Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 17 Review

Whilst Inter Lions extended their break at the top of the ladder the other four sides in finals contention have just five points between them.  Three teams could still finish second; three teams are still in danger of being the odd team out. It looks like the final round of the competition is going to be very keenly contested as the race to stay alive goes right to the wire.
At Pluim Park Central Coast Lightning were hoping to push for a top two place when they met Inter Lions.
Inter started solidly though with Dani Calvi opening the scoring in the 13^th minute. The Premiers extended their lead just ten minutes later when Elyce Goss, who missed last week?s game with a virus, slotted away a well taken goal. The Lions held firm with this 2-0 lead up until half time.
After the break Central Coast fought hard to try and get back into the match. Inter were equal to everything The Lightning attempted, however. In the 77^th Minute Nichole Laws was on the spot to score The Lions third goal and seal the match. Inter Lions ran out comfortable 3-0 winners on the day.
The win gave Inter a massive 14 point lead atop the competition ladder. In anyone?s language that?s a comprehensive domination of the competition. Central Coast Lightning can still finish as high as second but it?s also possible for them to miss the finals altogether. Their match at Melita Stadium next Sunday against PCYC Lady Hawks now takes on vital importance.
Central Coast Lightning 0
Inter Lions                       3 (D.Calvi 13m, E.Goss 23m, N.Laws 77m)
At Magdala Park the Gladesville Ravens were looking to snatch further late season success when they played Blacktown Spartans.
Unfortunately I have little information other than the goal scorers in this game. Gladesville battled with only ten players for the majority of the game after defender Tania Black was sent off. The Spartans responded to the challenge and, once they found the lead, they held onto it.
For Blacktown Bronwyn Jarvis and Van Rijs were the goal scorers. Arron De Long scored Gladesville?s lone goal.
A disappointment for The Ravens but The Spartans will be happy to grab a few more competition points.
Gladesville Ravens   1 (A.De Long)
Blacktown Spartans 2 (B.Jarvis, T Van Rijs)
Southern NSW FC were out to keep their semi finals hopes buzzing when they met PCYC Lady Hawks at Ison Park.
PCYC improved considerably one last week?s performance against Inter Lions. They made life difficult for the locals before Southern?s Louise Lloyd-Jones managed to light up Ison Park when she hit the back of the net with her shot.
At 1-0 up Southern did everything they could to build on their lead but PCYC denied them. In the end the one goal was enough to see Southern NSW FC through.
The win puts Southern two points clear of Sydney Tigers in fourth spot. It?s possible for them to finish as high as second but, again, the closeness of the table is such that they?re not ensured of their spot in the play offs just yet.
PCYC Lady Hawks proved that last weekend?s form was some sort of mirage. They were in this game right up until the final whistle.
Southern NSW FC  1 (L.Lloyd-Jones 35m)
PCYC Lady Hawks 0
The big cats did battle in Bathurst when The Panthers came up against The Tigers, the Sydney variety that is!
Sydney Tigers were missing some influential players from this game but those on deck certainly came to play. The Tigers suffered a set back ten minutes from half time when Annie Holliday scored for Western NSW.
Down 1-0 at the break the visitors looked to have it all to do. They didn?t stop trying though and in the 71^st minute their perseverance was rewarded when Forbes scored. That was enough to earn Sydney Tigers a share of the points. Another Tigers youngster made her debut in the match. Congratulations to 15 year old Dalia Elkhatib on her first taste of the top grade
The Panthers won?t miss the finals; it?s just a matter of where they finish. They deserve their spot given their good performances this season. Sydney Tigers hopes of contesting the semis in their debut year took a turn for the worse though as they now drop two points behind Southern NSW in fifth spot. They now have to rely on other results going their way rather than being masters of their own destiny.
Western NSW FC 1 (A.Holliday 35m)
Sydney Tigers        1 (C.Forbes 71m)
At St George Stadium the spectators gathered for what was, in many ways, the most important match of the weekend. The two clubs sitting at the bottom of the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League ladder, St George FC and Northern Tigers battled it out to decide who would be left holding the wooden spoon.
Both teams came into the match pumped up as this is one trophy no-one cares to own. St George came out of the blocks running with Captain Natalie Di Francesco scoring in the opening minute of play. This must surely have set Northern Tigers back on their heels. 
In the 37^th minute St George scored again through Fagan before The Tigers responded through Leyla Beiglari. With a 2-1 half time scoreline the crowd looked to be in for an exciting second stanza. That?s what they got as both teams did their best to gain the upper hand.
However, in the 89^th minute, Nyrie English bobbed up to score the clincher for St George. This sent the St George girls into raptures of delight whilst the Northern Tigers were gripped with despair. It?s been a less than memorable season for these two sides but you can be sure they?ll be back bigger and better in 2010.
St George FC     3 (N. Di Francesco 1m, L.Fagan 37m, N.English 89m)
Northern Tigers 1 (L.Beiglari 40m)
So, we?re down to the final week in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League. Who will win through to the finals? Can we expect any final round upsets? Whatever happens you can be sure that there will be plenty of excitement once the semi finals start in a fortnight?s time.
-By Ross Anderson