Western Sydney Wanderers W-league coach Stephen Roche has named his squad ahead of Sunday’s clash with Brisbane Roar at Campbelltown Stadium.
Western Sydney Wanderers W-league coach Stephen Roche has named his squad ahead of Sunday-s clash with Brisbane Roar at Campbelltown Stadium.
There are only three points separating the top six teams in the competition, and Roche says that the squad must capitalise on every opportunity if they want to seal a finals berth in their first year of competition.
The Wanderers defeated a depleted Brisbane side in their last encounter, with both teams missing key players to international duty.
Roche concedes that this match will be a different ball game, and the Wanderers will need to produce a stellar performance if they are to take the three points.
“This game will be completely different,” says Roche. “Confidence has slowly built all season and we just need to keep working hard at training and the results will look after themselves.”
This is the first of four tough matches leading to the semi-finals, and Roche says that although his players will treat every match on its merits, they are confident that they can rise to the challenge.
“Every game has been a tough game and we do not expect anything different this week,” says Roche. “If we want to be contenders for a finals position we have to perform over the next few weeks.”
This Wanderers team has surprised more than a few people in their debut season, with Campbelltown Stadium proving to be a fortress for opposing teams; the Wanderers have remained undefeated at this ground, and the squad is hoping to build on this record on Sunday.
“The girls are certainly calling the stadium a fortress,” says Roche. “We tend to play well there and want to make it something for us to aim at when we are at home.”
The match will be played at Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney at 3.00pm (local time). The squad is as follows:
Squad: 1. Elizabeth DURACK (gk), 2. Samantha SPACKMAN, 3, Alexandra HUYNH, 4. Alesha CLIFFORD, 5. Olivia KENNEDY, 6. Rachael SOUTAR, 8. Vanessa HART, 9. Sarah WALSH, 10. Servet UZUNLAR, 11. Louise FORS, 12. Jessica SEAMAN, 13. Catherine CANNULI, 14. Trudy Camilleri, 15. Teigen ALLEN, 16. Linda O’NEILL, 17. Alisha BASS, 18. Candace Sciberras, 20. Thora HELGADOTTIR (gk), (*3 to be omitted)
Ins: Rachael Soutar, Alisha Bass, Candace Sciberras (all promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Jenna Kingsley (knee – season)
