Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Premier League Round 18 Review

Looking at Sunday?s results it?s pretty obvious that the tactic is working! A round of games that didn?t really give a sniff of an upset on paper produced some stunning form reversals; one of which may have reignited the race for the Minor Premiership.
Once again, unfortunately, the information I?ve received re each match is a little threadbare. I have no information regarding goal scorers or the games in general. I apologise that this is the case. As I?ve said before, if any clubs can pass on brief reports on their games I?m happy to include them in the review.
Well, where do we start? How about the match at ELS Hall Park? The NWS Koalas, competition leaders, met the battling Sydney University side. The University girls have a reputation amongst other Premier League coaches for being a very defensive side. I think that reputation will now go out the window after they outscored The Koalas to snatch a 3-2 win.
The result was a bad one for The Koalas but could have been a lot worse had games elsewhere followed the form guide. It narrowed their competition lead to three points with a top two clash against Macarthur Rams beckoning next weekend.
Sydney University managed a season highlight with this great win. A little too late to save their own season but they?ve proven with this win that they will be more than nuisance value against Penrith Nepean United and Macarthur Rams in the coming weeks.
NWS Koalas         2
Sydney University 3
Okay, so off to the Harrie Dening Centre we go where my poor little Sharks girls were going to get belted by those big meanies from Macarthur Rams, right? WRONG! In what my , ?guest reporter?, Sutherland?s Adriana Michaels, described as her side?s best performance of the season the struggling Sharks held The Rams to a 0-0 draw.
Now, I suspect that a few Rams supporters would have been thinking at the end of the match that their Minor Premiership hopes had gone out the window. Of course they weren?t to know what was happening at ELS Hall Park! Not a great build up for either of the top two leading into their mega clash next weekend at Lynwood Park.
I apologise profusely to my Sharkies girls for ever doubting them. They can beat me with a large stick next time they see me. Ah, the pitfalls of being a tipster!
Sutherland Sharks 0
Macarthur Rams    0
Alright, two upsets down, any more to come? Fortunately for Manly United FC, but unfortunately for Central Coast Lightning, the form guide ran true in their encounter at Pluim Park.
Manly had one of their on days, putting Central Coast to the sword by a score of 7-0. Results at other grounds have also assisted Manly and they now have a four point buffer over Penrith Nepean United in the race for a semi final spot. They were just too good for their opposition on Sunday.
Another miserable day for Central Coast. In many respects I?m sure they?ll be glad to see the end of the season. Hopefully they?ll bounce back quickly in 2009.
Central Coast Lightning 0
Manly United FC            7
Last but not least was the Penrith Nepean United v Marconi Stallions match at Cook Park. These two teams would have been sick of the sight of each other by the end of the weekend, having also met in a catch up game the night before. Penrith had managed to get away with that game by the score of 1-0.
Another close game ensued on Sunday with both teams striving hard for three points. Marconi have now dropped into the potential ?danger zone? just four points ahead of Penrith so the point they took away from this 2-2 draw by yet prove important. This result may yet be the death knell for Penrith as maximum points are pretty much essential for the fifth placed team until season?s end. Still, as this weekend?s results have proven, anything could yet happen in the remaining three rounds of the Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Premier League.
Penrith Nepean United 2
Marconi Stallions          2
So, my thanks to both Sydney University and Sutherland Sharks for putting egg on my face with their respective performances on the weekend. I have learnt my lesson and will pay each of you more respect in future. Maybe I?ll even tip both of you this coming weekend? That?ll teach you!
This competition still has a few twists and turns to come. Next weekend?s top two match is certainly a game to look forward to. See you there?
-By Ross Anderson