Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 16 Review

Favourites were the order of the day as the league?s leading sides flexed their muscles against some game opposition.
The battle for fourth spot reheated as Sydney University drew to within three points of NWS Koalas, though The Koalas better for and against may yet come into play. Elsewhere Illawarra Stingrays and Macarthur Rams continued to set the pace despite Illawarra being given a scare by a gritty Koalas team at ELS Hall Park.
The Koalas came ready to play, though they?d promising young striker Evelyn Chronis to injury prior to the match. Both sides put plenty into the opening quarter of this important clash before The Koalas snatched the lead with a goal from Anna McLean in the 27^th minute.
The Stingrays, keen to retain the competition lead they?d snared through a tough encounter with Macarthur Rams the previous week, dug deep. In the 38^th minute Ash Connor found the back of the net for the visitors to put the game back on an even keel.
After going into the break at 1-1 the two teams fought out an absorbing second half as each tried to take the initiative. Just as a draw seemed the most likely result up bobbed Illawarra?s ever reliable Michelle Carney to slot away the winner, giving her team all three points.
A heartbreaker for The Koalas after another big effort. The loss puts them under some pressure as Sydney University move back within range of fourth spot. The next few weeks will certainly test the mettle of the Koalas girls. The Stingrays? They keep marching towards that Minor Premiership and dreams of finals glory.
NWS Koalas             1 (A.McLean 28m)
Illawarra Stingrays 2 (A.Connor 38m, M.Carney 88m)
Sydney University travelled to Hensley Athletic Field on Sunday as a team on a mission. Their slender finals hopes depended on a win against a Sutherland Sharks side which had revitalised by an upset win over NWS Koalas the week before.
When Selva Barroso opened the scoring for the visitors in the 21^st minute the alarm bells may have been ringing for University. However, the local girls answered the challenge with Amanda Cergovski equalising in the 25^th minute. The 1-1 scoreline stayed in place as the teams went to the sheds for half time.
The game then became something of an arm wrestle as Sydney University went after the clincher against a solid Sharks defence. In the 56^th minute Kate Andrews scored to give her side the lead. Though Sutherland tried hard to get back into the game it was Sydney University who finished the stronger with Andrews snaring her second goal in the 85^th minute before Erin Wilson grabbed University?s fourth in the 89^th minute.
The 4-1 score may not have reflected how close this game was but Sydney University were happy to take the points and resurrect their charge for the finals. The Sharks put in another strong performance; if only they had been playing with this much heart since the start of the competition!
Sydney University   4 (A.Cergovski 25m, K.Andrews 56m/85m, E.Wilson 89m)
Sutherland Sharks  1 (S.Barroso 21m)
Out at Lynwood Park the Macarthur Rams bounced back from last week?s disappointment against Illawarra Stingrays to record a rampaging 7-0 win over the Marconi Stallions.
The Rams led 3-0 by half time with a brace to Sigrid Manty scored in the 16^th and 25^th minutes on top of Renee Cartwright?s 27^th minute goal. After half time Stephanie Haim joined in the scoring spree with her own double in the 60^th and 61^st minutes. Linda Dudek snared Macarthur?s sixth goal in the 77^th minute before Sigrid Manty completed her hat trick in the 89^th minute. 
The win allowed The Rams to maintain pressure on The Stingrays in the race for the Premiership. The Stallions were outclassed on the day in another disappointing effort.
Macarthur Rams  7 (S.Manty 16m/25m/89m, S.Haim 60m/61m, R.Cartwright 27m, L.Dudek 77m)
Marconi Stallions  0
Cook Park saw Penrith Nepean United matching motors with the Manly United FC side.
The matching of motors really only lasted until the 28^th minute when Caitlan Jarvie opened the scoring for Manly. Louise Neville added a second for the visitors 2 minutes before half time. With a 2-0 lead at the break it looked simply a matter of how far for the Manly side.
Penrith tried hard in the second half but the final nail in their coffin came when Eilish Sheerin scored in the 60^th minute. Sheerin brought up her brace in the 80^th minute followed by Jarvie just five minutes later.
Manly United FC retains third spot on the ladder leading into a big clash at Cromer Park next Sunday with Macarthur Rams. Manly need a confidence boosting win against the defending premiers to show that they are capable of going all the way in 2009.
Penrith?s youngsters did their best but were simply outgunned on the day.
Penrith Nepean United 0
Manly United FC          5 (C.Jarvie 28m/85m, E.Sheerin 60m/80m, L.Neville 43m)
Five rounds remain in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League prior to the semi finals. There?s plenty of football still to be played with the leading sides jockeying for position as the big end of season games draw nearer. Is the Minor Premiership safely in Illawarra?s hands? Can The Koalas hold on to fourth spot? These and many other questions will be answered in the next few weeks.
-By Ross Anderson