Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Super League Preliminary Final Preview

The two combatants, Western NSW Panthers and Southern NSW FC, locked horns in the very first game of the season. The Panthers went through the season undefeated, claiming the Minor Premiership with their final round draw against Illawarra Stingrays in Wollongong. Southern NSW FC had a somewhat harder road to hoe, only confirming their finals spot in the closing weeks of the competition. Considering that they didn?t have a competition point to their name after Round 5 the girls from Nowra have done a mighty job to take their season to the penultimate game of 2008.
Last weekend offered differing emotions for both sides. On Saturday Southern NSW fought their way past Gladesville Ravens with a solid 2-1 win. The game continued the fine vein of goal scoring form by Southern NSW?s Emma Cobb. Six goals in three games would have Emma thinking that she?d developed that Midas touch so prevalent last season for her team mate Katie French. If these two players, in particular, can conjure up a goal or two for Southern then the team?s dreams of a Grand Final berth will be a lot closer to fruition.
Western NSW Panthers have now battled through successive arm wrestles with their arch rivals Illawarra Stingrays. The Panthers did well to hold The Stingrays to a solitary goal last week. Whilst they did manage to keep the Illawarra strike pair of Michelle Carney and Michelle Heyman relatively quiet The Panthers did struggle to close down the Illawarra attack. The Panthers created few genuine goal scoring opportunities of their own. One wonders how much Western NSW may be missing the likes of Vanessa Hart and Shannon Waine during their finals campaign. All that said, The Panthers have had an impressive season, highlighted by their miserly defence and will to win.
The two ?country cousins? have met twice this season with Western NSW having been the winners on both occasions. Their opening encounter of 2008 saw The Panthers snatching a 2-0 win before Southern NSW got a little closer at Ison Park before going down 1-2. Southern will be buoyed by their impressive effort against The Ravens but one would think that Western NSW will provide a much stiffer test of Southern NSW?s resolve.
Western NSW will have some worrying memories of last season?s finals series where, after finishing second in the Minor Premiership behind Sydney University, they crashed out in successive games. It was, in fact, Southern Branch who turfed the Bathurst girls out of the finals with a penalty shoot out win in the Preliminary Final. The Panthers will have their fingers crossed that this is not d?j? vu.
All the facts and figures point to this match being one that will go right down to the wire. Frankly, it would be a travesty if Western NSW weren?t there to settle the title with Illawarra next week. However, semi final football isn?t a matter of sentiment. Southern NSW will ensure that The Panthers earn their place if they do, in fact, win through. I?ve tossed my lucky Princess Diana 50 cent piece aside this week in an effort to back my choice with facts and figures. I?ll stick with the Western NSW Panthers to win. It?ll be close and I suspect it won?t be pretty but I expect to see the season?s two leading teams face off in next weekend?s Grand Final.
Good luck to both Western NSW Panthers FC and Southern NSW FC this weekend. You both have plenty of reasons to be proud of your achievements in the 2008 Arrive Alive NSW Women?s Super League.
-By Ross Anderson