Inglewood United coach Andy Keogh is feeling confident ahead of this weekend’s PlayStation 4 NPL WA Round 15 match against league leaders Sorrento at Percy Doyle Reserve.
Keogh, who took the coaching reigns in round 12 following the departure of Taki Nicolaidis, said the team was in high spirits.
“We’ve got to be confident after two back-to-back victories against Floreat and Bayswater,” he said.
“A win this weekend would really cement ourselves in the title race and there’s still a lot of games to be played but it is definitely going to be a very important game to decide on the outcome of the season.”
Inglewood’s eight-game unbeaten stretch has lifted them to fourth place on the table, four points adrift of leaders Sorrento and just two behind Floreat Athena and Perth SC.
Keogh said he would not be making changes to his team on the back of their recent success.
“I expect the same from my team, so we’re not going to change anything,” he said.
“We work a lot on what we do without people changing our systems, so we’ll just go from there.”
Sorrento are gearing up for a big weekend of football, after also reaching the Westfield FFA Cup WA preliminary round semi-finals which take place on Monday.
Coach Jamie Harnwell said his team wouldn’t feel additional pressure despite having two games this weekend.
“It’s obviously a massive weekend for us with the two games and such big priorities,” he said.
“We’re prepared for Inglewood and we’ll try to get a result there but we know how difficult they’ll be and the quality they’ve got, especially going forward.
“For us, to have the same level of performance and determination we’ve had over the past couple of weeks would be nice.”
Sorrento will aim to continue the winning formula that has lifted them to the top of the table.
“It’s obviously great to be back up there,” he said. “(But it’s) more important to be back up there at the end of the season.
“We know there’s going to be a few twists and turns before then so we’ll just keep pushing on and try and make sure we’re there or thereabouts at the end.”
ECU Joondalup will head to Alfred Skeet Reserve on Saturday to face Armadale, Perth SC will host Stirling Lions at Dorrien Gardens and Floreat Athena will take on Perth Glory at E&D Litis Stadium.
Balcatta and Cockburn City will battle it out at Grindleford Reserve, Subiaco and Bayswater City meet at Rosalie Park and Joondalup United will make the trip to Securitas Protect Stadium to meet Mandurah City.
FIXTURES:
Saturday, June 3
Armadale v ECU Joondalup (Alfred Skeet Reserve, 3pm)
Perth SC v Stirling Lions (Dorrien Gardens, 3pm)
Floreat Athena v Perth Glory (E&D Litis Stadium, 3pm)
Balcatta v Cockburn City (Grindleford Reserve, 3pm)
Sorrento v Inglewood United (Percy Doyle Reserve, 3pm)
Subiaco v Bayswater City (Rosalie Park, 3pm)
Mandurah City v Joondalup United (Securitas Protect Stadium, 3pm)