Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 17 Preview

Finally all of the catch up matches have been played and the premiership ladder is easy to define. Inter Lions have bolted away with the Minor Premiership, having a twelve point lead over Western NSW Panthers. The girls from Bathurst have a slender, one point hold on second place ahead of Central Coast Lightning. There?s then a four point buffer to both Southern NSW FC and Sydney Tigers who are in a battle for fourth place.
Four of the top five teams are at war this weekend in matches that will prove vital to the make up of the finals.
Bathurst hosts the crucial game between the Western NSW Panthers and Sydney Tigers at Alec Lamberton Field. Their first round match saw the honours shared in a 1-1 draw.
The Panthers have had another successful season. They appear to have got over what was a worrying mid season slump to find form at the right end of the season. As the only team to beat Inter Lions in 2009 they must feel that they are in with a realistic shot at the title. Whilst their place in the finals looks secure just where they may finish is dependant on results in the final two games. Obviously the major semi final offers advantages and the Bathurst girls will be keen to maintain second place with a win on Sunday.
Things aren?t quite as comfortable for Sydney Tigers. Whilst equal with Southern NSW FC on the ladder they have a significant disadvantage on for and against. It would appear that, if Southern NSW doesn?t stumble, The Tigers may need some big wins to get them into the finals. Winning is the first part of the equation to deal with and success against The Panthers in Bathurst isn?t easy to achieve. I look at the Sydney Tigers squad list and wonder why they?re struggling. This could be their Grand Final.
The Panthers love an arm wrestle and that looks like what this match could develop into. If The Tigers are ever going to realise their potential then Sunday is the day to do so.
At Ison Park the Southern NSW FC side will be out to shore up their spot on the ladder when they play PCYC Lady Hawks.
A win here could almost assure Southern NSW of finals football. The Nowra team returned to the winner?s list last Sunday with a good 3-0 win over the Gladesville Ravens. Southern have been with the leaders throughout the competition and look to be worthy of a finals berth. With Emma Cobb snaring a hat trick against Ravens the home side would think that they have enough firepower to get past a plucky PCYC Lady Hawks.
PCYC Lady Hawks hit a speed hump last weekend when overrun by Inter Lions. The Lady Hawks had shown considerable improvement prior to that match but, frankly, were flattered by the 7-0 scoreline on Sunday. They?ll be keen to put the lie to that effort. It?s hoped that, with coaches Khamis and Brogan back on the bench after last week?s coaching course sojourn, the Lady Hawks will be back in a positive groove.
It?d be hard to tip PCYC on last weekend?s effort but Southern NSW are not quite as frightening a proposition as Inter Lions. Southern NSW though have plenty of incentive to grind out a win.
Gladesville Ravens meet Blacktown Spartans at Magdala Park.
This is an interesting match. Both sides have played some attractive football this season but find themselves well outside finals contention. Gladesville started the competition slowly but have found their touch at the back end of the season. The Spartans have proven competitive with some of the better sides in the league but have lacked the experience and firepower to turn that competitiveness into competition points. 
Gladesville hit a banana skin when they travelled to Nowra last weekend. There were plenty tipping them to end Southern NSW?s finals chances but instead they wasted opportunities whilst the locals took theirs. Coach Paul Wade has done a fine job with his side this season and he?d be looking for the girls to maintain the momentum they?ve gathered in recent weeks. The Ravens certainly appear to have something to build on for 2010.
The Spartans seem to have issues with maintaining possession. This means that they end up putting themselves under increasing pressure as they continually turn over the ball. They have some bright young talents in the team as well as one of the leagues most reliable players in Bronwyn Jarvis. A little more experience a wise old head or two to lead the youngsters around the park seem to be part of the recipe for further improvement next season.
This would seem to be a game between two sides that haven?t quite played to their potential this season. That?s unfortunate as they both seem to have something to offer.
The second mega match of the weekend sees third placed Central Coast Lightning host competition leaders Inter Lions at Pluim Park.
The Lightning may yet prove the dark horse of the finals. They?ve made steady improvement as the season?s progressed and seem a side capable of playing some excellent football. Their last match against The Lions saw them suffer a 4-0 defeat at Ron Routley Reserve. The Lightning will be out to prove that they?re better than that on their home turf. There?s still a remote possibility this team could miss the finals all together but that would be a travesty.
What superlatives can one use to describe Inter Lions this season? They?ve been far and away the dominant team in the league with some sizzling performances. The have a great roster of players and, if they don?t perform as a team on a given day, one of their stars takes the game by the scruff of the neck and wins it by themselves with a touch of magic. It?s reasonable to say that Catherine Cannuli, the elder statesperson of the team at just 23 years young, has been an inspiration to her side this season. Any W League sides looking for a worthwhile recruit for the upcoming season could do a lot worse than target the former Young Matilda.
There can?t be any stiffer test of Central Coast?s title credential than a match with the league?s hottest team. If The Lightning?s fans are fair dinkum they?ll pack Pluim Park for this game.
Finally we come to a match that may not hold much importance as far as the fate of the premiership trophy is concerned but it certainly means a lot to the two sides involved; St George FC v Northern Tigers at St George Stadium.
Effectively this one is the battle for the least coveted trophy of them all, the wooden spoon. A point separates the two teams at the bottom of the ladder with The Tigers stranded in last place going into Sunday?s game.
St George FC had a mid week catch up game with Inter Lions which saw them tumble to a 7-0 defeat. Unfortunately they get to renew acquaintances with The Lions again in the final round of the competition next week. There?ve been few bright spots to the 2009 season for St George, whether we talk results, injuries or any other aspect. The coaching staff is happy to be able to field a team at the moment, let alone harvest competition points. This is a game that the Saints can win though so expect plenty of passion in their performance on Sunday.
The Northern Tigers year book would read in many ways similar to St George?s. Injuries have caused many a headache. The youthful nature of this side has been a positive in the area of enthusiasm but negative in the area of experience. There?s been more than one game where a steady senior head may have led the young Tigers to victory. As much as the competition ladder doesn?t say it I believe that Northern Tigers have shown potential. If the club can keep the youngsters together and find that required blend of experience there may be some positive mileage to be gained from this season.
There?ll be no prisoners taken in this game. Nobody wants the wooden spoon so expect both sides to play as if their lives depended on it!
There?s only a fortnight to the finals. It?s been an exciting season with many a twist and turn. Are there still a few more surprises awaiting us in these final two rounds of football? Get out to a ground this weekend and support your favourite team in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League.
Good luck to all the teams this weekend.
-By Ross Anderson