Report by Alasdair Beer

Photo: Football West News

Armadale coach Paul Price is desperate for his side to record its first home win of the year when it hosts Subiaco in Saturday’s PS4 National Premier Leagues WA clash.

Price, who has led the club off the bottom of the table since taking over in May, said Armadale needed to build on its three away wins by claiming points at Alfred Skeet Reserve.

“The team has played and lost seven games at home,” he said.

“Whether there’s a mental block at home, I don’t know – if your home form isn’t good, you put yourself under a lot of pressure.”

Armadale enter the game on the back of a 4-1 drubbing of Stirling Lions, a result which highlighted the club’s progress.

“They’re doing really well and they’re playing with some confidence now,” Price said of his players.

“Each week we’ve been doing really well, but we need to get four or five games together with one team and no injuries.”

Armadale have only been able to play the same starting 11 twice in 10 games, and will lose Nick Crerand and Reece Davies this week, both of whom have returned home to England.

And, in worse news for the club, another Englishman – leading scorer Danny Hodgson – has been ruled out for the season after scans confirmed a serious knee injury.

Hodgson sustained torn lateral and anterior cruciate ligaments and a fractured kneecap in the Round 14 clash with Floreat Athena.

“It’s a really bad injury for the kid – whether he plays again for Armadale or not, we wish him all the best for his recovery,” Price said.

“He’s only 19, so he’s got a great future ahead of him.”

Armadale currently sit two points behind ninth-placed Subiaco, and Price said the prospect of his side overtaking the visitors would be in both clubs’ thoughts.

“Perth Glory Youth, or Subiaco, or ECU – none of them want to finish on the bottom of the table, so that’s the motivation for all the four teams at the bottom,” he said.

“Subiaco have some young players in, they’re only two points ahead of us, so there’s no reason why we can’t get a result if we play well.”

FIXTURES
Friday, July 31
Perth SC v Sorrento (Dorrien Gardens, 7.30pm)
Saturday, August 1
Armadale v Subiaco (Alfred Skeet Reserve, 3pm)
Cockburn City v Stirling Lions (Dalmatinac Park, 3pm)
ECU Joondalup v Floreat Athena (ECU Football Stadium, 3pm)
Bayswater City v Balcatta (Frank Drago Reserve, 3pm)
Inglewood United v Perth Glory (Inglewood Stadium, 3pm)