Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 9 Preview

It?s been somewhat daunting this season to hear of the massive injury toll that seems to be affecting so many clubs. Season ending injuries to key players seems par for the course in 2009. Let?s keep our fingers crossed that the trend subsides rather than continuing as it is. Our star players want to be on the field, not on the sideline.
The competition table would have you believe that a number of this weekend?s games are already decided. However, one can never be sure if an upset is around the corner so nobody should ever underestimate any side in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League.
Manly United FC host Penrith Nepean United at Cromer Park on Sunday.
Manly United have been flying high in 2009. They?ve put up some fine performances, currently sitting third on the ladder with one game in hand. Manly have looked sharp across the park, playing free flowing football that?s been well received by their fans. Finals contenders should win games like this one. Manly United will certainly start hot favourites.
Penrith Nepean?s season hasn?t held much joy so far. Without a win in 2009 the Penrith girls have struggled to maintain any confidence. Their one competition point of the season came after a draw with fourth placed NWS Koalas; maybe a similar display here would give them a chance of salvaging some pride.
It?s a long trip from the foot of the mountains to the peninsula. Penrith will be trying hard to make the homeward journey a little more enjoyable.
Sutherland Sharks face a tough encounter with Sydney University at Harrie Dening Centre.
The Sharks have had a lean trot with their only win coming at the expense of Penrith Nepean United. The Sutherland defence has been leaking plenty of goals whilst their attack has only supplied only 4 goals in eight matches. The statistics don?t paint a pretty picture for The Sharks who looked low on confidence last weekend against NWS Koalas.
Sydney University sit fifth on the ladder but have two games in hand. They?ve had little luck with the weather and face a difficult few weeks playing catch up fixtures. Their start to the 2009 season has shown much more promise than this time last season. They are certainly serious finals contenders but are they capable of taking things a step further than that?
This looks a big ask for Sutherland against a University side that?s hungry for competition points.
Certainly the match of the round would appear to be the Illawarra Stingrays v NWS Koalas match at J.J.Kelly Park.
The locals will still be looking their wounds after a painful mauling at the hands of Macarthur Rams last Sunday. In what was a very uncharacteristic Stingrays performance they were outplayed across the park by The Rams. Looking at the quality on the Stingrays roster it would be hard to imagine a similar performance this weekend. The first round clash against The Koalas saw Illawarra dominate most of the match but come home without the points. Can The Stingrays reverse the result here? 
The Koalas have had a difficult few weeks of their own as injury has started to eat into their starting roster. Coach Claude De Francesco has been forced to bring some inexperienced players into key positions. Last weekend?s game against Sutherland may well have finished in a landslide if The Koalas had been able to finish better. Their general play was strong but they will need to be at their best to cope with the rise in class they face on Sunday.
These are two good sides who?ve both had their share of injury woes already in 2009. This should be an interesting match up that?s likely to end in a close scoreline.
Marconi Stallions roll out the welcome mat to fierce rivals the Macarthur Rams at Marconi Stadium.
It?s not been a good week for The Stallions, having lost another influential player with Sam Muscat signing for Illawarra Stingrays. Marconi have battled away this season; they?ve certainly struggled to match the better sides but have put up some competitive performances. Running into The Rams after that side?s dominant win over Illawarra Stingrays last Sunday doesn?t seem good timing for The Stallions. They will be sorely tested this week.
The Rams were in great form last Sunday at J.J.Kelly Park They completely outplayed the competition front runners Illawarra Stingrays in a clinical display. This week they face Marconi without their star midfielder Kylie Ledbrook who is suspended after a send off last weekend. Ledbrook is not easily replaced but The Rams still have plenty going for them as they go in search of three Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League titles in a row.
Matches between these two sides are usually a survival of the fittest. Marconi are not the side they were last season though.
It shapes like a bumper weekend of football. Maybe an upset or two would add some extra spice to the round? Which team do you think is most likely to surprise the pundits? Good luck to all the teams in Round 9 of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League.
 -By Ross Anderson