NPL sides on verge of FFA Cup spot
A spot in the inaugural Westfield FFA Cup competition is on the line for the National Premier Leagues WA sides when they play in the Cool Ridge Cup semi-finals on Monday.
The competition features teams from the A-League as well as the National Premier Leagues and other State-based leagues in Australia. In WA on Monday, Subiaco AFC entertains Bayswater City at the WA Athletics Stadium (6.30pm), while Stirling Lions makes the trip to the ECU Football Arena to take on ECU Joondalup (5pm).
Subiaco have struggled in the league this season but midfielder Jordan Rhodes believes they can cause an upset against the league leaders. “As a player you always want to play in these bigger occasions and it is also great for Subiaco as a club, and the lads are just really looking forward to the game,” he said.
“Bayswater are a quality side and we will be up against it, but the cup has a funny way of levelling the playing field and we hope to give it a good crack. One thing is for sure and that is the lads will leave nothing out on the park come Monday night.”
Bayswater midfielder Brian Farrell knows they can’t take Subiaco lightly as they aim to regain the trophy they won last season, and enter the national cup competition. “It is a tournament we pinpointed at the start of the season and wanted to be part of it. It's huge for the club, coaches and the players to put ourselves in the national spotlight,” he said.
“In saying that we won't be taking Subiaco lightly, as they ran Perth close last week and it is just as big a game for them as it is for us, but we want to keep the cup at Frank Drago Reserve for another season.”
The 2010 Cup winners Stirling Lions will head North full of confidence and striker Daniel Micevski knows the importance of a good cup run, and the huge prize at the end of it. “It's a match I'm really excited about and it should be a good night of football,” he said.
“We played them (Joondalup) in the league only last week and came from behind to win, so we head their full of confidence.
“It will be competitive game, as both sides worked very hard to be in the final four and the chance to go into the national cup competition will be fantastic, and we will be trying our best to achieve that for our club.”
ECU Joondalup assistant Coach Craig Stephenson say’s the club has been buzzing this week ahead of the big game. “What a great day this is for the club and players to be playing in a Semi Final in front of our home fans, and we are one win away from playing in the FFA Cup and the Final and the players will be doing all they can to make this dream a reality,” he said
“Stirling got the wood over us last time we met and we will be looking to make amends this Monday in this ever important semi-final. The atmosphere around the club has been great, with all the players and staff buzzing for this game.“
