division and push for promotion.’
Mouttet said Wanneroo looked good in the Night Series and have started the season well, so he said it should be a good contest. “We face a big challenge against Wanneroo, and having beaten them in the cup, they’ll be out for payback and it’s going to be a real fight,” he explained. “If we pass the ball well, and are confident enough play our brand of football, I am confident we can win and build on our unbeaten record and take another three points this week.”
Wanneroo are fifth, but only two points behind United, and Coach Tim Kantor said it’s been a steady start to the season from his side. “We had a very good night series and played some really attractive football, but unfortunately had four players unavailable for our opening fixture against a quality Kingsway outfit,” he said. “Since Kingsway we bounced back with two good wins on the trot 5-0 against Curtin and 2-1 against Murdoch, but unfortunately momentum was halted with the bye last week. We played a friendly on Saturday and other than Nathan Scully we have a full squad to select from.”
Kantor said Francis Street is never an easy place to go and get a win, but they go there well rested and confident they can get a positive result. “Swan away is always a tough fixture and they have been in good form aided by a couple of good signings, so we will certainly need to be at our best to get a result on Saturday,” he said. “The week off wasn’t all that bad as it gave a couple of lads time to get over niggles. Our boys are keen to keep our good form going so should be a really good tough game. It’s early in the season but three points are vital to stay in touch with Kingsway.”
In other games league leaders Kingsway Olympic make the trip to Gumblossom Park to take on Quinns, Gosnells City host Shamrock Rovers at Walter Padbury Reserve, while Murdoch University Melville host Canning City at Murdoch University Grounds. The round starts on Friday evening, when Curtin University host Balga at Edinburgh Oval. Balga were held to a draw by Murdoch last week, while Curtin moved to fourth after a big win at Canning. Balga defender Danny Cain said it was a hard fought game but thought they deserved more.
“Full credit to Melville who took their chances well when they were presented,” he said. “To be honest, despite the come back and a positive 20 minutes off the back of half time, the team walked in after the match feeling like we had lost. The lads are up for the Friday night game against Curtin who will be tough opposition. We have been working on some of the aspects that weren’t quite clicking last week and confident that if we deliver our best we will come away with the points.” – Kelmscott Roos have the bye this week.
4.5.2018
BELT UP AMATEUR LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, ROUND FIVE – PREVIEW
It’s week five of the Belt Up Sunday Amateur Premier Division, and the Footballwa Mach of the Round is Kingsley’s trip to Kelly Park to take on Kwinana United. Kingsley sit in third on the table and are coming off a hard fought 2-1 win against Wembley last week, while Kwinana’s game at Belmont was postponed.
Kwinana Coach Kris Donnell said the rest last week was good in one way, and he hopes it helps them against a very good Kingsley side. “I suppose having the week off wasn’t that bad, as it gave a few lads a rest to get over some niggles so we are fresher this week,” he said. “We know Sunday will be a challenge and they (Kingsley) seem to be the favourites from what I’ve been hearing, so it will be good to test ourselves against them. The boys are training well at the moment and playing nice football so were confident going into the match we can get a positive result.”
Kingsley Coach Steven Dimitrovich the win against Wembley was hard fought, like they always are. “It was very good win last week, in very hot conditions,” he said. “It was a game of two halves where we dominated the first half and with a bit of luck would have been 2/3 up but the woodwork got in the way of two great strikes. The second half was Wembley with a lot of possession but no real chance on goal and was really proud of the lads after going 1-1 that we found that little bit extra to get the winner. We know this week presents another big test for us against a Kwinana side that have started the season in good form and have made some good signings in the pre-season so we will go there and relish the opportunity to play a good physical side who no doubt will be up for a battle and keep their winning form going.”
In other games league leaders Leeming Strikers host Hamersley Rovers at John O’Connell Reserve, while second placed Belmont Villa travel to Ellenbrook Sports Hub to take on Ellenbrook United. Southern Spirit will be looking for their first point of the season when Subiaco visit Watsons Reserve, while Wembley Downs entertain Jaguar FC at Butlers Reserve. The final game sees North Perth United travel to the UWA Sports Park to meet UWA-Nedlands. All games kick off at 3pm.
4.5.2018
WE CAN COMPETE AT THE TOP LEVEL: KEOGH
Attacker Kenny Keogh believes the past week could prove to be the seasons’ turning point. Inglewood United climbed into the National Premier Leagues top five for the first time this year on Wednesday evening following a dramatic 3-2 win over inner city rivals Perth SC.
The success came hot on the heels of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat of Perth Glory, who entered that game on top of the competition leader board. “Glory and Perth both provided a good challenge,” Keogh said. “They were right up there at the top of the ladder and we fought hard to get the win in both games.”
“It’s been a long time coming but those performances and results show we can compete at the top level. We knew that before but we weren’t getting the wins, we were drawing games. We are starting to find our balance, we’ve got a good squad and our confidence is building.”
Inglewood can continue their revival on Saturday when they face cellar dwellers Joondalup United under lights at Percy Doyle Reserve. The northern suburbs outfit may be winless after eleven games but Keogh says that will be no reason Inglewood ease off and drop their intensity.
“It’s always a hard place to get a result from, and especially so at the end of a very busy week,” Keogh said. “Joondalup are bottom of the ladder but there’s no chance of us relaxing and taking them lightly. We’ve had a couple of hard games but we’ve had a little rest and now we’re ready to go again.”
3.5.2018
JUVENTUS BEHIND FREMANTLE’S A-LEAGUE BID
Fremantle City have revealed an ambitious plan to join next season’s expanded A-League with the backing of Italian giants Juventus. The bid was launched yesterday to gauge and generate public interest with club president Maurice Oteri gathering support from local clubs and pledging grassroots links.
Football Federation Australia expects to announce two new teams in October, expanding the A-League to 12 sides, from a number of bidders including South Sydney, Canberra, the Gold Coast and Tasmania. Expressions of interest must be submitted in three weeks.
Oteri said City already have links with Juventus through their academy and he will have further talks with the club later this month about a $10 million investment. Oteri, who would also expect marquee signings to come from Juve, said the backing of Juventus could either alienate or excite FFA.
“That’s my concern. I’m not sure how they will react about foreign ownership,” he said. “The first litmus test is to see whether there is public support for a Freo City team. If support is lacking I will not submit a bid. I have a saying that you only have one chance for the first impression and I’m not going to put in a bid with no substance.”
Oteri said the plan, that had been on the radar for three years, was deliberately later than others. “You pitch your bid once you’ve seen what everyone else does,” he said. “It’s like attending an auction. You get a flurry of buyers sticking up their hands, beating their chests but the real bidders, the successful bidders, are the ones that come in at the very end when the gavel is about to fall for the third time.”
A-League boss Greg O’Rourke said at the launch of last season that a second team in Western Australia was unlikely for at least four years. He said FFA preferred the expansion sides to be in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Another two sides are expected to be added in two years with further expansion in four years.
3.5.2018
WILLIAMS PUTS VICTORY FIRST
Injury has struck at the worst possible time again for Rhys Williams with the Melbourne Victory defender ruling himself out of the A-League decider. Williams was a late withdrawal from the semi-final against Sydney FC after injuring his calf in the warm-up and was replaced by Stefan Nigro.
Having previously suffered two serious Achilles injuries, Williams knows the devastation of an injury all too well and though desperate to play on Saturday against Newcastle Jets, accepted he had to put the team first after chatting with medical staff.
"They said I can have an injection to take away the pain, but it’ll take away the power,’’ Williams told the Herald Sun. "I didn’t want to let the team down, needing to come off after five minutes if something goes wrong – it makes it easier for the team and the players to prepare.
"I would’ve run the risk of hurting other things and it was the same side as Achilles (which he tore twice), it was too much of a risk." The injury all but rules Williams out of a potential World Cup call up for the Socceroos with the defender also forced out of the past two tournaments because of injury.
3.5.2018
MIDWEEK NPL-WA ROUND ELEVEN REVIEW
After the mid-week NPL-WA fixtures we have joint leaders on the table with Bayswater City and Cockburn opening up a four-point gap. Last season’s Champions Bayswater lead the way on goal difference after a come-from-behind 4-2 win at Sorrento. Chris Coyne’s side trailed twice in the match before punishing the Gulls for their mistakes, with Andrija Jukic both scorer and provider at Percy Doyle Reserve.
“It’s always difficult coming to Sorrento, they always play well against us so it’s good to get the three points,” Jukic said. “I missed a few in the cup against Floreat so I just tried to get it on target today and it went in, luckily.” Sorrento have now lost five out of six but coach Jamie Harnwell stuck up for his players. “I’m really happy with the performance, I don’t think we deserved to be beaten,” he said. “We worked hard to score our goals and basically handed Bayswater theirs on a plate. We’re switching off at important teams and better teams will punish us.”
Cockburn trail Bayswater on goal difference after thumping Floreat Athena 4-0 at E&D Litis Reserve. Luccas Mello and Daniel Robinson were again among the goals for Cockburn, whose display delighted Coach Scott Miller. “That’s as good as our boys will play,” Miller said. “We’re trying to embrace being the favourites this year. Our whole shape is good, the boys are confident in the front third and it’s good to watch.” For Floreat, their back-to-back league and cup wins over Bayswater are beginning to look like a false dawn after a second successive 4-0 home loss. “We’re in a rut – we’ve got injuries, suspensions but we’ll patch ourselves up, there’s not much you can do about it,” Floreat coach Howard Tweats said.
ECU Joondalup were again beaten at home, this time losing 1-4 by Balcatta. They have conceded 10 goals in two home matches, and in this one Adriano Jelenovic bagged a brace. ECU coach Dale McCulloch said: “The performance tonight wasn’t good enough, simple as that.” While Goran Stajic was delighted with his sides performance. “We have a young squad and it was good to get back to winning ways, and I’m very pleased how the lads played tonight,” he said. “We’re trying to build a character within the squad, and after they scored early in the second half the game could have gone either way, but it was nice to see the boys lift and take it to ECU, who by the way are a very good team.”
Inglewood United moved to fifth after a late goal gave them a 3-2 win against Perth SC and are now fifth and just a point behind third-place Perth Glory. On Wednesday goals from Ashley Rosindale, Alex Salmon and a Kieran Colwell own goal gave them a 3-2 win over Perth SC in a fantastic match at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium. “We’ve been knocking on the door and quietly going about our business, trying to play some good football with some high levels of energy,” Inglewood coach Andy Keogh said.
In other games Perth Glory failed to keep pace with the top two after being held 1-1 by Armadale, Forrestfield United and Subiaco drew 0-0, while bottom club Joondalup United suffered a 10th loss in 11 games after 2-0 defeat at home to Stirling Lions.
2.5.2018
MIDWEEK NPL-WA ROUND ELEVEN PREVIEW
We have a full round of midweek NPLWA games on Wednesday evening in Round 11, and kick off times are 7pm unless stated. League leaders Bayswater City make the trip to Percy Doyle Reserve to take on Sorrento at 8.30pm. Both sides got back in the winner’s circle on Saturday, City beating Subiaco 3-1, while Sorrento beat Joondalup United 3-0. City’s Paul Lloyd said it’s another challenge for them. “We’re expecting a tough, physical game against Sorrento, they have had a few poor results up until last weekend which isn’t like them so we know they’ll be really up for the game, we know our qualities and will be looking to build on the Subiaco win,” he said. “We played well against Subiaco, controlling the game from the start, and they set out to frustrate us, but we were patient and dug in well in the final 20 minutes to see out a good win that sets us up well for Wednesday’s game.”
It’s a double header at the venue, with Joondalup United hosting Stirling Lions in the earlier game at 6.30pm. Joondalup lost the local derby against Sorrento last week, while the Lions conceded late to draw against Perth and David Micevski said they deserve more from the game. “We were all disappointed after the draw against Perth as we felt like we had the better of the game especially in the first half, but our focus is now on Wednesday’s match against Joondalup United which I believe will be another tough match,” he said. “No one can be taken lightly in this league, as we’ve seen with some of the results this season. I’m confident in our boys as we’ve shown in parts this year that we are capable of beaten anyone on our day.”
Forrestfield United head home this week when they entertain Subiaco at the Wildlife Safari Stadium. Subiaco were beaten by Bayswater on Saturday, while Forrestfield thrashed ECU Joondalup. Forrestfield Head Coach Rod Banjac said they need to maintain their form against a good Subiaco side. “It is a tough league and it would be silly at this stage to judge a team by their position on the league ladder. As on previous occasions, last week was full of surprises and it’s now become impossible to predict any results,” he explained. “Our challenge this week against Subiaco is even bigger due to the almost perfect performance on Saturday against one of the top clubs in the state. We had a light session on Monday and although the boys have a professional attitude it’s not easy to switch off and focus on the next game in such a short period of time. But we are looking forward to playing at home in front of our supporters after three games away, and no doubt Subiaco will play their part to what promises to be another cracking game in front of packed Hartfield Park.”
Armadale stunned Floreat Athena last week and they will look to back it up against Perth Glory at Alfred Skeet Reserve. The Glory lost top spot after their defeat against Inglewood, but Armadale coach John O’Reilly said the win at Floreat was a good team performance. “The team were totally up for and focused for the win on Saturday, everyone executed their jobs and that showed in the combined team performance,” he said. “On Wednesday it will be another tough game, Glory are finally living up to expectation as a pathway team into the A League, but the pressure will be on them and the challenge for us will be relished.”
ECU Joondalup will be looking to bounce back Saturday’s heavy loss against Forrestfield, when they host Balcatta, who were also beaten on Saturday, 4-2 at home to Cockburn City, at the ECU Football Stadium. Jacks keeper Johnny Perkins said Saturday is in the past and they move on to the Balcatta clash. “Forrestfield played very well and we played very poor, it was that simple. The effort and quality we had been showing all season wasn’t there and we deserved to be beaten. It hurt everyone around the club and us as players have to take responsibility for that, no excuses, but we have discussed it, learnt from it and moved on,” he said, “After a loss you just want to get back onto the pitch as quick as possible to work hard and make amends for it and we only have to wait four days for that opportunity so we are lucky. Balcatta have produced some good results recently and will be no push over. We are expecting to have to battle for every ball for 90 minutes. With that said our focus is on us, we know that when we play to our capabilities we can cause problems for teams.”
In other games Perth SC makes the trip to the Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium to take on Inglewood United. Andy Keogh’s side beat the Glory last week and are starting to hit some good form, while Perth were held at Stirling. In the final game Cockburn City travel to the E&D Litis Stadium to take on Floreat Athena. City moved to second on the table on the weekend with a win at Balcatta, while the home side have struggled after winning the Night Series, and are coming off a heavy loss against Armadale. <
2.5.2018
IREDALE EXTENDS TIME AT GREENOCK
Former Perth Glory defender Jack Iredale has signed a one-year contract extension with Scottish club Greenock Morton. The 21-year old, who played localy for ECU Joondalup and spent time at the Australian Institute of Sport, left Glory to trials with Morton last year.
After impressing then and on loan at Queen's Park, Iredale signed with the Scottish Championship side for the rest of the season. And after make 14 appearances for Morton, in which he scored three times, he has agreed to remain with the club through to the end of the 2018/2019 campaign.
“The club gave me my opportunity when I first moved over from Australia and they believed in me when I was working hard and got my chance, and now I just want to repay them for the faith they’ve shown," Iredale told gmfc.net, the club's official website.
“I mean, the first season was basically all positive for me. I went out on loan, came back, and played the majority of games in the second half of the season, involved in a good team scoring goals. I really enjoyed myself.”
“Now, I want to kick on next season, for sure, and cement that spot as my own. Whenever there is a change of manager at a club, everyone starts with a blank slate. It doesn’t matter who it is, you have to have that attitude to do everything to show the new manager you’re good enough to play.”
1.5.2018
CENTRAL COAST KEEN ON CLISBY
Central Coast Mariners are targeting defender Jack Clibsy as one of Mike Mulvey’s first signings for the 2018/19 season. The 26-year old is a free agent after leaving Western Sydney Wanderers last month and it's understood Central Coast are keen to secure him to strengthen their defence.
Clisby started out locally with Balcatta and Inglewood United before signing his first professional deal with Perth Glory in 2013. He went on to play for Melbourne City and Western Sydney, making a combined total of 104 appearances across all competitions.
1.5.2018
"2 FINGERED SALUTE": GLORY OWNER RIPS INTO TAGGART
Perth Glory owner Tony Sage has launched a tirade at departing striker Adam Taggart, calling him a "liar". Brisbane Roar announced early today their recruitment of Taggart, who had only recently returned to form after a long injury lay-off, under the nose of a rebuilding Glory outfit.
Sage said the move "blindsided" him and tore into Taggart - who scored nine goals in 14 starts last season - for betraying the club. "It's not only extremely disappointing when you take a player who is at the crossroads in his career with injury, nurse him through at great expense and finally we get him right and then leaves with no thanks or even the decency to tell us," Sage wrote on Facebook.
"No, he just let's the other club announce it. Blindsided.. He said he would wait till our new coach was appointed.. so a liar as well.. He would have been our highest paid player but all we got was a two fingered salute. That's not a GLORY player."
1.5.2018
BRISBANE SNATCH TAGGART FROM GLORY
Brisbane Roar have started their rebuild for next season with an audacious snatch of fringe Socceroo striker Adam Taggart from Perth Glory. The 24-year old won the A-League Golden Boot while at Newcastle Jets in 2013/14, leading to a spot in Australia's 2014 World Cup squad and a contract with English club Fulham.
Taggart has played the last two seasons with Glory, scoring 20 goals in 40 appearances for the club. "I am delighted to be joining the three-time Champions, Brisbane Roar for the next two seasons," said Taggart, whose career tally of 103 games is complimented by 39 goals.
"I’m ready to hit the ground running in pre-season and I’m excited for what the future holds. I cannot wait to start working with (coach) John (Aloisi) and the rest of the team as we push for a fourth Championship. It’ll be a special moment for me when I get to run out onto Suncorp Stadium for the first time in orange."
Taggart joins Brisbane following the departure of key attackers Massimo Maccarone (released) and Fahid Ben Khalfallah (retired). "We are delighted to sign a young, talented, Australian striker who we know will suit our style of play and has the potential to be one of the leading strikers in the league next season," Aloisi said.
"I'm sure our fans and the local football community will be looking forward to seeing Adam in action. We are building strong foundations and we believe Adam will play a significant part in our push for a fourth championship."
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