Report by Matt Storer

Stirling Lions will not allow last weekend’s Cool Ridge Cup final loss to Bayswater City to adversely affect their chances of finishing in the NPL WA finals, according to coach Gary Williams.
 
The Lions, who were beaten 2-0 last Saturday, are five points adrift of fourth-placed Sorrento heading into Saturday’s clash with Balcatta at Macedonia Park.

Pictured: Gary Williams. Photo: Peter Simcox

“It was disappointing not to win but the boys have had a week to get over it,” Williams said of the cup loss.
 
“We still have a chance of getting in that top four … I expect the players to be confident, go forward and win the game on Saturday.”
 
The Lions have five games to close the gap on Sorrento, whose tail they have been chasing for five rounds.
 
“We will be doing our utmost to win the last five games and give ourselves the best opportunity but unfortunately it’s out of our hands,” Williams said.
 
“We need the other teams to lose, particularly Sorrento … If they win three and lose two games, we’ve still got to win all five to just scrape in there, so it is a big ask but we’ll be doing our best.”
 
Despite his side’s recent form, Williams is confident they can still be a formidable challenge for third-placed Balcatta in this weekend’s “massive game.”
 
“We haven’t had the best run in the last two or three games … but in our defence, we have been playing the best teams in the league,” he said.
 
“The players have got to believe in themselves, they’ve got to be confident in their own ability. If that happens, I think we can beat any team in the league.
 
“We can definitely beat Balcatta on Saturday. They are a good team but they are certainly not unbeatable.”

Fixtures
Saturday, July 26: Perth Glory v Floreat Athena (Intiga Stadium, 3pm); Cockburn City v Sorrento (Dalmatinac Park, 3pm); Subiaco v Bayswater City (WA Athletics Stadium, 3pm); Stirling Lions v Balcatta (Macedonia Park, 3pm); Perth – Armadale (Dorrien Gardens, 3pm); ECU Joondalup v Inglewood United (ECU Football Arena, 3pm).