Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 11 Preview
Hopefully the clear blue skies and glowing sunshine will stay with us for a few weeks now so that the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League can get back on track. Only three teams have played the full quota of ten games, those being the Illawarra Stingrays, NWS Koalas and Sutherland Sharks. The quota of outstanding catch up games makes the competition ladder a little more difficult to assess but things are sure to become clearer as everyone gets back on an even keel.
Round 11 offers fans a couple of quality clashes with four of the league?s leading teams doing battle. Cromer Park will be the venue for the game between Manly United FC and NWS Koalas.
The Koalas sit third on the ladder at the moment, Manly United FC fifth. The Manly girls, however, have two games in hand. The Koalas recent form has been a little topsy turvy as they?ve battled against a mounting injury toll. They scraped in against Marconi Stallions last Sunday via a 55th minute goal from Carlie Ikonomou. The previous week The Koalas had played some great football against Illawarra Stingrays before self destructing in the second half to lose 5-3. Despite the circumstances there were many things about that performance which made it one of NWS?s more prominent in 2009. The Koalas will be keen to avenge a narrow first round defeat by Manly.
The Manly United side had successive washed out fixtures before coming up against the Macarthur Rams last weekend. The Rams proved too strong but Manly?s form generally has been very solid. In the first round clash between these two sides at ELS Hall Park Manly dominated much more than the final score reflected. They may have been guilty that day of not making the most of their opportunities. Manly?s only loss at home this season was a narrow one to Macarthur Rams so it?s obvious that the girls appreciate their local support.
They?ll be hoping to leap frog The Koalas on the table with a convincing win here.
This looms as an entertaining game between two good football teams. Either than more than capable of taking the points though Manly are likely to start favourites.
Sydney University get to test their engines this weekend with a match against the competition front runners, the Illawarra Stingrays.
The first round meeting produced a good win for The Stingrays but, back on their home turf, the University girls will be looking for revenge. University haven?t scored a lot of goals in their eight matches this season but they do have the second best defensive record in the league. That record will certainly be under siege against the competition?s leading goal scorers, The Stingrays. However, the season so far has been one of promise for the University side. They?re right in the finals race but need to prove that they can match the top couple of teams. Sunday provides the opportunity for the girls to show their worth.
The Stingrays powerful team has certainly looked premiership material in 2009. Though injuries have caused Coach Brett Wallin plenty of headaches Illawarra seem to have a new signing almost every week to try and cover the breach! Ash Connor and Michelle Heyman are forming a lethal partnership in attack but Illawarra?s quality spreads across the park. Recent weeks haven?t proven easy with a poor effort against Macarthur Rams followed by a less than convincing win over The Koalas. Seven goals against Sutherland Sharks last week looks good on paper but Coach Wallin was looking for a greater commitment. Will the real Stingrays step up for this clash?
The best defence in the league versus the best attack; which one comes out on top? This will be a very intriguing game of football.
Out at St Mary?s Cook Park, Penrith Nepean United come up against the 2008 Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Champions, the Mcarthur Rams.
Penrith Nepean sit at the bottom of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League ladder. They are yet to win a game though they showed considerable improvement last weekend in snatching a 1-1 draw with Sydney University. They?ll need to step up another rung this weekend to get something from this game. Still, maybe last week has buoyed the locals? confidence. I?m sure that they?ll give an upset their best shot.
Macarthur Rams welcome back midfield dynamo Kylie Ledbrook this week after a one match suspension. Not that they seemed to miss their star midfielder last weekend when disposing of Manly United FC 4-1 at Lynwood Park. Renee Cartwright and Stephanie Haim are in good goalscoring form for The Rams and, after the visitors put seven past Penrith in their first round clash, the sniff of goals will be in the Rams nostrils.
This looks a one sided match on statistics. Penrith Nepean will need to dig deep to deny Macarthur all three points.
The final match for review in Round 11 is the Marconi Stallions versus Sutherland Sharks encounter at Marconi Stadium.
It?s disappointing to see both these sides struggling. They both have great local nurseries, with The Stallions having secured the Club Championship in season 2008.
Marconi have won two games and put up some quite creditable efforts in a number of others. They were only narrowly beaten last weekend by NWS Koalas. Their excellent 1st grade side of last season has been decimated by retirements, transfers and injuries. However, The Stallions aren?t quitters and you can be sure that they?ll put in another wholehearted effort this weekend.
The Sharks; well, where do they go from here? It?s been a season where they?ve suffered some harrowing losses that have questioned their ability to compete at this level. There have certainly been glimmers of hope here and there but Sutherland can?t put it together consistently. Coach Michael Michael continues to battle away in an attempt to turn things around for his side. This game is probably a winnable one for them; can they produce one of their better efforts on Sunday?
I suspect that this will be a close game where the side that makes the most of their chances will walk away with the points. A little joy for either side is way overdue.
Whichever game in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League you choose to attend this weekend you?re sure to find plenty to keep you on the edge of your seat. It looks like a round where the football will be tight, tough and results will be hard won. Get yourself out to a ground and cheer on your favourite team this weekend.
-By Ross Anderson
