Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Premier League Round 10 Review

One upset of significance; a result that keeps the space between the top four and the fifth placed side at an attainable level. The leading sides flexed their muscles and plenty of goals were scored to keep supporters jumping. I love women?s football!  
Penrith Nepean United hosted Manly United FC at Cook Park. Manly had really started to hit form and we?re worthy favourites for this clash. However, Penrith are no push overs, as shown by their effort last week against Macarthur Rams.
Manly opened the scoring in the 24^th minute through Jarvie, before Emma Stewart replied in kind for Penrith in the 39^th minute. Penrith player/coach Taryn Rockall then catapulted her side back into the lead in the 48^th minute.
This was a tight affair though, and Manly were not to be denied. A 75^th minute equaliser by Hensman seemed to have secured Manly at least a share of the points before Rockall bobbed up again with the winner for Penrith in the 84^th minute.
This win keeps Penrith on the cusp of the top four, only one point behind Manly. Penrith will be a tough side for anyone to get past, especially with Taryn Rockall pulling the strings.
Penrith Nepean United 3 (T.Rockall 2, E.Stewart)
Manly United FC          2 (C.Jarvie, K.Hensman)
Macarthur Rams enjoyed their visit to the Central Coast, hammering Lightning by a score of 7-0. The Rams were up 3-0 by half time on the back of goals from Linda Dudek (2) and Danielle Brogan. Dudek completed her hat trick in the 73 minute, coupled with a brace from Stephanie Haim and 60^th minute strike by Lauren Ralston.
Central Coast?s improved form of recent weeks was of no consequence to the rampaging Rams, who kept the pressure on first placed NWS Koalas with this win. The usual suspects did the damage for The Rams who were totally dominant in this one.
Macarthur Rams             7 (L.Dudek 3, S.Haim 2, D.Brogan, L.Ralston)
Central Coast Lightning 0
Marconi Stallions maintained third place on the competition ladder with a comfortable 5-1 win over Sydney University. These two sides had played a draw in a midweek catch up game about ten days ago but that result was obviously one that The Stallions decided to amend with a strong showing at home.
The Stallions were in front within 5 minutes after Aysa Adalis opened the scoring. This was the only score up until half time though as University battled hard to stay in touch. In the second half, however, The Stallions broke into a full scale gallop with a goal by Muscat in the 50^th minute being followed by a Trudy Camilleri brace scored in the 55^th and 68^th minutes. University grabbed a goal of their own through Chase in the 60^th minute before youngster Priscilla O?Riordan added the final nail in the coffin on the 75^th minute. I?m sure that Dad would have been proud!
A good win for The Stallions, against a side that had been in good form recently. This was a solid hit out for the tough clash with Penrith which awaits Marconi next weekend.
Marconi Stallions  5 (T.Camilleri 2, A.Adalis, S.Muscat, P.O?Riordan)
Sydney University 1 (K.Chase)
The final game of the round saw table toppers NWS Koalas travel to Sutherland to meet the struggling Sharks.
Sanaa Hawkins didn?t take long to put the Koalas in front, scoring the opening goal in just the 2^nd minute. However, this wasn?t going to be a cakewalk and the much maligned Sharks bounced back in the 12^th minute with a goal by Katie Hilder. The Sharks then followed this up in the 24^th minute with a 2^nd goal by Maggie Elhusseini. Was an upset on the cards? Were The Sharks about to break their run of outs with w in over the competition leaders? Close your eyes now if you?re a Sharks supporter?..
Alicia Cavangah has been on a great goal scoring run in recent weeks. She?s enjoyed it so much that that she decided to bag another in the 29^th minute of this game. The 2-2 scoreline carried over to half time with The Sharks certainly doing their supporters proud in the opening stanza.
Straight after half time the Sutherland hopes were dealt a serious blow when Danni Calvi added a third for the visitors. Within four minutes the lead had been stretched to two when Rachel Doyle scored. At 4-2 The Koalas had a comfort zone that The Sharks were unable to reel in. This remained the final score, leaving The Koalas still atop the competition ladder whilst Sutherland battle Central Coast for bottom spot on the table.
Sutherland Sharks 2 (K.Hilder, M.Elhusseini)
NWS Koalas           4 (S.Hawkins, A.Cavanagh, D.Calvi, R.Doyle)
The top four remain the same but the Penrith side are still in contention. The other sides in the competition would already be planning for 2009 as the gap between them and the leading pack continues to get larger. Another weekend of top four v bottom four looms next weekend so the pain may continue for some of the strugglers.
-By Ross Anderson