Report by Tommy Doleman

Ciaran Salinger, left at the 2022 NPL season launch and in action against Perth SC last year. Photos by Football West/FotoEnzo and Rob Lizzi

Gwelup Croatia are at home for the first time this season as they look to kickstart their 2022 campaign with a Round Five visit from Inglewood United.

Gwelup currently sit 10th in the NPLWA – Men’s competition, winless from the three matches they have played. But after last week’s 2-2 draw at Bayswater City in which they were only pegged back through a late penalty, skipper Ciaran Salinger believes the results don’t necessarily tell the full story.

“We’ve had a few decisions go against us and have missed a few chances, but the beauty of the way we’re playing is we’re making it difficult for teams, so I think if we can control the game, play it on our terms and take a few more opportunities then hopefully results can go our way,” he said.

“It was probably frustration after the Sorrento game (a 2-0 loss), because the first goal we conceded was poor on our end and we were in that game, but didn’t create as many chances as we should have.

“Coming into the Bayswater game we addressed a few issues and you could see the emotion and excitement of the boys when we did score, as if that hard work we put in was coming to fruition.

“We knew the points were there for us and had it in the grip of our hands but let it slip. So, whilst it’s frustrating we’re not getting the points we deserve, it’s exciting because we know we’re playing well and we’re not even at our best yet.

“There’s a few players missing with injury and suspension, so there’s an excitement that if we do click then we can string a few results together and go on a bit of a run.”

Gwelup only won three games last term, which was fewer than relegated Rockingham City. But 10 draws meant they largely remained clear of any relegation threat in 2021.

Ahead of their third NPL campaign since promotion in 2019, there was wholesale change across the club as they appointed a new coach in former Perth Glory midfielder Mitchell Prentice and gave the squad a complete makeover.

Salinger is the sole survivor from the first two top-flight seasons. Having been appointed captain, he is excited by the challenge of leading the young group.

“At the start, I was excited and kind of the wary of the fact this a brand-new squad. But it was always a fresh start from a personal standpoint and also for the club,” he said.

“Some of the boys knew each other from previous clubs, so there were some smaller groups within the squad already, and over the last month or so that camaraderie has definitely come together.

“I think I’ve always been a bit of a natural leader. It was passed down from when my dad played football. He used to always say to me, ‘if you’re having a bad game with your feet, you can always have a good game with your mouth’.

“I had a captaincy role with the State team when I was younger at NTC and ECU too. It’s been a natural transition from being an all-around player to a captain figure and I’m thriving on it because what it does is allow me to be accountable for myself and the rest of the team.”

Salinger is hopeful some of early-season positive signs will further come together this weekend.

“I think if we stick to what we’re doing, the way we’re playing, the confidence we’ve got on and off the ball is developing and it’s going to give us good results,” he said.

“I think we’ve always been a club that’s adapted to the opposition, whereas now we want to play in a way that means the opposition start adapting to us.

“For us, it’s a big game and our first home game with this brand-new squad, and the boys are excited to go out on the pitch and play in front of our crowd.”

Inglewood’s season has somewhat stalled following an opening day win at Balcatta. That game was followed by two losses before last Saturday’s clash Cockburn City, who struck twice deep in stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw.

Round Five starts on Good Friday as Perth Glory play Armadale at Crazy Domains Stadium in Forrestfield.

Glory have started the 2022 NPL season well with two wins in three games to occupy an early top four position, while Armadale are chasing their first points in only their third outing because of Covid postponements.

Having displaced previous leaders Perth RedStar with a 3-2 win in last week’s top-of-the-table clash, Floreat Athena hope to maintain their 100% record when they travel to Cockburn. But Mirko Jelicic’s side will be enthused by Saturday’s dramatic late comeback at Inglewood where goals from Daniel Robinson and Jesse Lazzaro secured an improbable point.

RedStar will aim to show there is no hangover from the loss at Floreat when they host a Stirling Macedonia side that tasted defeat for the first time last week against Glory. This is a meeting between two former Perth Glory coaches in Kenny Lowe and Ian Ferguson and the first game of a double-header – RedStar’s NPLWA – Women’s side take on Fremantle City in a top-of-the-table clash afterwards.

Elsewhere, Sorrento try to preserve their unbeaten start against Bayswater, while there is an Italian derby at Grindleford Reserve as Balcatta Etna and Perth SC both look for their first league win this season.

Fixtures

Friday (7.30pm): Perth Glory v Armadale. Saturday (3pm): Balcatta Etna v Perth SC, Cockburn City v Floreat Athena, Gwelup Croatia v Inglewood United, Perth RedStar v Stirling Macedonia, Sorrento v Bayswater City.