Report by Tommy Doleman

New Balcatta head coach Glen Grostate with club president Peter Carlino. Photo from Bacatta FC Facebook

The NPLWA - Men’s competition hits the halfway mark this weekend and Balcatta Etna will hope three points against Bayswater City on Saturday can give them much-needed momentum.

Etna parted ways with head coach Michael Johnson last week after a winless start to the 2022 campaign which has seen them collect one point from their first eight games.

Replacing him is Glen Grostate, who won the 2016 State Cup with Floreat Athena and took Quinns to a third-place finish in Men's State League Division One last season, as well as the Top Four Cup final.

Despite leaving Quinns only last month, Grostate was intrigued by the challenge of returning to the NPL and reigniting Balcatta’s season.

“I had a couple of clubs call me, which included Balcatta. It’s a big club and I thought that maybe I was a person who could come and help them get out of trouble,” Grostate said.

“I was hungry to get back into it and take on another challenge and it’s one which is really going to drive me. The club have already been good to me so far. They’ve backed me and have said whatever you need to do, we’ll help you with. So that’s my goal, to try and fight from the bottom and try and get us in a safe position.

“I’ve taken two sessions so far and I’ve just gone in and said to the boys that whatever has happened in the past can’t be changed, and that I’m a big believer in looking forward and that’s all we can do. The only player I’ve worked with in this group is Riley Stephenson, the goalkeeper from my time at Gwelup, so it’s a very young group and it will take a little time to adjust things. But there’s some really good young players there and some good senior players, too.”

Grostate’s first match in charge was due to be last weekend against second-bottom Gwelup Croatia, but a Covid postponement means that fixture will be one of two catch-up games Etna still need to play.

Despite the difficult start to the season, which included an Australia Cup upset to Amateur side Emerald, Grostate believes there is enough to build on.

“I watched them against RedStar, who are a good side, and Balcatta lost 2-1 but competed really well for a lot of the game,” he said.

“Against Cockburn it was 0-0 where either team could have won and against Stirling, they got back to 1-1 early in the second half. So, they have shown they can compete, but we’ve just got to get the team learning how to win again, and teach them how to finish games off, because they’ve just forgotten how to get over the line and push each other through the whole 90 minutes.

“It’s about lifting the morale, getting them happy and getting their mojo back. I think there’s a lot of potential, a lot to work with, and a few additions will definitely help us with that run home.”

Grostate’s first remit at Balcatta is to try and make up the three-point gap on Gwelup and move clear of the relegation zone. In their favour is that they have games in hand on the teams above them.

“We’re not halfway through the season and 12 points behind a team, we’re only three points behind Gwelup with a game in hand. There’s still 14 games left, so if we can get a couple of wins in a row, things can definitely change and change quick,” Grostate said.

“You saw (on Tuesday) Armadale beat Perth 3-0, so anyone can beat anyone on their day, and we’re looking forward to that challenge. We’re going to change the structure a little bit, but we’re going to work hard and whilst it’s not going to turn completely in 24 hours, it’s a process we’re going to start and we’re certainly looking to win the game against Bayswater first and foremost.

“The boys will need to dig in, be motivated, and hungry, and we’ll see what happens, because they have it in them. They just need that luck to break and to continue working hard for each other until the very end. It may take us one week, two weeks or even three weeks before we truly get going, but we will get going at some point, I can guarantee you that.”

The big game at the top this weekend features Stirling Macedonia’s short trip to Sorrento. Despite last week’s loss to Floreat, Ian Ferguson’s side remain in good position and trail leaders Perth RedStar only on goal difference. Sorrento were top two weeks ago but successive losses to Floreat and RedStar have seen them drop out of the top four.

Leaders RedStar, meanwhile, are away at Cockburn, who won 2-0 in last season’s corresponding fixture. Mirko Jelicic’s side are winless in six but were unfortunate in last week’s late defeat to Glory having created the better chances.

Two confident teams meet at E&D Litis Stadium as Floreat welcome Armadale, whose win at Dorrien Gardens earlier this week was only their second league win over the Azzurri in the NPL era.

Perth will be desperate to avoid a third home loss in eight days when they face Inglewood United, who are looking to close the gap on fourth place.

Perth Glory will be hoping to do similar, starting at Gwelup Croatia, whose last outing saw them pick up their maiden win of 2022, at Cockburn.

Fixtures

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