Advertisement

NPLWA - Double trouble for Bayswater

NPLWA - Double trouble for Bayswater

Bayswater City coach Chris Coyne has described his side’s local soccer matches against Floreat Athena and Cockburn City this long weekend as “two monsters.”

City face Floreat in a top-of-the-table PS4 NPLWA match at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday before a Westfield FFA Cup quarter-final preliminary clash against Cockburn at Dalmatinac Park on Monday.

League-leading Bayswater, who won all four trophies up for grabs last season, are ahead of Floreat on goal difference and a win this weekend could have major ramifications in the chase for the title.

But Coyne also has one eye on Monday’s clash with Cockburn, the winner of which will be just one game away from the FFA Cup national Round of 32, at which point Hyundai A-League clubs join the competition.

Coyne said the experience of taking on Melbourne Victory in last year’s FFA Cup Round of 32 had created an appetite for more in the City players.

“The boys want to go again; they are a hungry group,” he said. “They had a taste last year against Victory and only lost 2-0 against the A-League champions and they want to go one better than that.

“We’ve got to get through this weekend first and at the moment Saturday is the main focus.

“But it would be good to go into Monday with three points against Floreat and sitting top of the league.”

A 2-2 draw with Perth Glory on ANZAC Day is all that separates Athena from a perfect record, while Bayswater would also have a 100 per cent start to the season if not for a draw with Inglewood United in round three.

Coyne is confident his side’s experience in big games will be the difference against Floreat.

“No disrespect to Floreat but they haven’t been at the top recently with everyone wanting to shoot them down,” he said.

“I’m not surprised with how well they’ve done because they’ve got some good quality going forward. But I know when it comes to business time the (Bayswater) players can lift that gear or two to get us across the line.”

PS4 NPLWA Round 9 (Saturday, May 30)

Cockburn City v Sorrento (3pm, Dalmatinac Park)

Perth SC v Armadale (3pm, Dorrien Gardens)

ECU Joondalup v Subiaco (3pm, ECU Football Stadium)

Bayswater City v Floreat Athena (3pm, Frank Drago Reserve)

Balcatta v Perth Glory (3pm, Grindleford Reserve)

Inglewood United v Stirling Lions (3pm, Inglewood Stadium)

Westfield FFA Cup, WA preliminary quarter-finals (Monday, June 1)

Cockburn City v Bayswater City (3pm, Dalmatinac Park)

Perth SC v Subiaco (3pm, Dorrien Gardens)

Mandurah City v Gwelup Croatia (3pm, Hyundai Stadium)

Sorrento v South West Phoenix (3pm, Percy Doyle Reserve)