Bayswater City aim to preserve their lead at the peak of the NPLWA – Men’s competition when they host Armadale in a first-versus-third clash at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday.
After starting the season winless in three, Gareth Naven’s side have since taken maximum points four games in a row to head the division on goal difference from Perth Glory.
One of the catalysts to Bayswater’s start to the campaign has been Jon Stynes, whose six-goal return sees him behind only Gustavo Marulanda, Chris Jackson and Daryl Nicol in the Golden Boot race. Stynes believes heightened competition for places in a deep, talented squad has set the tone in recent weeks, while a few subtle line-up tweaks have also done the job.
“It’s a combination of things, but in the first couple of games we were so defensively fragile and it really went through the whole team. We seemed to be worried about getting hit on the counter-attack, and if we went down 1-0 it would change our mindset and perhaps our style of play,” Stynes said.
“Now the belief in the team has changed. We are more stubborn and that’s allowed our forward players to have a bit more freedom, but we also know the best line of defence starts with your attack and the team has also been working really hard to achieve a more structured progression.
“There’s so much competition and in every position, we basically have two good players who think they should be playing which is really healthy. It means standards can’t drop because you might be out of the team next week.
“The boys we have (in attacking areas) are players who could step into any team and we have about eight of those, which is pretty scary for other teams. But there’s a real harmony among us which is contributing to the recent success we’ve had.”
Bayswater won four league titles in five seasons during the 2010s, but silverware has escaped them since 2017 when they lifted the League, Top Four Cup and Night Series trophies.
“It’s probably not been good enough given the size of the club, which has such a great history here in WA,” Stynes said.
“Bayswater look after their players well and go about it like a professional club which is fantastic for the boys, and now we want to deliver for the club and the staff who work so hard.
“Many people say we have one of the best teams on paper, but for some reason it’s just eluded us in recent years. With the players we have, we should be challenging for the title and certainly this year that’s where we want to end up.”
Bayswater face Armadale this week, who under John O’Reilly are the league’s leading scorers with 22 goals in seven league outings. Eight of those have come in the past two games against Floreat and Balcatta, which has raised belief that a first Top Four Cup appearance could be a possibility.
Stynes acknowledges they will need to be on their guard against in-form opponents, but it is a mindset which has been consistent throughout a tight and unpredictable start to the NPL season.
“We owe them one after the Night Series when they did us over (3-1), but we’re a different team to when we played them in pre-season. They’ve scored a lot of goals and are playing well, so we need to be mindful of their attacking ability,” he said.
“But we need to stick to what we’ve been doing, keep playing good football and have it in our own power, and hopefully that will get us across the line on Saturday and carry us through the season.
“Historically there’s been teams lower down who haven’t been as good as the top four or five teams, but now everyone has a chance in every game and it feels like all the teams below are improving. The games against the bottom sides are now hard teams to play who can beat you on their day.
“I’ve never seen that before in this league. Normally, there’s three or four teams where you know if you go there, and don’t have a stinker you’re probably going to get three points. Now, you have to be on it every week to get a win and that’s great for the league in general.”
Elsewhere in Round Eight, second place Perth Glory will hope to capitalise on any slip-up from the leaders when they travel north to face Olympic Kingsway.
Stephen Walmsley’s side are only goal difference off top spot having recovered from back-to-back losses in April and a third straight win will see them continue as a surprise pacesetter in 2023.
Kingsway, meanwhile, have clicked into gear after a tough start to the league with three wins in four games lifting David Tough’s side back into the chasing pack.
Only six points separate bottom side Sorrento and leaders Bayswater coming into Round Eight. The Gulls are looking for their first league win since Round Four when they host Floreat Athena, who have lost three games in a row.
Last season’s 3-1 win at Percy Doyle Reserve sparked Floreat into a run of one loss from 13 matches, which saw them go on to lift the 2022 NPLWA – Men’s title.
Perth SC and Balcatta Etna meet in an Italian derby at Dorrien Gardens with both teams wanting to snap a recent slide down the table.
Perth RedStar try to maintain their unbeaten away record when they take on Inglewood United, who have drawn back-to-back games but are without defeat in three.
Finally, fourth-placed Stirling Macedonia meet Cockburn City looking to maintain their finals position, while Steve McDonald’s side know a win would see them leapfrog Ian Ferguson’s team.
Round Eight fixtures (3pm)
Bayswater City v Armadale
Inglewood United v Perth RedStar
Olympic Kingsway v Perth Glory
Perth SC v Balcatta Etna
Sorrento FC v Floreat Athena
Stirling Macedonia v Cockburn City