Broadmeadow -– from the PS4 Northern NSW NPL – have been free-scoring this season, netting a league-high 34 goals in 14 games and have three of the top four goalscorers in the competition.
Former Newcastle Jets youth team striker Kale Bradbury leads the league with 11 goals, while Dino Fajkovic (8) and Pete Haynes (7) have been prolific in support.
Virgili believes his side’s attacking exploits will hold the key next Wednesday when Magic host Victorian club Heidelberg United on the opening night of the 2015 FFA Cup for a spot in the round of 16.
“We’re a very quick side, with a lot of mobility in the front third,” Virgili told www.theffacup.com.au.
“We have very mobile players out wide and through the middle. We’re going to take it to Heidelberg and use our strengths. It might be a bit easier said than done.
“Nothing will change from our side. We are a very direct side and we won’t change. We’ll try and put it to Heidelberg and see what they’ve got.”
Broadmeadow featured in the first-ever televised Westfield FFA Cup match in 2014, suffering a heart-breaking 2-1 extra-time loss to Brisbane Strikers at Magic Park.
And while the wounds from that defeat have yet to fully heal, Virgili is adamant the experience gained on the national stage will hold his side in good stead on Wednesday night.
“I think it gave the boys a little bit more experience in regards to know exactly what they’re up for,” Virgili said.
“We haven’t really spoken about last year. The boys felt they had a good chance of winning that game and they probably let themselves down a little bit, especially being at home.”
Magic started the current campaign in swashbuckling fashion, winning five of their opening seven matches to sit outright top in the Northern NSW NPL.
But injury and a lack of form have taken its toll with Broadmeadow suffering five losses in their last seven outings to slip to fifth spot.
And with a red-hot Heidelberg sitting second in the Victorian NPL, Virgili knows his side will need to tighten things up defensively if they are to give themselves a chance of progressing.
“Yeah we’ve done a little bit of homework on them. I’m hearing they’re a direct side as well and quite quick up front,” Virgili said.
“We’re going to have to really concentrate on being compact in our defence and getting the players to really understand their roles on the night.
“It could be end to end sort of stuff. We’re hoping if we can get an early goal maybe we can change things a little bit… but we’ve got to be wary on the counter attack.”
One player who could prove crucial to Magic’s hopes of progression is ex-Newcastle Jets striker Peter Haynes.
Haynes was part of the Jets’ 2009 AFC Champions League campaign and the attacker has gone on to become arguably the region’s most prolific front-man.
“Peter Haynes has been a renowned goal-scorer in our competition for 10 years now. I think he may have 150 goals for the club. He’s a very experienced player, “Virgili said.
The 33-year-old may be out of the country until 24 hours prior to kick-off but Virgili backed his star-man to still have an impact.
“He arrives the day before the game. Last year he arrived back on the day of our FFA Cup game,” he said.
“We’ll assess him when he gets off the plane and see how he’s feeling. He’ll definitely be here and he’ll definitely be at the game.
“It’ll be up to Pete to see whether he starts or comes off the bench.”
source: theffacup.com.au
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