Anzac Day blockbuster to kick off Round 7

There could be plenty to trumpet about when goal-scoring whizzes Floreat Athena and Perth Glory meet in what promises to be an Anzac Day spectacular in a round seven clash of the National Premier Leagues WA at Litis Stadium on Friday night.

Floreat have suddenly - and not surprisingly - rediscovered their route to goal since Peter Murphy, a renowned goalscorer in his playing days, was appointed coach just over a week ago.

They have hit 10 goals in two games - a 5-0 NPL blitz of Cockburn and a 5-0 demolition of the highly-fancied Sorrento in the second round of the Cool Ridge Cup.

Perth Glory have also been amongst the goals, bagging six in their stunning 6-0 thumping of Armadale last weekend which followed on from their breathtaking 5-5 draw with Cockburn the previous week.

The modest Murphy, who hit a record nine goals for Perth in a 10-1 thrashing of Kwinana United in 1990, reckons he hasn't given his players any special scoring tuition since taking the Floreat coaching reins which were vacated when Chris Barbas stepped down a few weeks ago.

"I haven't placed any particular emphasis on attack," he said. "We've had six different scorers of our 10 goals, so that's pleasing.

"I don't know what the problem was before, but I've just spelt out our game plan for the next month. It seems to have worked straight away. They are a great bunch of lads and everyone has given me 100 per cent."

He added: "What has been particularly pleasing that we haven't allowed the teams we have played so far to create too many clear-cut chances against us. We have tightened up all around the pitch and that's satisfying."

Jamie Eames, who was with English side Norwich in his youth, has been outstanding so far for Murphy, scoring twice against Cockburn and setting up three of the goals in the Cup win. "He's got a lot of talent," said the coach.

The win over Cockburn enabled Floreat to move to fifth on the ladder, on the same number of points as fourth-placed Balcatta.

Perth Glory are just a point away in sixth place — and the young team is beginning to emerge as a force to be reckoned with in the NPL.

20-year-old striker Jamie Maclaren got four of the Glory's goals against Armadale and his experience with the senior Glory side in the A-League has been a big plus to the NPL team.

"He's a great finisher and playing in the NPL is very good for his development," said Glory coach Scott Miller.

"I don't know if it will be another goal feast against Floreat, but our aim is to entertain and please the fans."

Todd Harnwell will reach a signifcant milestone when he plays his 400th senior game for Sorrento against Cockburn City at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday.

Harnwell, 33, the younger brother of Sorrento co-coach Jamie Harnwell, is the first player to reach the mark for the Gulls.

He started playing with Sorrento as a seven-year-old and joined the first-team squad when he was 17.

His stunning record could have been even greater, for he left the club for spells with Perth Glory and Singapore side Sengkang Marine.

"We are hoping that a big crowd will turn out on Saturday to applaud Todd," said club secretary Kerry Slater.

League leaders Bayswater City will be hoping to stretch their unbeaten run when they take on bottom side Subiaco at Frank Drago Reserve on Saturday.

They followed a 4-1 away win over NPL rivals Stirling Lions on Saturday with a 3-1 Cool Ridge Cup victory over Armadale with hot-shot striker Steve Burton getting a brace in both games.

"That's 15 unbeaten this season, including the Night Series, and it will be more if you take in our run in last year's finals," said Bayswater coach Chris Coyne.

"It's a proud record and one we are keen to maintain."

Balcatta have recovered from an indifferent start to the season and will be keen to keep their place in the top four when they host Stirling Lions on Saturday.

The Lions, who have slipped to seventh on the ladder, recovered from their loss to Bayswater when they blitzed Rockingham 8-1 in the Cool Ridge Cup on Monday.

Armadale will be hoping to bounce back from their 6-0 loss to Perth Glory — and a 3-1 Cup defeat to Bayswater — when they tackle Perth at Alfred Skeet Reserve on Saturday night, kick-off 7pm.

They will be without Nathan Costello, who is suspended, but coach Lee Bamber is confident his players can respond to the challenge of getting the better of high-flying Perth.

Perth could be without defender Craig Simpson, who limped out of Monday's Cup loss to Cockburn. "It will be a late decision on him," said coach Taki Nicolaidis, who was perlexed at the concession of a couple of soft goals in the Cup.

On Sunday, Inglewood United, who are unbeaten in their last four games, will be hoping to continue their run when they host ECU Joondalup at Intiga Stadium. They will looking for another big effort from Million Butshire, who impressed against Perth last week in his first 90-minute spell of the season.

ECU will be boosted by the return of captain Jon Higgins and influential midfielder Joe Smith, who were both absent in last week's NPL loss to Balcatta.

FIXTURES
Friday, April 25
7pm - Floreat Athena v Perth Glory, E&D Litis Stadium.

Saturday, April 26
3pm - Bayswater City v Subiaco, Frank Drago Reserve; Balcatta v Stirling Lions, Grindleford Reserve; Sorrento v Cockburn City, Percy Doyle Reserve.

7pm - Armadale v Perth, Alfred Skeet Reserve.

Sunday, April 27
3pm - Inglewood United v ECU Joondalup, Intiga Stadium.




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