Arrive Alive NSW Womens Super League Round 6 Review

Illawarra Stingrays 5 (M.Heyman 3, M.Carney 2)
Gladesville Ravens  0
The clash of two of the three undefeated teams in the Arrive Alive NSW Womens Super League took place today but it proved to be no contest. Gladesville Ravens, backing up after a 1-1 draw in their catch up game with Blacktown Spartans on Saturday, had no answer to the attacking flair of the competition leaders Illawarra Stingrays going down 5-0 at J.J.Kelly Park.
The Super Michelles, Carney and Heyman, were at it again for Illawarra with Heyman grabbing a hat trick whilst Carney picked up a double. Any Golden Boot Awards in the league look a two horse race right now with the Illawarra strike pair slicing up any defensive pattern they come up against.
The Stingrays are firing all over the park though, giving Carney and Heyman plenty of opportunities. Gladesville will be disappointed to lose their unbeaten status in such a stunning manner but should take heart from the fact that they kept the scoreline to a more respectable result than many who?ve come up against the Stingrays previously. So who can stop Illawarra?s march towards the title?
Has the stern defence of Western NSW Panthers got what it takes to put a clamp on the Illawarra goal scoring machine? We won?t know until Round 9 in Bathurst but in the mean time Illawarra continue to impress.
Northern Tigers 2 (R.Toner, G.Eastoe)
Blacktown Spartans 1 (A.Xuereb)
The Northern Tigers bounced back from last weekend?s defeat by Gladesville to record their second win of the season with a 2-1 defeat of Blacktown Spartans. The Spartans had a tough week playing a catch up game on Saturday before the match today. The Blacktown girls tried hard but one wonders if the heavy legs told against them in a close game.
Captain Rosemary Toner and the busy Georgie Eastoe scored for the Tigers to cancel out the lone goal for Blacktown from Xuereb of Spartans. Both teams face daunting tasks next weekend with Blacktown hosting competition front runners, Illawarra Stingrays whilst The Tigers are off to Bathurst for a match with second placed Western NSW Panthers. Blacktown may feel that today?s match was one that got away from them due to their congested catch up schedule. Tigers will be looking it as proof that their recent form has been no fluke.
Western NSW Panthers 6 (G.Rosconi 2, J.Braun 2, J.Thomas, S.Waine)
Bankstown Wildcats      1  (L.Johnson)
Western NSW Panthers maintained their unbeaten record with a strong 6-1 win over Bankstown Wildcats in Bathurst. That scoreline does hold some further significance though in that Lee Johnson?s 51^st minute goal for Bankstown was the first conceded by the air tight Panthers defence this season.
Take a bow Lee! Meanwhile The Panthers own wonder girl Gillian Rosconi added another two goals to her season?s haul after Jessica Thomas had opened the scoring for The Panthers in the 18^th minute. Western NSW finished the game strongly with goals coming to Braun (2) and Waine in the last 12 minutes.
Bankstown are sinking fast after a promising start to the season. Coach Fiona Kannengiesser has much work to do to get the girls back on track. Bankstown are an honest side but just don?t have the firepower to mix it with the premiership contenders. The Panthers, however, are maintaining their momentum.
St George FC 6 (C.Arnold 3, E.Rodopoulos 2, M.Toumbelikis)
UNSW            0
St George FC burst into the top four with a solid 6-0 win over the competition?s tailenders UNSW at Peakhurst. St George matched their 3-0 half time lead with a similar haul in the second stanza as they continued their good vein of form. Toumbelekis(30m), Arnold(37m) and Rodopoulos (40m) did the early damage before Arnold completed her hat trick and Rodopoulos her brace in the second half.
UNSW were on something of a high after grabbing their first point of the season in a catch up match with Blacktown but they were brought back down to earth by a determined St George side.
Southern NSW FC 3 (K.French 3)
Inter Lions              1 (H.Macbeth)
The final match of the round saw the inform Inter Lions travel to Nowra to meet a Southern NSW FC who were still seeking their first points of the season. Inter were still dogged by injury worries to many of their more seasoned players and this match loomed as a danger game. Inter were dogged by bad luck throughout the first half having four goals disallowed for offside.
After French scored twice in the first half for Southern, one from a free kick, Hayley Macbeth gave Inter some hope with her 56^th minute strike.
However, French completed her hat trick in the 78^th minute with a well taken penalty to ensure Southern of their first win in 2008. The loss tips Inter out of the top four before next weekend?s clash with Gladesville Ravens at Peel Park. Coach Joe Baldacci will be hoping to get back some of his wounded troops before the trip to The Ravens home fortress. He?ll probably also be checking the rule book regarding the offside rule!
So the competition table takes on a slightly new look but certainly not at the top of the ladder. Illawarra and Western NSW continue to lead the way. St George have made a solid move in the last few weeks whilst it?s great to see both Southern NSW FC and UNSW finally pick up points.
Next weekend?s round looms as an important one for a number of sides struggling to stay in the finals hunt. Inter Lions will be keen to match it with Gladesville or risk losing touch with the leading pack. There?s sure to be plenty of thrills and spills in another exciting round of football.
-By Ross Anderson