STATE PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 5 MATCH OF THE WEEK

Perth SC v Inglewood United - BGC Stadium - 3.00pm Saturday

Match highlights available on www.footballwest.tv from Monday afternoon

 

Round 5's State Premier League Match of the Week will see reigning champions Perth SC take on Inglewood United at BGC Stadium. Perth took on ECU Joondalup last weekend in a nine-goal thriller where Perth prevailed 5-4 winners. A hat-trick from ECU striker John Thornley wasn't enough to help his side as braces from Matt Danskin and Andreas Oliveira were good enough to get the Blues the three points.

 

Inglewood dropped to tenth on the Premier League table after being thrashed 5-1 at the hands of last season's minor premiers Western Knights. United struggled to get into the match and converted their only real chance to score through striker Mladen Kovacevic. It is early days in the season but Inglewood need to pull something out of the hat to keep clear from the relegation zone and three points could potentially see Shane Pryce's side jump into the top six, depending on other results.

 

STATE PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 5 FEATURE MATCH

Western Knights v Mandurah City - Nash Field - 3.00pm Saturday

Match highlights available on www.footballwest.tv from Monday afternoon

 

Top-of-the-table Western Knights will feel comfortable taking on Mandurah City at Nash Field on Saturday afternoon - the ground which saw them lose just one game last season. The Knights' 5-1 romp of Inglewood last weekend was the third consecutive win for Paul Price's side and will now take on Mandurah who are fresh from being the only team to take points off Balcatta this season.

 

City's 1-1 draw with Balcatta was an impressive result for the struggling side, given their slow start to the year which saw losses in the first three rounds, including the huge 6-1 loss against Floreat Athena in the season opener. Prior to last Saturday's clash, Balcatta were the league leaders and clear on top of the table. Mandurah will need the talismanic Andy Brown to fire on all cylinders if they are a chance of grabbing a result from Nash Field. The Dolphins will be boosted with the recent signing of Stirling Lions captain Jordan Rhodes.

 

Other State Premier League Fixtures:

Stirling Lions v Sorrento - Macedonia Park - 3.00pm Saturday

Swan United v ECU Joondalup - Swan Italian Club - 3.00pm Saturday

Cockburn City v Balcatta - Dalmatinac Park - 3.00pm Saturday

Armadale v Floreat Athena - Alfred Skeet Oval - 6.00pm Saturday

 

STATE DIVISION ONE - ROUND 3 MATCH OF THE WEEK

Canning City v Bayswater City - Burrendah Reserve - 3.00pm Saturday

 

2008 State Division One champions Canning City enjoyed their first win of the season last weekend against Rockingham City with a 1-0 result in a late kick-off at Lark Hill. The win saw Canning jump to fourth on the table, just two points off top spot held by Bunbury Forum Force. This weekend will see Canning take on fellow frontrunners Bayswater City at Burrendah Reserve.

 

Mauro Marchione's Bayswater side thrashed Queens Park 6-2 last Saturday, bouncing back from the opening round 2-1 loss against Forresfield United. Bayswater are just one-point behind Canning on the table, so a win would see them leapfrog their rivals in the quest for promotion to the State Premier League.

 

Other State Division One Fixtures:

Wanneroo City v Bunbury Forum Force - Kingsway - 3.00pm Saturday

Queens Park v Forrestfield United - Coker Park - 3.00pm Saturday

Gosnells City v Rockingham City - Walter Padbury Reserve - 3.00pm Saturday

Dianella White Eagles v Fremantle SC - Dianella Reserve - 3.00pm Saturday

Ashfield v Morley-Windmills - Ashfield Soccer & Sports Club - 6.30pm Saturday

 

SUNDAY PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 2 MATCH OF THE WEEK

Shamrock Rovers v Spearwood Dalies - Harold Rossiter Reserve - 3.00pm Sunday

 

This weekend will see Shamrock Rovers take on Spearwood Dalies at Harold Rossiter Reserve on Sunday. Shamrock finished as last season's Runners-Up while the Dalies finished mid-table in sixth position. Last season's Round 6 encounter saw Shamrock finish 5-2 winners, while Spearwood took bragging rights in the return fixture with a 2-1 win at the end of the season as Shamrock were charging towards the title.

 

Spearwood's 4-1 defeat of Fremantle United last season has jumped them up to second on the ladder, while the Rovers defeated Premier League newcomers Belmont Villa 4-2 to sit third, just behind on goal difference. This clash will be important as both sides face tough fixtures next weekend with Spearwood taking on reigning champions Stirling Panthers and the Rovers will be up against top-of-the-table Joondalup United.

 

Other Sunday Premier League Fixtures:

Murdoch University v Southern Spirit - Len Shearer Reserve - 3.00pm Sunday

Olympic Kingsway v Subiaco AFC - Kingsway Sports Complex - 3.00pm Sunday

Joondalup United v Belmont Villa - Arena Joondalup - 3.00pm Sunday

Fremantle Croatia v UWA-Nedlands FC - Nash Field - 3.00pm Sunday

Fremantle United v Stirling Panthers - Hilton Park - 3.00pm Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

SMARTER THAN SMOKING WOMEN'S NIGHT SERIES FINAL

Northern Redbacks v Balcatta - Coker Park - 6.30pm Sunday

By Ann Odong

 

This Sunday will see another chapter written in one of the great rivalries of women's football as northern neighbours Northern Redbacks and Balcatta do battle for the 2010 Women's Night Series title. 

 

The two sides boast some of the best local talent around with the Redbacks sporting National U13s Girls Coach Nicola Williams, Golden Boot winners Lara Filicamo and Jacqui Nellany along with former Glory Women's defender Emily Dunn.  Balcatta will also be fielding their share of talent with Glory Women's attacker Ellis Glanfield, former Glory Women's midfielder Katy Coghlan as well as their formidable defensive unit. 

 

Situated in Group A, the two combatants made their way into the finals with victories over UWA-Nedlands and Subiaco before playing out a final round draw.  However, they experienced differing semi-final clashes with the Redbacks leading the entire match to defeat Queens Park 2-0 while Balcatta came from behind to defeat defending Night Series champions East Fremantle 3-1.  

Both sides finished 2009 with silverware and will be looking to add more to their trophy cabinet.  If their round robin 2-2 result is anything to go by, the winner of the final is anyone's guess.