New faces geared up for NPL challenge

Cockburn City and Floreat Athena have emerged as the teams mostly likely to challenge Bayswater City and Perth SC for the PS4 National Premier Leagues WA title this season.

Bayswater scored a clean sweep of all four trophies up for grabs last season but their failure to progress from the group stage of the recent Night Series has given other clubs hope of claiming more silverware in 2015.

Cockburn kick-off their campaign away to Inglewood United on Saturday, while Night Series winners Floreat have rescheduled their opening-round match for April 25 when they take on Perth Glory’s NPL side in an Anzac Day fixture.

Former Perth Glory coach Gary Marocchi’s return to Perth SC as president has instigated a club revival that took them within a whisker of grand final success last season and the Azzurri have high hopes of going one better this season.

But it has been Floreat’s Night Series success – and Cockburn’s march to the final, which they lost on penalties – that have sounded the loudest warning ahead of the new season.

Floreat boss Glen Grostate has his side playing attractive and effective football, while Marc Anthony, who had a brief spell as a player with Celtic, has continued to shape Cockburn into a team capable of upsetting the established order.

But despite mixed results in the Night Series, Bayswater City coach Chris Coyne has no intention of allowing standards to slip at Frank Drago Reserve.

“Our expectations are high, as always,” said Coyne, whose team opens their campaign at home to Subiaco on Saturday. “What we achieved last year and the year before is history now. Everyone has tried to raise the bar and we have to set high

expectations.”

Perth SC are at home to an ECU Joondalup side that is capable of making it into the top four, according to coach Dale McCulloch.

“The thing for us as team and as a club is to keep improving and better last year,” MCulloch said. “We are quietly confident that top four is not out of the question and maybe even more.”

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PS4 NPLWA, Round One ''''''

'Saturday, March 28 '

Armadale v Sorrento (Alfred Skeet Reserve, 3pm)

Perth SC v ECU Joondalup (Dorrien Gardens, 3pm)

Bayswater City v Subiaco (Frank Drago Reserve, 3pm)

Stirling Lions v Balcatta (Macedonia Park, 3pm)

Inglewood United v Cockburn City (Inglewood Stadium, 5pm)

Saturday, April 25 (Anzac Day)

Floreat Athena v Perth Glory (E&D Litis Stadium, 6pm)