The pressure is on heading into the final five rounds of the NPLWA – Men’s competition as leaders Perth RedStar host rejuvenated Bayswater City in Round 18 action at RedStar Arena.
Callum Salmon’s side sit one point clear of Stirling Macedonia, who have a game in hand against third-placed Olympic Kingsway and are also alive in the title race.
RedStar’s advantage at the top is courtesy of a three-goal recovery to draw with now-bottom Inglewood United last weekend. At the same time, nearest rivals Stirling were returning empty-handed from Cockburn City.
Despite the turn of events, RedStar captain Blair Govan said there were mixed feelings at the full-time whistle.
“We were happy, but it was also a missed opportunity when you look at how the other results went,” the defender said.
“We were a bit gutted when we realised Stirling had dropped points and there was a chance to go further clear. But we were also 3-0 down and got a point, and it’s not often that happens when there’s 20 minutes left, so for us to come back and get three goals could be huge.
“On Saturday, Inglewood set up well early and stopped us from playing, but we know once we get the ball down and moving that we are tough to beat, and it’s about doing that week in, week out.
“It’s about keeping calm and playing our way, because we know we will always create chances and one of them will eventually go in. We know if we get one, we can get, two, three, four and keep pushing on, but it’s about staying focused.”
Last season, the league title was ripped away from RedStar in the dying minutes of Round 22 when Bayley Brown-Montgomery scored a late winner for Floreat Athena at Armadale.
This year, only 11 points separate top and bottom, and the stakes are high once again as the northern suburbs club hope to go one better. Govan said the tight nature of the 2023 campaign brings a unique tension as they look to hold off the chasers.
“There’s a bit of pressure because we are top and know Stirling have a game in hand, but all we can do is win the games we have left,” he said.
“It’s a strange feeling seeing how tight the league is because every win feels massive and every time you drop points you’re wondering where you’re going to end up on the table. I’ve never seen anything like this in WA.
“We’d hate to lose out like we did on the last day again. But like I said, it’s just a case of winning all our games and seeing where we end up. We’d obviously prefer it not to go to the last day, of course, but the way the league’s been it seems to be heading that way!”
RedStar’s next opponents are in-form Bayswater City, who have climbed to fifth and sit five points off top spot. Gary Williams has guided Baysie to a three-match unbeaten run since being named as head coach and Govan expects another tight contest similar to the 1-1 draw earlier in the season.
“They’re flying since the new gaffer came in, so it’s going to be a tough game,” Govan said.
“It would have been nice to play them a month or so ago - it’s probably the toughest time to play them now coming off a 6-1 win. They seem to be scoring more goals and conceding a lot less than they were, and it’s probably going to be the hardest game we’ve had against Bayswater in the last couple of years.
“For us, it’s about staying patient and not getting frustrated, keeping the ball moving quickly and not being cheap in possession. We’ve got to stay switched on defensively too, because it’s probably what cost us the points last time against them.
“It was one cheap giveaway, they get a goal from it, and the rest of the game we have a lot of chances but dropped two points. We know what to expect but we have to be smart with what we do and try not to force the situation.”
Elsewhere, Stirling will look for a return to winning ways when they face Perth Glory at Lark Hill.
Ian Ferguson’s team saw their four-game unbeaten streak end against Cockburn and this week in Glory they face another team trying to steer clear of relegation trouble. The hosts start the weekend just three points above bottom side Inglewood following a 1-0 reverse against Olympic Kingsway in Round 17.
Kingsway are one of the division’s form teams and are five games without defeat heading into an away game at Inglewood. With that crucial game in hand against Stirling looming, David Tough’s team will want to keep pace with the leaders, while the home side are one point off safety and can take confidence from the earlier season meeting when they won 4-0.
Balcatta Etna also remain in the hunt still and start the weekend fourth when they welcome Sorrento to Grindleford Reserve. Glen Grostate’s team have drawn their last three matches and are only a point ahead of fast-finishing Bayswater City, while Sorrento are three games without victory and sit only goal difference outside the relegation zone.
Armadale and Perth go head-to-head at Alfred Skeet Reserve sitting sixth and seventh respectively. The winners will keep their hopes of a top-four finish alive while the losers may find themselves looking over their shoulder at the teams below.
Finally, Cockburn host Floreat in a repeat of June’s State Cup semi-final at Dalmatinac Park. Both sides are split by only three points in the league’s bottom half with Cockburn on a run of only one loss in four games. The defending champions are looking to continue their ascent up the table having recorded a circuit-breaking victory over Sorrento to move off the foot of the league.
