Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 4 Preview

With the weekend fast approaching we?re all looking forward to our serve of football, not puddle splashing. Hopefully all our grounds will be ready for play when required on Sunday.
If there?s one game that could be placed in the blockbuster category this weekend it would certainly appear to be the NWS Koalas v Manly United FC clash at ELS Hall Park.
The Koalas sit alone atop the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League ladder with three wins from three games. Having only conceded two goals in three games The Koalas obviously have a defence that?s working like a well oiled machine. The girls will certainly need to be on song this Sunday as Manly may prove to be their stiffest test to date
Manly United had been sailing along merrily with two solid wins before coming a cropper against Macarthur Rams last weekend. Their narrow 1-0 loss would not have lost them too many admirers however. The girls from the peninsula certainly give the impression that they will provide plenty of fireworks in this year?s competition.
This game has the potential to be a high scoring affair as both sides have been keeping the scoreboard attendants busy so far in 2009. I?ll go for The Koalas to still be wearing the undefeated tag after Sunday.
The Marconi Stallions will be travelling to the Harrie Dening Centre to take on the struggling Sutherland Sharks.
Marconi followed a narrow 2-1 win over Penrith Nepean United in Round 1 with a loss to NWS Koalas at Marconi Stadium last weekend. This will be a busy few days for The Stallions with their game this Sunday being followed by a catch up match on Wednesday from their rained out Round 2 fixture with Macarthur Rams. The Stallions have lost a good deal of experience from their side and it?s been showing in their opening games of the season. This game is an opportunity for them to get back in step against a Sharks side that has done very little so far in 2009.
There were some signs in last Sunday?s truncated match against Illawarra Stingrays that Sutherland may be making some progress. However, 43 minutes in the rain doesn?t prove that much and The Sharks will really need to dig deep this week to extract themselves from the ever deepening hole they find themselves in. Sometimes these things take just one good result to turn but The Sharks are looking at a lean season on current results.
It?s hard to tip anyone bar the Marconi Stallions in this game.
Illawarra Stingrays will roll out the red carpet for the visiting Sydney University team on Sunday.
Last weekend?s mid game wash out was very frustrating for The Stingrays. With a multitude of injuries, especially to their defensive line, mid week catch up games are the last thing they need. Illawarra may be struggling for backs but when it comes to attacking power they have no such shortcomings. Last year?s stars, Heyman and Carney, are now ably supported by former Marconi aces Ash Connor and Trudy Camilleri. There is certainly a goal or two amongst those four players.
Sydney University have started well. They have encountered a bit of everything so far; a win, a loss and a washout. Their narrow loss to Manly United FC and their win over Sutherland Sharks have displayed some promising signs. Whilst Illawarra look a formidable opponent the University girls appear to be playing with some confidence. That in itself should stand them in good stead on Sunday.
The Stingrays have looked impressive in each outing this season. They may have a little too much firepower for Sydney University on Sunday.
The defending Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Champions, Macarthur Rams, finally come home to Lynwood Park for their match with Penrith Nepean United this weekend.
The Rams Round 1 defeat at the hands of Illawarra Stingrays had some people saying they?d be vulnerable in 2009. Their 1-0 win over the previously unbeaten Manly United FC last Sunday though would have gone a long way to silencing their critics. There? not a lot of change to last season?s premiership winning side with players like Kylie Ledbrook, Stephanie Haim and Renee Cartwright ready willing and bale to repeat last season?s heroics. This is a well balanced side with the capability of achieving a ?three peat?.
Penrith United are not setting the world on fire at this moment. Last week?s washout with Sydney University may well have been a blessing in disguise for a side still coming to grips with a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Manly United FC in Round 2. A match with Rams is hardly the tonic Penrith would be looking for at this stage of the competition.
I can?t see anything but a Rams win in this game.
This is one of those rounds where many results look clean cut on paper. However, as is often the case, these sorts of rounds don?t always play to plan. Whilst I don?t envisage any major upsets my tipping record obviously doesn?t put me in the Craig Foster class. Hmm, come to think of it what is the Craig Foster class?
Nonetheless I?m looking forward to the football this weekend. The rain had best stay far, far way so all we fans can watch the best women players strut their stuff in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League.
-By Ross Anderson