Wyoming v Ourimbah
Tensions will be extremely high come kickoff on Saturday night at Alan Davison Oval when our two newly promoted teams get the 2025 MPL competition underway. Both Wyoming and Ourimbah will be in search of three crucial points to start their season.
Wyoming’s absence from the Central Coast’s top-flight competition was brief, as the Tigers swiftly rebounded from their 2023 relegation to secure promotion back to the MPL last year.
Despite their return, the squad has undergone significant adjustments, with the main change being a transition of a new head coach. Former coach Ian McAndrew departed after a six-year stint, paving the way for Scott Snodgrass to take charge as Wyoming’s new head coach for the upcoming season.
McAndrew was able to lure quite a few senior players with him, leaving Snodgrass with a very youthful side who will be given the chance to test themselves against the best players in the league and prove their worth.
Now with pre-season done and dusted, Snodgrass reflected on the preparations he and the squad have undergone since coming into his new role. “Overall, it’s been a positive one. I have a great hardworking playing group and great staff. The committee have allowed me to run things my way and offered nothing but support.”
“It’s been a time of change for all of us. We started selection trials in November and added some quality young players, we have had eight competitive trials including the association cup and we are ready.”
The Tigers already got a taste of Ourimbah in the Association Cup and during that encounter Wyoming stood tall, securing a 1-0 victory. “There wasn’t much in that association cup match, but I was happy with the performance, particularly in the second half and I believe we deserved the win.”
“They had a lot of players out but so did we. Ourimbah have some experienced and class players and did well last season in Division 1.”
Snodgrass is anticipating a similar contest against the opposition when the two teams step on the park Saturday night. “They will be physical and try to assert some dominance over my young playing group, but we are full strength, are playing some great football and will have no excuses on Saturday night in front of a big crowd at the Den.”
“It’s a derby, so the players must be ready for the occasion and not get overwhelmed. We have a game plan that we have been training towards and if the players follow that, I’m confident of a good showing.”
“Finally, we need to take our chances, which has been an issue for us this pre-season so I’m challenging the players to get that area of the game right on Saturday. It’s a huge day/ night as a whole and I want this playing group to realise it is a privilege to play for this great club. We will have a big crowd, and I want them to enjoy the experience,” added Snodgrass.
As for Ourimbah, McAndrew and his men will be gearing up for an extremely hostile crowd as he makes his return to Alan Davidson in enemy colours. It was a tremendous year for the Falcons in 2024 who were the first team to clinch promotion from Division 1, taking home the honours of League Champions as well.
Ourimbah’s return to the Men’s Premier League in 2025 will mark the end of an 11-year absence from the competition. With a proud history and a hunger to compete, the Falcons are ready to take flight and challenge the best the Coast has to offer.
Unfortunately for McAndrew, pre-season in his first year in charge of Ourimbah has been far from ideal as he has struggled to get players on the park which will be the case again this weekend. “Pre-season has been tough. We have had eight first graders out injured for the majority of it. We still have four out for week one so it’s a mix and match to the best of our ability.”
Although Ourimbah came up short against Wyoming in the Association Cup, McAndrew, much like his counterpart at Wyoming, isn’t looking too much into that result ahead of Saturday’s clash. “I take nothing away from that pre-season game, no teams take it seriously until you make the semis.”
As he prepares to travel to familiar territory, yet enemy territory on Saturday night, McAndrew stated, “We will have to play well and be strong defensively.”
“Wyoming will be up for the battle and hopefully we reignite the old battles back in the day of the early 2000’s! Back when both clubs had the best players in the league.”
With a big crowd suspected of showing up on Saturday night, kickoff can’t come quick enough as we get our first official look at these two sides and what they have installed for us in 2025.
Match Official – Anthony Kabbout
Round 1 Fixtures –
