PS4 NPL WA Round 11 Preview

Former Balcatta coach Ramon Falzon is set to take charge of third-placed Perth SC for the first time when they take on Sorrento in PlayStation 4 NPL WA at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday.

Falzon, who has replaced Melbourne Victory-bound Gareth Naven, has promised to continue on a similar path as his predecessor.

“Our target is very simple: to maintain what Gareth has built and to try to strengthen on it,” Falzon said.

The new coach had his first training session with the squad on Tuesday night and was pleased with the response.

“The reaction of the players was positive,” he said. “I think the fact that I was immediately there reassured the players that there’s not going to be any big changes; that we’re actually going to keep on building momentum on the current squad and on the current plans Gareth has already set in place.” 

Falzon’s appointment came after Perth’s 4-2 win against Inglewood last week, a success he hopes to replicate against fifth-placed Sorrento.

“The team, although the coach has changed, had a good performance last week and the target should be the same thing this weekend,” Falzon said. “It shouldn’t be affected because there was a change of coach or something external beyond the pitch.” 

Falzon has, though, warned his side to guard against complacency following their stunning win against Inglewood and Sorrento’s draw against rock-bottom Subiaco a week ago.

“I’m honestly expecting Sorrento to be much more focused and have a much better performance than what they had last weekend,” he said.

“The focus at the moment is not on the league, it is just on the match against Sorrento this weekend.”

However, Falzon also revealed a longer-term plan to topple Bayswater from WA football’s summit.

“We haven’t won anything recently because Bayswater has been dominating the local scene,” Falzon said. “The ambition of the club is quite obviously to break that stronghold that Bayswater has on the competition in WA.”

Defending champions Bayswater are second on the same points as leaders Inglewood United.

PS4 NPLWA ROUND 11 FIXTURES
Saturday, June 2
Perth SC v Sorrento (Dorrien Gardens, 3pm)
Floreat Athena v Cockburn City (E&D Litis Stadium, 3pm)
ECU Joondalup v Inglewood United (ECU Football Stadium, 3pm)
Balcatta v Bayswater City (Grindleford Reserve, 3pm)
Stirling Lions v Perth Glory (Macedonia Park, 3pm)
Subiaco v Armadale (Rosalie Park, 3pm)