Football West News

They were separated by 45 points and the length of the table at the end of the 2015 league campaign.

But Armadale fancy their chances of upsetting PS4 NPLWA champions Bayswater City in Saturday night’s QBE Night Series semi-final at Dorrien Gardens (8.15pm kick-off).

Armadale coach Paul Price, who took over the reins at the club seven games into last season, says his team has come a long way since finishing rock bottom last September.

“We’ve played really well and I think we deserve to be in the semi-finals,” Price said. “Bayswater might have a big squad of 18 or 20 players but they can only put 11 out on the pitch… we’re certainly not frightened of them.

“I know Bayswater’s strengths but if we can play the way we’ve been playing offensively, we’ll have a good chance.”

Bayswater coach Chris Coyne has been impressed with Armadale’s improvement, which has been in no small part due to the influence of English imports Alex Salmon and Ellis Healing.

“I saw them early on and by all accounts they seem to getting better and stronger during the Night Series,” Coyne said. “So they look like they’re going to be difficult opponents this week and also through the year.”

Defending Night Series champions Floreat Athena take on Stirling Lions in the first semi-final at 6pm.

Floreat scraped into the semi-final by the narrowest of margins, having been level with Inglewood United on points and goal difference and progressing due to their victory over Inglewood in the group stage.

Stirling Lions were the first team to qualify for the semi-finals but were beaten 5-3 by Armadale in the final round. That result, and Perth’s surprise defeat to Balcatta, allowed Price’s team to advance on goal difference

CLICK HERE for Night Series results and fixtures