Report by Tommy Doleman
The NPLWA – Men’s competition reaches its halfway point on Saturday as leaders Stirling Macedonia host Inglewood United in Round 11 action.
This is a potentially tricky game for last year’s Top Four semi-finalists against an unpredictable Inglewood team, who sit 10th but are only six points off second place.
The last two weeks have seen them win 4-0 at Olympic Kingsway but also lose 4-0 to Perth SC.
Stirling, meanwhile, are going about their business quietly with an unbeaten run that’s to four league games. They’ve also kept four clean sheets in a row, scoring 12 goals along the way with the only blank a goalless draw at home to Cockburn.
“I’ve been really happy with the performances of late. Even in the game with Cockburn, I feel we created a lot of chances but couldn’t quite score,” head coach Ian Ferguson said.
“The goals against Perth, Glory and Armadale have been pleasing and we’re delighted with the form. Especially with everyone contributing whether it’s coming from set-pieces, individual play, or a great move, it’s pleasing we’re scoring a lot more goals than last year to this point.
“The boys have been desperate in their defending and I’m very happy with the defensive effort and commitment we’ve shown again this year.”
Following on from 2022, Stirling have the league’s best defence after 10 matches. And this year they have found punch going forward with 21 goals already to close in on last year’s tally of 29.
Ferguson says extra options in the squad have provided the group with an additional boost extra as they aim to go a couple of steps further than last year’s third-place finish.
“It was something we felt we wanted to build on from last year where we didn’t quite have the squad depth, but bringing in those extra players they’ve come in and competed really well,” he said.
“There’s no guaranteed starters. I try to put out players every week who I think will do a job for the team, but then the next four or five behind are really strong. That’s something we’ve done really well because there are players who really want to challenge and not just sit on the bench.
“What we’ve learned is Stirling is one of the biggest clubs in the NPLWA with a target on their back and the players have had to realise that. Every time we go out and play, teams want to beat us because of the history and tradition at the club.
“They (Stirling) are one of the best-supported clubs and for our players the expectations are high. I said it from minute one when we got to this league that we wanted to win it and we weren’t far off last year.”
And having finally reached the summit with the weekend’s win, Ferguson has challenged his players to try and maintain their position in what has been a topsy-turvy season overall.
“I felt we were the nearly men last season, so our challenge now is to stay there. We were top of the league three times and gave it away, so this year I want us to see how long we can hold onto it,” he said.
“At the end of the day, that’s where we want to be, and it’s where you have to be if you want to be winning leagues.”
Elsewhere in Round 11, Olympic head coach David Tough returns to his former club as the Night Series winners make the short trip to in-form northern suburbs rivals Perth RedStar.
Tough was an assistant coach for several years at the Joondalup outfit, who start the weekend two points off the top spot. Callum Salmon’s side have lost only once in their past six games, but promoted Kingsway will be on a high after their last-gasp win over previous leaders Bayswater City.
Bayswater also remain in touching distance of Ian Ferguson’s team, despite their seven-game unbeaten run ending last Saturday. This week Gareth Naven’s squad go to Perth SC, who had a 4-0 win over Inglewood United to take three points for the first time since Round Five.
The Azzurri also announced former New Zealand and Perth Glory defender Danny Hay as their new head coach. Interim coaches Basil Lenzo and Stuart Banks remain in charge for this weekend’s Italian Derby, with Hay officially starting at Dorrien Gardens on 5 June.
Fourth-placed Glory will want to build on their late winner over Sorrento in Albany when they begin the round on Friday night against Floreat Athena in Rockingham. The defending champions ended a five-game losing stretch with a goalless draw at Balcatta Etna last week and three points could move them off the bottom if other results go their way.
Glory are only goal difference ahead of fifth-place Etna, who head south to face Cockburn City looking to extend a run of three without defeat. The Cockerels’ own three-game unbeaten stint ended in heavy defeat to RedStar, but they can still overtake Glen Grostate’s team with a victory.
Armadale and Sorrento will also seek a return to winning ways when the pair face off at Alfred Skeet Reserve, with Army’s leading scorer Chris Jackson missing the clash against his former club due to suspension.
Round 11 fixtures
Friday (7pm)
Perth Glory v Floreat Athena
Saturday (3pm)
Armadale v Sorrento
Cockburn City v Balcatta Etna
Perth RedStar v Olympic Kingsway
Perth SC v Bayswater City
Stirling Macedonia v Inglewood United