LET'S TALK FOOTBALL

Around The Grounds September 4-5

APB STATE PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 22 MATCH OF THE WEEK

By Chris Correia

Stirling Lions v Western Knights - Macedonia Park - 3.00pm Saturday

Match highlights available on www.footballwest.tv from 2pm Monday

Match broadcast live on Heritage FM 107.3 from 2.30pm Saturday

Football West could not have set a better contest to end the regular season as the Minor Premiership will be decided when Stirling Lions host Western Knights at Macedonia Park this Saturday afternoon.

Western Knights sit atop of the APB State Premier League table, two points clear of the Lions in second. A draw for the Knights would secure top spot and grab the vital week off as the All Flags Finals Series begin next weekend, while Stirling will be gunning for all three points in front of their home crowd. Last weekend saw the Knights edge out Armadale 4-2 at Nash Field, while Stirling crashed Mandurah’s 40^th anniversary celebrations when Bobby Wilson scored an injury-time winner to keep their title hopes alive.

The 2010 Minor Premiership plate will be on display prior to kick-off this weekend, with both teams not giving an inch to secure the reward for finishing top of the table. Key striker Daniel Trim will be missing for the Knights, so new coaches Alex Christie and Carl Medica will be needing Stuart Montgomery and Anthony Campbell to find the back of the net for their side. Campbell scored a match-winning brace in the Knights’ win over Armadale last weekend and will need to continue his strong form into the All Flags Finals Series after a disappointing 2010, despite being the team’s top scorer last season.

Paul Lincoln’s Stirling Lions are full of confidence after a pulsating last few weeks which has seen them claim the State League Cup and a memorable win against Mandurah City to stay in the Minor Premiership hunt. Wilson along with Cup final man-of-the-match Ludo Boi, Michael Pugliese, Phil Arnold and goalkeeper James Turvill are match winners all over the park and will be keys to Stirling’s performance this Saturday. Get ready for a blockbuster contest which will decide who will enjoy the early celebrations before the championship-deciding All Flags Finals Series kick off next weekend!

APB STATE PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 22 FEATURE GAME

By Chris Correia

Cockburn City v Mandurah City - Dalmatinac Park - 3.00pm Saturday
Match highlights available on www.footballwest.tv from 2pm Monday

At the other end of the spectrum, Cockburn City and Mandurah City will do battle at Dalmatinac Park to fight for their survival in the APB State Premier League. Cockburn cannot afford to hope other results go their way, they need three points to ensure their survival and Mandurah only need a draw. This clash will be pivotal in deciding who goes down to Division One as Swan United and Inglewood are also not out of the woods.

Last weekend saw Tony Castiello’s Cockburn defeat Inglewood 2-1 thanks to a brace from the in-form Rory Feely. Despite being down 1-0 early, the Cockerels rallied hard and managed to edge out Inglewood at 6PR Stadium. Mandurah City were poised to secure their spot in the 2011 APB State Premier League after Christian Paschkewitz’ 89^th minute goal had them level with Stirling Lions at Hyundai Stadium, but Bobby Wilson crashed the party when his 92^nd minute header off the crossbar broke the home side’s hearts. Feely, along with midfielders Marc Anthony and Adrian Webster and defender Shane Nunes are all talismans for City and will need to overcome the returning Andy Brown, along with stars Jeff Bright, Victor Insaurralde and Jordan Rhodes.

With the scenarios for the other matches in Round 22, Floreat Athena could finish as high as second with a win against ECU Joondalup at E&D Litis Stadium depending on other results, as could Perth SC who will be taking on Armadale at Alfred Skeet Oval, who will be missing Golden Boot leader James Robinson to suspension. Sorrento need a victory at Percy Doyle Reserve against Inglewood to ensure an elimination final next week away to whoever finishes fourth. On the other side of the coin, Inglewood must win to stay safe.

Joondalup need to beat Athena and hope other results go their way to finish in the top five and Armadale is in the same boat along with Balcatta, who will also need a huge swing in goal difference to be any chance to play finals football. Goal difference will also be vital for Swan United who will be at home to Balcatta this Saturday afternoon at the Swan Italian Club, in a do-or-die clash for Jamie Goodman’s side. For this first time, Football West TV will also be covering a third APB State Premier League game, when Sorrento takes on Inglewood United. Check out the goals from 2pm Monday at www.footballwest.tv

Click here for all the APB State Premier League fixtures.

Follow #FootballWestHQ on Twitter for the live APB State Premier League scores, you can even access the updates on your mobile!

APB STATE DIVISION ONE - ROUND 21 FEATURE GAME

By Peter Simcox

Bayswater City v Fremantle SC - Frank Drago Reserve - 3.00pm Saturday

The match between league leaders Bayswater City and Fremantle Spirit at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday is the feature game of Round 21 in the APB State Division One.

A win for Mauro Marchione side will put them within touching distance of the 2010 First Division League title, but the coach knows the job is not finished yet. “By experience I know that every game is hard, every game is like a final and particularly now is even harder because for the first time all season we are top and we have a real possibility to be promoted,” Marchione said.

“We know we have a job to do and we will do everything necessary to be promoted, because we know that we deserve it for the quality of the football and the consistency of our results during the all year. But we also know that Bunbury deserve the same as us and we respect that and whatever the final outcome is, we will accept it because we consider them a great team exactly at the same level as ourselves.”

Bayswater won 3-1 in a hard fought game against Morley-Windmills last week, while their nearest rivals Bunbury Forum Force slipped up at Gosnells City, so they know a win against the Spirit will put them in the box seat. Skipper Damien Catalano and Anthony McStea have been in good form for City, while strikers Gustavo Murulanda and Kailo Karpeh continue to find the back of the net.

Fremantle are clear of the relegation zone and will look to spoil the party on Saturday. They will be smarting from the 5-1 defeat at home to City in round nine, but are coming off a 5-2 win against Rockingham City last week.  Former Western Knights and Stirling Lions striker Anthony Fearon has been in good form for Alan Pottier’s side, while Tyrone Fenwick, Michael De Souza and Cameron Hayes will be vital if the Spirit is to stop the Bayswater juggernaut.

Click here for all the APB State Division One fixtures.

SUNDAY PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 19 FEATURE GAME

By Geoff Mason

Subiaco AFC v UWA-Nedlands FC - Rosalie Park - 3.00pm Sunday

The feature game for Round 19 in the Sunday Premier League sees relegation candidates Subiaco AFC take on the in-form team of the competition, UWA-Nedlands FC at Rosalie Park. In last weekend’s fixtures, Subiaco AFC were unlucky not to take all three points against league leaders Shamrock Rovers with Ian Button missing an 80^th minute penalty, while UWA-Nedlands FC defeated last year’s champions Stirling Panthers 5-1, extending their unbeaten run to seven games.

Currently sitting second bottom of the table, Subiaco put in a strong performance last weekend against Shamrock Rovers and will be confident that they have the ability to match the class that UWA-Nedlands has been showing in the last seven weeks. The key players for Subiaco this weekend will be Martin Sherwin and Ryan Westerhouse and they will be hoping influential midfielder Mark Monahan can win the battle in the middle of the park. Despite missing a late penalty last weekend, the hosts will be hoping Ian Button can recover and show the form that he has been displayed over the last month if Subiaco are to win this weekend.

UWA-Nedlands, who have had a dramatic in the last two months, will be hoping they can continue their late season form to push for a top three finish. In their rise towards the top, James Quinn, Ian Stack, Chris Beach and Ross Shepherd have been keys to their performances. The visitors will need to hope not only these players, but everyone, puts in a team performance in a match that is shaping up to be key fixture for both sides for very different reasons.

Click here for all the Sunday Premier League fixtures.

SMARTER THAN SMOKING WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 18 FEATURE GAME
By Ann Odong

Balcatta v Northern Redbacks - Grindleford Reserve - 1.00pm Sunday

With just two points separating them on the Smarter than Smoking Women's Premier League table, this Sunday's feature match between Balcatta SC and the Northern Redbacks will go a long way to determining who will take out the title for 2010.

It's been a tough month for Balcatta SC, with the defending champions coming back to the chasing pack  after a loss, a draw and two tight wins, have seen their lead at the top of the table eroded from 8 points to just 2 as injuries have taken their toll. Despite this, Lisa Tana's squad is still a formidable one. Golden Boot leaders Caitlin Dingle and Ashleigh Panaia have continued to score throughout the period, while experienced midfielders Sarah Marek, Prue Cormie and Domenica Carbone have continued to feed plenty to the strikers. A strength for so long, Balcatta's defence has conceded seven goals in just three games and this weekend against an in-form attack, the usually reliable back five will need to be at the top of their game.

There is no denying that Tim Hodgson's Northern Redbacks are the in-form team of the League.  Including last night's Cup win, the Redbacks are unbeaten in seven matches, scoring an astounding 26 goals in those matches. It has a been a true team performance, but forwards Carol Howes and Lara Filocamo, along with midfielders Sarah Carroll, Nicola Williams and Jayde Willis have been most prominent.  However it has been the Jennifer Jobling and Rebecca Dudek led defence that needs to be applauded with Hodgson turning around last season’s weakness into the best performing defensive unit of the year. If they can hold up to the Balcatta onslaught, it can almost be assured that the attack will do the rest.

Balcatta have had the wood over the Northern Redbacks this year and in recent seasons. The last time they met in Round 12, a late goal saw Balcatta take all three points. This time the stakes are higher. The rewards for the winner of this encounter are tremendous as it places them in the box seat for the 2010 Smarter than Smoking Women's Premier League title.

Click here for all the Smarter than Smoking Women’s Premier League Fixtures.

IN THE MEDIA

Saturday September 4

The World Football Programme - 9.00am-12.00pm - Radio Fremantle 107.9FM

Live Match Broadcast Stirling Lions v Western Knights & Saturday Scoreboard - 2.30pm-5.00pm - Heritage FM 107.3

Sports Report - 5.00pm-5.30pm - Heritage FM 107.3

Sunday September 5

Let's Talk Football - 6.00pm-8.00pm - Heritage 107.3FM