Phoenix raring to rise again

The South West Phoenix open their 2021 Belt Up amateur premier division campaign at home to the Leeming Strikers on Sunday night. It is a match Phoenix boss Nick Carter is keen to win after a disappointing Belt Up amateur cup tie on Easter Monday. Pitted against division one outfit Forrestfield United at Hartfield Park in Perth, the visitors were lashed 7-1, on the back of a solid second half. But Carter is confident his men will bounce back. “I did tell them how disappointed I was in them,” he said. “However on Tuesday night we went for a hydro session. I was going to give them the night off — but my assistant and I discussed things and decided to have a recovery session and get everyone together, before training tonight and playing on the weekend. “They were disappointed but it was better for it (the result) to happen now, than four or five games into the season.” The Phoenix are keen to turn Onside Sports Stadium into a fortress this season, however, the Strikers have the ability to return home with a positive result. “They have got a few older players now — but they’ve always been quite a strong side,” Carter said. The South West Firebirds kick off another season in the women’s State league division one at home to Gwelup Croatia on Sunday afternoon.