Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 10 Preview

Everyone just wants to get out and play but the miserable weather in the Sydney metropolitan area has made that almost impossible in recent weeks. This coming weekend has some stellar fixtures scheduled between some of the best sides in the league. Will the players all need snorkels and flippers to take the field?
The Blacktown Spartans will be hoping for a dry Francis Park so they can host the Western NSW Panthers.
The Spartans sit in seventh place on the competition table. With a touch more luck here and there the Blacktown girls could be a little closer to the top four. Their best recent performance was against the Sydney Tigers in Round 7. The Spartans were denied a win by a last second goal to Alicia Cavanagh of The Tigers in what would have been a heart breaking moment for Blacktown. The girls must dwell on the positives; though they shared the points they showed by their performance exactly what they are capable of.
The Panthers found the going tough against The Ravens last Sunday. They lifted in the second half to overcome a half time deficit and grab the three points. Coach Paul Waine used the word ?character? to describe that special quality his team has; a quality that always seems to see them through when the going gets difficult. A few niggling injuries aren?t helping The Panthers cause either but they remain right in the thick of the semi final race. They?re a side that I don?t mind admitting I have a lot of respect for.
I suspect that this won?t be a goal fest, and that?s not meant as a criticism of either side. The Panthers certainly deserve to be favourites but if Blacktown can repeat their best efforts they?re in with a chance.
The Central Coast Lightning girls take the long drive down the coast to Nowra on Sunday to meet Southern NSW FC at Ison Park.
This promises to be quite a game with both sides well in finals contention. Southern NSW FC sit third on the table; Central Coast Lightning fifth. The Lightning girls have two games in hand. Southern NSW played strongly in their 4-1 win over Blacktown Spartans last weekend. Katie French added a hat trick to her tally of goals for the season. Southern NSW will certainly be hoping she carries that form into this weekend?s game. Ison Park is something of a fortress for the local team and they?ll be keen to maintain that imposing record come Sunday.
Central Coast Lightning have been steadily improving as the season?s progressed. They are right on the heels of the top four whilst having three games in hand. Consistency may be the key for this side. The Central Coast girls are looking for their third win in a row here and their second ?big scalp? after beating Western NSW Panthers in Bathurst a few weeks back. It all looks like good form heading into this big match but Southern NSW FC will certainly put them to the test.
This looms as a fine game of football. The result is a toss of the coin job for mine with both sides having plenty to recommend them.
The first round clash between Sydney Tigers and Inter Lions created plenty of interest. It was an exciting game of football and fans will be looking forward to the second instalment in the rivalry at Lambert Park on Sunday.
Inter have gone from strength to strength as the season?s progressed. They sit atop the competition table with a very impressive for and against record to support their position. All their players seem to have contributed at one time or another and Coach Joe Baldacci would be very pleased with the results of his off season recruiting. Opposition coaches are wracking their brains trying to find a way to derail the Inter Lions Express.
The Sydney Tigers were the other off season headline side. Whilst they are in fourth place on the competition table coming into this round I still don?t think they?ve quite hit their straps. Injuries to some key players haven?t helped but Coach Tarek Madani is looking for his girls to find another gear. The incentive will be there in this local derby with both sides keen fro bragging rights.
This should be an entertaining afternoon for spectators; the first round clash didn?t just produce some classy football but it also left the combatants with plenty of bumps and bruises. It will be a willing contest!
Gladesville Ravens host the Northern Tigers at Magdala Park.
The Ravens are fresh from a tip top performance against Western NSW Panthers last weekend. Having watched that game I?m at a loss to explain Gladesville?s lowly position on the competition ladder. They played with a great deal of ticker against The Panthers but their game wasn?t just about enthusiasm; there was plenty of good football too. Coach Paul Wade has been pleased with the side?s progress but would like a little luck to start going their way.
The Northern Tigers season mirrors Gladesville?s in many ways. The young team hasn?t played as poorly as what their position on the table may attest. They play an enthusiastic brand of football but tend to lack the experience to get them through the impact moments of a match. A couple of games have got away from The Tigers just when they?ve looked on top. The girls will certainly learn from the tough times this season.
This will be a close one. Both teams will play with plenty of passion. Who will out enthuse who?
The final game for review is the St George FC v PCYC Lady Hawks match at St George Stadium.
Both sides have been stuck at home for the last two weekends whilst the rain turned the grounds into swimming pools. St George FC will be coming off a big result in Bathurst when they managed to steal the points from the Western Panthers. A result like that can be a season turning one for a team in St George?s position. The locals now need to back that up with a solid performance against a PCYC side who have already beaten them once this season.
PCYC Lady Hawks had lost three games in succession prior to the big wet. This is obviously something of a setback after their debut season started in a blaze of glory. Coming into this match they?ll be buoyed by a first round result which saw them defeat St George FC 4-2 at Melita Stadium. The Lady Hawks will see this game as a chance for them to bounce back into the winner?s list. Can they find that early season form?
On paper this looks like another tight match. Whoever brings their A game to St George Stadium on Sunday will go home with the points.
If anyone knows of a Native American who can do some sort of ritual dance to turn off the rain please put him in touch with the Competitions Department at Football NSW. We?re all in need of our football fix this weekend so drastic measures are needed! I?ll see you at the park.
-By Ross Anderson