Report by Tommy Doleman

Floreat skipper Dean Evans, right, challenges Bayswater's Stephen Walmsley during last week's 4-1 win at Frank Drago Reserve. Photo by Brett Klucznik

Floreat Athena look to continue their red-hot start to the 2021 NPLWA - Men’s season when they face Cockburn City on Thursday night.

City denied Floreat the title on the final day last year but were themselves pipped by ECU Joondalup.

Floreat got their revenge a week later in the semi-final of the NPL Finals Series and have carried over that form this year, winning their first five league games. It is something which has delighted head coach Vas Vujacic. 

“We definitely knew how important it was to start well this season, so we’re pretty thrilled to have five wins in a row which is hard to achieve in any league,” Vujacic said.

“We tried pretty hard to maintain the core of our squad even though we did lose a couple of players, and we’ve managed to continue on our form from last year.

“We felt a bit hard done by with how the league ended last season and felt we were the best team; particularly given that we beat ECU twice.

“But the team, especially the experienced players see it as a good chance to keep trying to win, especially since we haven’t won the league since 2007. We’re desperate to keep ourselves up there and give it our best shot again.”

In contrast to Athena, Cockburn’s season hasn’t gone to plan and one win from five sees them at the foot of the table. Vujacic is taking nothing for granted.

“I’ve watched a bit of Cockburn this year and they’re a much better side than what their position shows,” he said.

“We definitely can’t take them lightly and know it won’t be a formality, so we need to be prepared and play as well as we have so far.

“The motivation for us is to try and continue our run and make it six (wins in a row), and hopefully put pressure on the teams chasing us below.”

The other five fixtures occur on Saturday with Bayswater meeting Inglewood in the pick of the games. Both teams will be desperate for three points to launch their season with City on a run of three defeats in four, while Inglewood have lost their last four league matches since the opening round.

Elsewhere, Taki Nicolaidis returns to one of his former clubs as Gwelup Croatia travel to Dorrien Gardens to face Perth SC in a top-half battle. Gwelup have conceded stoppage-time equalisers in the last two rounds and are already nine points behind Floreat.

ECU Joondalup will look to continue their three-game winning run when they visit a Balcatta side who have drawn their previous two games.

Rockingham City play at home for the second time in the NPL WA and host a Sorrento team who bounced back from defeat against ECU with three points at Inglewood.

Finally, in the 7pm kick-off, eighth plays ninth as Perth Glory host Armadale.

- Next Monday is Round Five (WA) of the FFA Cup.

There are still two Belt Up Amateur League sides involved - North Perth United host Armadale while Kwinana United travel to Perth SC.

In other matches, 2021 State League Night Series winners Mandurah City host Cockburn, Division Two champions Carramar Shamrock Rovers are at Sorrento, Division One title-holders Olympic Kingsway face ECU Joondalup, while Gosnells City travel to Rockingham City.

The two all-NPL ties are between Gwelup and Floreat, and Bayswater and Balcatta.

Fixtures (3pm unless stated)

NPLWA - Men's Round Six

Thursday
Floreat Athena v Cockburn City (7.30pm)

Saturday
Perth SC v Gwelup Croatia  
Bayswater City v Inglewood United  
Balcatta v ECU Joondalup  
Rockingham City v Sorrento
Perth Glory v Armadale (7pm)

FFA Cup

Monday
North Perth United v Armadale (12.30pm)
Rockingham City v Gosnells City (2.30pm)
Gwelup Croatia v Floreat Athena 
Perth SC v Kwinana United
Bayswater City v Balcatta
Olympic Kingsway v ECU Joondalup
Sorrento v Carramar Shamrock Rovers
Mandurah City v Cockburn City