Season kicks off on Saturday

Bayswater City will kick off the defence of their PS4 National Premier Leagues WA title at home to Subiaco on Saturday.

City coach Chris Coyne has built on the squad that won four trophies last season and goes into the new campaign with plenty of confidence.

Former Perth Glory defender Hayden Doyle is among the newcomers to Frank Drago Reserve.

“Our expectations are high, as always,” Coyne said. “What we achieved last year and the year before is history now.”

Subiaco coach Gerry McEwan is simply aiming to build on the foundations set in last season’s inaugural campaign.

Perth SC coach Taki Nicolaidis knows a good start is important to his ambitions of taking the club one step further than last year’s runner-up position.

With no finals series in the 2015 campaign, top spot on the table has taken on extra significance.

Perth open their campaign against ECU Joondalup at Dorrien Gardens.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper coach Lee Bamber has set his sights on keeping Armadale in the NPL with relegation on the agenda for the first time.

“Everyone will need to perform in every game for us to achieve our goal,” Bamber said.

On Saturday at Alfred Skeet Reserve, Armadale will face a Sorrento side featuring one of their ex-players, Jack Salter.

Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell has indicated Salter is a player to watch this season after a disappointing time at Stirling Lions last year.

The Lions, coached this season by Rob Milevski, have had a significant turnover of players but the new boss expects a top-half-of-the-table finish.

Stirling take on Balcatta in a local derby at Macedonia Park on Saturday. Balcatta coach Ramon Falzon is adamant his side can be in the running for honours this season.

“We want to seriously challenge for top spots and be one of the top clubs in the WA NPL,” he said.

Beaten NPL Night Series finalists Cockburn City travel to Inglewood Stadium to take on Inglewood United in their season opener on Saturday evening.

Cockburn coach Marc Anthony has targeted a top-four finish, an ambition shared by Inglewood coach Michael Garcia.

“We’ve re-assessed our aims after the Night Series but top four is what we are aiming for as a minimum,” Garcia said. “It’s what the club deserves and I’m sure the players will work hard to deliver that.”

Night Series winners Floreat Athena and Perth Glory’s NPL team will not be involved in action this weekend having moved their Round One fixture to Anzac Day.

PS4 NPLWA, Round One
Saturday, March 28
Armadale v Sorrento (Alfred Skeet Reserve, 3pm)
Perth SC v ECU Joondalup (Dorrien Gardens, 3pm)
Bayswater City v Subiaco (Frank Drago Reserve, 3pm)
Stirling Lions v Balcatta (Macedonia Park, 3pm)
Inglewood United v Cockburn City (Inglewood Stadium, 5pm)
Saturday, April 25 (Anzac Day)
Floreat Athena v Perth Glory (E&D Litis Stadium, 6pm)




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