INGLEWOOD United coach Andy Keogh is feeling confident ahead of this weekend’s 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.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“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 it 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 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 is gearing up for a big weekend of football, after also reaching the FFA Cup WA preliminary round semi-finals which take place on Monday.
Coach Jamie Harnwell said his team would not 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 it to the top of the table.
“It’s obviously great to be back up there,” Harnwell 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 heads to Alfred Skeet Reserve tomorrow to face Armadale, Perth SC hosts Stirling Lions at Dorrien Gardens and Floreat Athena takes 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 south to meet Mandurah City.
NPL WA Round 15 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 (Peelwood Reserve, 3pm)