Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 12 Preview

Competition points are at a premium as finals spots are still well and truly up for grabs. This is the time of year when we find out who the true contenders are.
Bathurst is a pretty cold place temperature wise at this time of the year but The Panthers are always happy to thrown out the welcome mat for visiting teams. This hospitable nature doesn?t usually extend to allowing the visitors to leave town with any competition points. However, this season fortress Bathurst hasn?t been as solid as usual. 
Western NSW Panthers hadn?t been in the best of form in recent weeks but rebounded to something like their old selves with a strong win over Southern NSW FC last weekend. Possibly a few of the team?s stars are starting to overcome some niggling injuries which have made life difficult over the last month or so. The Panthers sit second on the ladder but need to keep winning to consolidate their spot. Coach Paul Waine will be delving into his psychology text books again this weekend to ensure his girls are in the right frame of mind for this game.
The Northern Tigers are a game bunch of youngsters. Their season has been a tough one but they?ve generally been quite competitive, even against some of the league?s strongest teams. What they lack is experience but that?s a quality there getting loads of as this season progresses. They could be a side to watch in future seasons but, for now, they have to keep on battling away and hope that luck takes a right hand turn in their favour.
The first round clash between these two sides was much closer than the scoreline suggested. The Tigers gave Western NSW plenty to worry about that day and The Panthers will need to be wary of their opponents on Sunday.
At Lambert Park the Sydney Tigers trade blows, figuratively not literally, with Central Coast Lightning. These two sides are right in the firing line for finals berths; something that should ensure they?re both suitably motivated for this important clash.
The Sydney Tigers have been one of the sides that everyone has had their eye on. With some big name signings to propel them into their first year in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League fans have been expecting a lot from the debutants. There have been flashes of brilliance but one thinks that The Tigers still haven?t shown us exactly what they are capable of. Coach Tarek Madani will need to dig into his bag of tricks and find more than a rabbit to kick start his team?s spluttering motor. There?s a V8 engine in there waiting to be ignited and The Tigers will be a scary proposition once they hit their straps.
Central Coast Lightning dropped back to the Arrive Alive Super League this season after a disappointing 2008 in the Premier League. They?ve progressed steadily, having shown a few moments of inspired football, and look genuine finals contenders. Last weekend was a mixed bag for the Central Coast girls with a fairly comprehensive defeat at the hands of Inter Lions on Saturday afternoon being followed by a comfortable win over St George FC on Sunday. This match will be a challenge for The Lightning side. They?ve managed a win over the Western NSW Panthers; it?s time for another big scalp.
This has the potential to be an outstanding game. If The Tigers are at their best they?d appear to have too much firepower for the visitors but Central Coast won?t be making the trip to Leichhardt with losing in mind.
Over at Magdala Park the Gladesville Ravens will be keen to continue their mid season resurgence against the PCYC Lady Hawks.
The Ravens have really blossomed in recent weeks with some excellent performances. Whilst not all have been rewarded with competition points the Gladesville team must be growing in confidence as they?ve mixed it more than competitively with some of the league?s strongest squads. Fatma Agar has been finding the back of the net regularly, capitalising on the hard working efforts of her team mates. It?s great to perform well against the tops sides but it?s also important to win the games you should win. This would appear to be one of those games for The Ravens.
PCYC Lady Hawks showed some grit of their own last week in a spirited display against the Sydney Tigers. Whilst the Lady Hawks were pick pocketed by a late Lisa Gilbert goal their performance should give them a big lift in confidence. The coaching of Matildas Leena Khamis and Danielle Brogan appears to be paying off for the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League new girls and they aren?t without a chance of snaring an upset win here.  Danyelle Pringle and Maria Kalogeropoulos have been in good form for the Lady Hawks and they?ll need to continue that level to give their side a chance here.
It?s worth noting that PCYC beat Gladesville 2-1 in their first round encounter. The Ravens seem to have found a new lease of life since then but PCYC will fancy their chances here.
At St George Stadium the St George FC girls will play host to the Southern NSW FC side.
The locals haven?t found life easy in their latest matches as a succession of injuries as left their squad somewhat threadbare. The side have battled on regardless but good results have been difficult to come by. Last weekend they took something of a pummelling at the hands of Central Coast Lightning and this week?s match doesn?t show any promise of an easier task. Coach Craig Fletcher will undoubtedly be working on a game plan that somehow shuts down Southern NSW danger girl, Katie French. Good luck Craig!
Southern NSW FC sit third on the league ladder at the moment but it?s a congested table with teams around them having games in hand. It?s essential for the Nowra girls that they maintain the momentum of what has been a good first half of the season for their side. They?ve had a couple of testing games in recent weeks, sharing the points with Central Coast Lightning before going down to Western NSW Panthers last Sunday. With Katie French only available for a few more weeks Southern will want to make full use of her golden boot before she continues her medical studies.
The form guide says that Southern NSW FC are the warm favourites for this game. St George FC will need to click up a couple of gears if they hope to send the visitors home without a win.
Blacktown Spartans meet the Inter Lions at Francis Park.
The Spartans leapt back into the winner?s list last weekend with a solid 3-1 win over Northern Tigers. Mathematically Blacktown are still in with a chance of making the finals though that chance is dependant on them putting together a good sequence of wins. The 2009 season has already shown a renewed spirit in The Spartans team but they?ll need all that spirit and more if they hope to match the leading side in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League. Good sides step up to meet challenges. Can Blacktown do it this weekend?
Inter Lions continue to roll along at the top of the competition table. Despite still having two games in hand they are four points clear of their nearest challenger. They worked through a double header last weekend, beating Central Coast Lightning quite convincingly on Saturday before scraping home over Gladesville Ravens on Sunday. The girls were looking a little leg weary in the second half against Ravens but, if everyone is fit and ready to go on Sunday, they?ll give Blacktown something to chase during the afternoon. Inter Lions are still the side to beat in the title race.
The first round clash proved something of a massacre. If The Lions get going they can do that to any side. Blackto9wn will need to be on their game to avoid a repeat scoreline.
Good luck to everyone this weekend. There?s a lot to play for as the season starts to get towards the pointy end. Is the top four cut and dried or is there a team out there about to make a run at the finals? Get yourself out to a game this weekend and cheer on your favourite team.
-By Ross Anderson