Armadale's Angel Andres is chasing the Golden Boot again. Photo by Peter Simcox
Euro 2020 may be on the horizon but for Armadale’s Spanish striker Angel Andres, it’s all about Saturday’s trip to Inglewood United – for now, at least.
Five places and three points separate the pair in the NPLWA - Men's standings. And with Sorrento, ECU Joondalup and Perth SC all dropping points in recent weeks, there is renewed hope for those in the chasing pack for top four positions.
The second half of the campaign begins this weekend and while Armadale suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Night Series winners in Round One, Andres believes the club have found their feet in recent weeks.
“The game this week is really important. We know it’s going to be tough because Inglewood are a good team who are playing well, but we have an expectation of hopefully going there and getting three points,” Andres said.
“We played a really good game against Gwelup, even though they had 10 men, but the comeback was amazing and the result was perfect for us because I thought we deserved to win the game.
“I think we’ve been playing well for a little while now. We struggled a bit earlier in the season and had some bad luck in certain moments. Sometimes we haven’t converted our chances and have made mistakes, but we’re playing better and better and I think in the last three games we have shown real improvement.”
Andres moved to Perth from the south of Spain in late 2013 after a series of serious knee injuries playing football in Malaga, and for a period he did not expect to make a return to playing football upon his arrival in Western Australia.
However, he was encouraged by a friend to play at a mini-World Cup tournament, and that reignited his enjoyment. From there he went on to play at Amateur level before spells with Fremantle City, Dianella White Eagles and Cockburn City prior to Armadale.
The forward is now one of the league’s most prolific marksman, finishing third in the Golden Boot race last season with 13 goals in 12 games. And he is on good pace again in 2021 with seven goals at the league’s halfway point, sitting one behind current top-scorer Joshua Anasmo.
“I don’t know if there’s any (particular) trick, but I’m just trying to enjoy my football more and more and I always want to keep getting better,” Andres said.
“In Spain, I played as a number 10 and winger when I was a lot fitter and quicker. Now I like to get the ball to feet as a number nine and to be involved in the construction of the attack more.
“If there is a secret (to the success), it’s the family environment in Armadale because the club has embraced my family from the first day I arrived, which is really important to me.
“Armadale is an amazing place to play and I really enjoy it. The opponents don’t always like it, but the support is great from our fans because they don’t stop singing and it’s brilliant to have these football environments and that atmosphere around the grounds."
With Euro 2020 kicking off this weekend, Andres will also be keeping an eye on Spain’s progress, where he’s hopeful La Roja can improve on recent Round of 16 eliminations in World Cup 2018 and Euro 2016.
“Last time it was very disappointing, but we have a really good young team with some experienced players, even though we’ve recently had to deal with positive COVID-19 cases in the squad,” he said.
“We start playing next week, but we don’t even know who is going to be in the team yet!
“Real Madrid did struggle a bit this year with a lot of injuries, particularly to the Spanish players, but I did at least expect Sergio Ramos to be in the squad. That was a surprise.
“I’m looking forward to supporting them and I wake up early every day anyway, so waking up even a little earlier (to watch) is okay for me.”
Elsewhere, unbeaten Floreat Athena turn the corner for the second half of the campaign nine points clear as they travel to Grindleford Reserve to face Balcatta.
Bobby Taneski’s side could provide a stern test for the leaders after wins in their past two games including an impressive 3-0 victory over Perth last Saturday.
Athena’s chasers will be desperate to return to winning ways to keep tabs with the leaders. Perth SC are at Forrestfield to play Perth Glory, while ECU look to snap a three-game losing streak when they take on a Gwelup side who have drawn five of their 10 league games.
Sorrento are winless in four but still hold the final top four place and they host Cockburn, who will be looking to close the gap on a finals berth which currently stands at six points for Scott Miller’s side.
Finally, two out-of-form sides meet off the back of improved performances last weekend as Rockingham City welcome Bayswater City to SafeRad Stadium.
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