Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Premier League Round 14 Review
Some quality match ups were on the cards with some of the league?s most talented teams and players doing battle. I don?t think the fans were disappointed with at least one of the premiership contenders making a quite emphatic statement of intent with s dazzling win.
Match of the Day status was certainly a toss up but, if I?d been given the choice, I?d have been venturing out to Lynwood Park where the defending premiers, Macarthur Rams, locked horns with Manly United FC. The fans who attended certainly appear to have got their money?s worth!
Macarthur opened the scoring in the 11th minute through their skilful midfield virtuoso, Kylie Ledbrook. Jarvie snatched one back for the visitors just six minutes later before ?Deadly? Stephanie Haim put The Rams back in front with a 33rd minute strike. Both teams had their opportunities in a first half that certainly kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.
After half time though it appears that it was the Macarthur fans that were getting most of the enjoyment out of proceedings. The Rams, as they?re often apt to do, cut loose. A double strike by the The Maestro, Kylie Ledbrook, in the 54th and 58th minutes dashed whatever hope Manly may have had. Hensman dragged one back for Manly in the 70th minute but it was little more than a consolation goal. Stephanie Haim wasn?t going to let Ledbrook have all the plaudits and completed her brace with the final goal of the match in the 82nd minute.
Seven goals and another example of exactly what The Rams are capable of when they hit the ?ON? switch. Manly were brave but not good enough on the day. Kylie Ledbrook, once again, showed why she is one of the league?s marquee players.
Macarthur Rams 5 (K.Ledbrook 3, S.Haim 2)
Manly United FC 2 (C.Jarvie, K.Hensman)
The other mega clash of the round saw the competition leaders, NWS Koalas, up against the Marconi Stallions. The Koalas had extended their lead on the ladder to four points with a catch up game win over Sydney University earlier in the week. They were obviously keen to maintain that advantage with a win over The Stallions.
Clashes between these two sides tend to be tight affairs and this match didn?t break the trend. A little like a chess game, with the coaches trying to second guess each other to grab that important advantage.
The Koalas struck in the 15th minute with a fine strike by Dani Calvi. Dani seems to be going through a purple patch of goal scoring in recent weeks. I hope her dad was at the ground to see this one!
The Stallions did everything in their power to find an equaliser but The Koalas defence held firm. This match was never going to be a goal fest and one goal proved to be enough to separate these two premiership contenders. Marconi now sit fourth with two games in hand. Manly sit just one point ahead of them. Penrith, also with two games in hand, are only three points behind The Stallions.
NWS Koalas 1 (D.Calvi)
Marconi Stallions 0
The gloom continued for Sutherland Sharks with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Penrith Nepean United at Harrie Dening Centre. A hat trick by Conroy (3m, 9m, 68m) did the job for Penrith as they secured the three points they needed to maintain their final four hopes. Their next match may define the team?s season; a meeting with the NWS Koalas.
The early goals knocked the stuffing out of The Sharks. When you?re averaging less than a goal a game yourself it?s hard to look up and see your side 2 goals down inside ten minutes. It seems like the end of the season can?t come quick enough for the Sutherland girls.
Sutherland Sharks 0
Penrith Nepean United 3 (B.Conroy 3)
Sydney University bounced back from a 2-0 loss to NWS Koalas in a catch up game earlier in the week to record a solid 4-0 win over Central Coast Lightning at Pluim Park.
University were up 2-0 by half time through a brace by Koncurat (21m, 30m). They followed these up in the 2nd half with strikes by McClymont (53m) and Duncan (78m). This was Sydney University?s third win of the season and pushes them well clear of the wooden spoon position. That battle now seems confined to Central Coast and Sutherland.
Central Coast tried hard but couldn?t come up with enough to wear the University girls down. The Lightning lasses too, like their friends at Sutherland, must be looking forward to a forgettable season coming to an end.
Central Coast Lightning 0
Sydney University 4 (A.Koncurat 2, L.McClymont, J.Duncan)
The Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Premier League now goes into a two week hiatus due to next weekend?s National Titles. Is the top four already decided? Can Penrith snatch fourth place? Have the Koalas sewn up the Minor Premiership now that they have a four point break over The Rams?
All questions to ponder over the next fortnight before the stars of the league do battle again in two weeks time.
-By Ross Anderson
