State League Night Series: Percy Doyle set for big crowd for semi-finals

Percy Doyle Reserve is set for a large crowd tonight with two attractive semi-finals in the State League Night Series.

Sorrento FC take on Joondalup United at 6.30pm, followed by holders Mandurah City against Dianella White Eagles (8.30pm).

Sorrento supporters will need no reminding of the last time they hosted United. That was the second leg of the 2023 inter-divisional play-offs last September when Joondalup condemned the Gulls to relegation from the NPL.

Both sides finished the group stage of the Night Series with three wins from three, before coming through their quarter-finals last week. While United took care of Gosnells City 3-1, Sorrento needed a stoppage-time equaliser and penalties to overcome Joondalup City.

Sorrento’s Keegan Chambers, last season’s NPLWA – Men’s U20 Player of the Year, has scored in each of his side’s four Night Series games, a feat matched by United’s Tyler Holden.

In the second game are two international strikers who need little introduction.

Former Celtic star Leigh Griffiths, who is in his third season at Mandurah, played 22 times for Scotland, scoring four times.

And Perth Glory great Andy Keogh, who joined Dianella in pre-season, has 30 Republic of Ireland caps and two goals.

After a steady group stage in which they won two and drew one, Mandurah found form last week with a 6-1 victory over Curtin University in the last eight as Griffiths netted twice.

Dianella had a similar record in their group, before beating Cockburn City 2-1 in the quarter-final with Keogh bagging the winner.

The two winning teams tonight will meet in the final at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Friday 8 March.

- Sorrento this week announced that all gate money will be donated to aid the recovery of Reserves coach and former Gulls and Joondalup United player Shaun Kilkelly, who suffered a serious head injury recently following a fall.