Time to split the difference
Football West News
It is a case of six into four won’t go as the NPLWA Men’s league heads into its final round before the competition split.
While Floreat Athena and Gwelup Croatia have reserved their seats in the top half, it is all about who will join them and keep alive their chances of being named 2020 champions.
Cockburn City, Sorrento, ECU Joondalup, Armadale, Inglewood United and Bayswater City are the teams in the mix, with two set to be left on the outer come Saturday tea-time.
Most at risk of missing out are Bayswater, who are down in eighth. The three-time title winners, who have not won in four games, have to beat leaders Floreat at Frank Drago Reserve and are relying on Armadale and Inglewood slipping up.
If Bayswater do join Perth SC in failing to make the top six then there will be a new name on the trophy for the first time since 2016.
Inglewood, who are a point outside the top six, head to Forrestfield to take on a Perth Glory side who have lost four in a row and conceded 14 in their last three games.
A point will be enough for Cockburn City, in third, and fourth-place Sorrento to ensure they remain in the top six.
Cockburn host Armadale, whose 5-2 win over Perth Glory last week moved them back above the cut-off line. Sorrento, the league’s top scorers, travel to Perth SC.
ECU Joondalup, meanwhile, have hit form at the right time. They have won three on the trot and will look to extend that when Balcatta visit on Saturday.
The day’s other match is between Gwelup Croatia and bottom of the league Rockingham City.
Following Saturday’s Round 11 fixtures, the NPLWA Men’s competition will start again:
- The league will split into a top six and a bottom six. Competition points will not be carried over
- Each team will then face the other sides in their half of the split over the following five weeks
- The 2020 league champions will be the side who finish first in the top six
- There will then be a Top Four Cup finals series involving the teams who finish first, second and third in the top six and side top of the bottom six
All of the remaining NPLWA Men's and Top Four Cup games will be live streamed on Football West's YouTube and Facebook pages.
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