Coach Taki Nicolaidis expects to face a very different Balcatta side in this weekend’s FFA Cup quarter-finals to the one Inglewood United cast aside seven weeks ago.   Inglewood scored a resounding a 4-2 victory when the teams met on day two of the league season, courtesy of two goals from Brian Woodall and singles to Mark Pritchard and Kenny Keogh.

But a lot has changed at Balcatta since that late March meeting, with Marc Anthony’s team in fine touch leading in Saturday’s knock-out game.   The Cats have piled on fourteen goals in a four-game run that saw them out-score Subiaco AFC, Perth SC and ECU Joondalup before suffering a last minute loss on the weekend to Floreat Athena.

“It’s going to be a tough one,” Nicolaidis admits.   “Balcatta have been in good form with three wins on the run and last week came close to beating a very good Floreat team.   We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be a walk in the park – it’ll be far from it.   Marc has them playing well and with a bit of confidence now.”

“You don’t get a second chance in these Cup games.   If we allow them to get on top early and take the lead and their confidence flows on from there, then it could be tough for us.   We’ve got to go out there with the right attitude and right application and make sure we deliver the plan as required.”