Denmark coach Mike Garland looks forward to highly anticipated GSSA women’s division one cup final replay

Denmark coach Mike Garland says his side is expecting tough challenge when they square off with Mt Barker in the first round of women’s division one cup at McLean Park on Friday night. The Great Southern Soccer Association begin their cup competition this week and there is plenty of intrigue in the women’s top division. Mt Barker and Denmark met in the 2022 division one cup final with Denmark claiming glory following a heart-stopping extra-time winner from Taylah Mastalerz. Mt Barker currently sit 10 points clear atop in the division one standings and are in pole position to win the league. An early cup win against Denmark would significantly boost their hopes of winning the cherished league-cup double. A Denmark victory in the first round would keep their hopes of winning a three-peat of cup triumphs alive following on from their 4-0 win against Rovers in 2021 and their memorable extra-time win last year. “We’ve probably been the two strongest sides in the competition the last couple of years and all our games have been pretty intense,” Garland said. “It’s a little bit of a shame that we face each other in the first round but that’s just the luck of the draw. “They have a very direct style with some very strong players so I would expect them to come pretty strong. “Generally, we tend to dominate possession and sometimes get caught on the break. “We’ve lost both games to them this year, we haven’t had the best of luck with fixtures. “We just really enjoy playing these sort of games, they’re good and highly competitive and if we win it’s a bonus but it’s all just about playing good football at the end of the day.” Action starts at 8pm. Mt Barker notched a 3-1 victory over Denmark in round one this season and were narrow 3-2 winners in their recent round 11 encounter. In the other women’s division one cup fixtures, Rovers meet Phoenix at 6pm, Polonia face off with Caledonians at 6pm while Sharks and Sonics do battle at 8pm. Those three fixtures will all be played in Albany. In the men’s division one cup competition Polonia clash with Caledonians and Phoenix come up against Rovers at the North Road grounds on Saturday. Rovers lifted the coveted men’s division one cup last season after an eventful win against Polonia. Caledonians play Bayswater in the sole opening round cup fixture in men’s division two on Saturday. Denmark Rezzie’s face Caledonians while Denmark Caranby’s play Phoenix in women’s division two on Friday.