This weekend’s Men’s State Cup final pits the defending champions against the reigning Top Four Cup holders as ECU Joondalup face Floreat Athena at Inglewood Stadium.
Both sides have been regulars at the top end of the NPL over the past year, although neither go into Saturday’s showpiece on a good run of results.
League leaders Floreat have lost their last three while ECU have slipped from title contenders to sixth and facing a battle to make the end-of-season finals.
None of which will matter come Saturday, however, with the State Cup on the line for Football West’s two FFA Cup representatives.
ECU broke a 22-year drought last season to win the league and will look to lift a first State Cup trophy since 2002, when goals from Scott Bulloch and Dale McCulloch gave them a 2-1 win over Frank Arok’s Future Glory side.
Current coach Kenny Lowe hopes the club can continue their progress of the past 12 months and urged his players to relish the occasion.
“From my own experiences being involved with Glory and in the FA Cup back home, I know how special cup tournaments are,” Lowe said.
“It’s the excitement of the game that you look forward to. Most of us are involved because we love it and these moments don’t come around often, so you should embrace it and enjoy the day.
“It’s a big driver for us where we want to enjoy our football, because if you don’t then it’s pointless coming down to training. The guys work during the week, and have other things on such as family commitments, so it’s a sacrifice of their time and they’ve got to enjoy it.
“If they enjoy it, hopefully we play well, and if we play well, we win games, so that’s the by-product of the process we have at the club.”
Lowe is also confident that if his side stick to those processes, they will give themselves the best opportunity to succeed on Saturday.
“We’ll play the way we play. We’ve had some great games in recent weeks where we’ve been a little unfortunate, but that’s the way it works sometimes. Last year we went six games without a win and won the league,” he said.
“They’re a good side with good players, so we expect a difficult and competitive game, and it’s a cup final which adds the extra layer of expectation.
“There’s a big feeling from within the group that they want to drive on and achieve things, so if we stick to our game plan and if we can execute that, I’d expect us to have a good outcome.”
Floreat, meanwhile, are seven-time State Cup winners and are the holders after Phil Arnold’s winner gave them a 2-1 win over Bayswater City when the competition was last held in 2019.
The current NPLWA – Men’s leaders beat ECU 2-1 earlier in the season, thanks to two goals from Chris Saldaris. But their 10-point lead at the summit has been cut to one after three losses on the spin.
Retaining the cup provides additional motivation to Athena, according to coach Vas Vujacic, who is confident they can use this weekend’s game to recapture their early season form.
“It’s definitely come at a good time. We can forget about what’s happened in the last few weeks and then refocus on the last seven games to get back on track,” Vujacic said.
“The senior boys love the big occasion and standing up in these games. They’re always up for it and we’ve still got a good squad despite some injuries and suspensions we have to contend with.
“Mistakes have cost us in the past few weeks. I don’t feel we’re playing that bad or have been totally outplayed, so I don’t think it will take a lot for us to turn it around.
“We’re excited about the weekend. It’s special, particularly this year with the 70th anniversary (of the club), so we’re very happy to make the final and the Round of 32 of the FFA Cup. We’ve had a pretty good season so far and will try to make the most of the opportunity, and we definitely have the experience to have a good crack again.”
Saturday's Men's State Cup final kicks off at 5.30pm and will complete a bumper day of finals football at Inglewood Stadium.
Division One side Subiaco face top-flight Bayswater in the Men's Senior U18s State Cup final at 10am. Subi has lost just once in the league this season, having eliminated NPL side Sorrento on penalties in the semi-final. But Bayswater have won the last two cups in 2018 and 2019 and will be favourites to complete a hat-trick.
Bayswater also play in the day’s second fixture when they meet fellow NPL outfit Sorrento at 12.30pm. City are league leaders and advanced to the final with a 5-0 win over Mandurah City, while the Gulls sit fifth and needed penalties to get the better of Division One Swan United in the other semi-final.
This game is followed by the Women's State Cup final between Balcatta and Murdoch University Melville. The same two sides met in the Night Series final in March, which Balcatta won 2-1.
All four finals will be live streamed on the Football West Facebook and YouTube pages.
Entry to Inglewood Stadium is $10 adults, $5 concessions and free for U16s. Parking is $5.
Filed Under: Men's State Cup