It’s the biggest game of the NPLWA – Men’s season this Friday night, as leaders Bayswater City look to knock over the final obstacle standing between them and a first league title since 2017.
A win for Bayswater over second-place Olympic Kingsway at Frank Drago Reserve will take them nine points clear of the 2024 champions with just four rounds to play.
Even a draw will leave the hosts well set, holding a six-point lead and with superior goal difference.
For Bayswater head coach Matt Sparrow, however, talk of a done deal is premature.
“Whatever the outcome is on Friday night, nothing is done,” he said. “We’ll still have a few tough games to play, and we know from experience how good Olympic are. We’ve achieved nothing yet.
“They’ll come to our ground with a game plan, and I’m expecting a really tight affair and probably not many goals.
“It was like that when we played them earlier in the season at Kingsway when it finished 0-0. Defenders were on top, and I think it was the first time they had not scored in a home league game in nearly two seasons. While overall we were satisfied, it shows we’ve come a long way to be disappointed not to take three points at a team like Kingsway.”
A look at the NPL standings shows Sparrow’s first season in charge of Bayswater could hardly have gone better – unbeaten after 17 rounds and a return of 14 wins and three draws. They are the league’s top scorers with 43 goals and have the stingiest defence, having conceded only eight.
“You’re always optimistic and hopeful, but the way it’s panned out has exceeded my expectations,” the Englishman said.
“Consistency has been the key, getting the basics right. The players have been brilliant in both boxes. Defensively we have been strong all season and now we’re sticking them away. The last few weeks we’ve shown really good form. We’re scoring a lot at the minute and also getting clean sheets. But again, we’ve achieved nothing yet.”
Sparrow took the role as head coach last year after a successful spell at Fremantle City. Over the summer, the club boosted the squad by attracting players of the quality of Sean McManus, Oli La Galia, Pat Loughrey, Jon Corness and Declan Hughes to go with the likes of Cam Teece, Gordon Smith, Chris Jackson and Lewis Italiano.
Much was made of the new signings, but Sparrow says they brought no guarantee of success.
“Everyone was saying we had a massive squad but each week it’s only 18 players. You still have to deal with players getting injured, some having a loss of form etc,” he said.
“In all, we brought in eight new faces, and we have put together a good mix of experienced players and some who are more youthful. The squad last season was a little bit ageing and needed freshening up. What has been good is how everyone has gelled.
“I had four great years at Freo, two as players and two as coach. We got promoted to the NPL for the first time through the play-offs, then last season was a big one, finishing third. But when a club like Bayswater come knocking, it’s really hard to say no. So far it’s been a great move but there’s still a way to go.”
While Sparrow plays down what is riding on Friday’s game, experience says it is a must-win game for Olympic if they are to retain a realistic chance of defending the league.
Match details
NPLWA – Men’s Round 18
Bayswater City v Olympic Kingsway (7pm, Frank Drago Reserve)
Live stream: streamer.com.au/match/5418
- Friday’s game is the first of two huge matches in five days for Olympic, who meet Melbourne Victory in the Hahn Australia Cup next Tuesday night.
That comes 48 hours after Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix also play at Kingsway Reserve in the Australia Cup on Sunday.
The WA Government this week announced a $40,000 grant to support the transformation of the Wanneroo venue for the two matches that involve three A-League teams.
The Government media release said: “The grant supports temporary infrastructure to strengthen the reserve's capacity to host elite fixtures and deliver an outstanding matchday experience.”
Tickets for the Olympic Kingsway-Melbourne Victory game, which kicks off at 7pm, are on sale here: bit.ly/OKvMV-tickets
