WESTS Soccer Club will be hoping to snag its first win of its Regional Premier League career when it takes on Yoogali Soccer Club at EW Moore Oval tomorrow night.
With YSC coming off a massive confidence-boosting win against Shepparton South last weekend, Wests co-coach Frank Portolesi said he knew tomorrow’s contest was going to be tough.
“We know we’re going up against a good side that’s in form and have a huge advantage in the experience of players like (Grant) Davidson and (Stevie) Crombie,” Portolesi said.
“That experience makes a huge difference, but we’re just going to go in like we do every week and try and stick to what we know.”
YSC coach Ryan Spencer said his side will be looking for a lot more than just another win, with many of his players still sore after Wests ended their premiership dreams last year.
“A few players from last year played in that game where Wests put us out and they’ll be looking for revenge,” Spencer said.
“I’m not reading too much in (Wests not yet having a win), their games have been quite close and they’ll get their win, I just hope it’s not against us.”
Spencer said he’s been forced to shuffle his team around again due to injuries and work commitments, but wouldn’t reveal what the final squad will look like on the day.
“I’m going to have to re-jig our team this weekend, we’re yet to put the same team on in consecutive weeks – I’m keeping it close to my chest though,” he said.
“We’ve just got to go in their with the same mindset we have been, stick to our game, keep the ball on the ground and move quickly, and we should come away with the points.”
Portolesi said if his squad were switched on from the first whistle and didn’t panic then there would be no reason not to bag their first three points this Saturday.
“The big concern is that we need to start the game better,” he said.
“We’re getting into the game fine later on and we’re performing well, but we’re just not there for the first 20 minutes and that’s costing us. We shouldn’t be chasing the game.”
While players might be feeling the pressure to get Wests’ first win, Portolesi said they needed to focus on just playing their game and not let it get to them.
“At the moment it’s a confidence thing,” he said.
“Once we get the first win that pressure will be off, but if we just stick with them from early on in the game we won’t be too far off.”