Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 18 Review

 There were some new faces, a number of high expectations and a fair bit of shuffling of personnel.  As the season progressed we saw one team dominate the competition ladder whilst many others fought for semi final spots. Coming into Round 18 four teams were battling for three finals spots with the coveted second spot still up for grabs.
At Alec Lamberton Field in Bathurst second placed Western NSW Panthers were keen to secure the major semi final spot with success over the visiting Gladesville Ravens.
The Panthers were given a tough afternoon by The Ravens. Western NSW played some good football but found Gladesville very hard to break down. The Panthers are having problems scoring goals at the moment and this match only seemed to highlight the issue.
The Ravens gave their usual game performance but, despite the scoreline, they rarely looked likely to seize the match by the scruff of the neck. In the end, both sides would have settled for a share of the points; certainly with results elsewhere one point was all The Panthers needed to hold on to second place in the final standings.
Western NSW Panthers 0
Gladesville Ravens          0
At Ison Park Southern NSW FC and Blacktown Spartans put on a goal fest for spectators in a high scoring affair.
Melanie Armitage scored in the 4^th minute for Southern NSW before Blacktown replied in the 29^th minute through Eedy. One minute later Dowse put Southern NSW back in front before Emma Cobb extended their lead five minutes later.
With a 3-0 half time lead Southern NSW would have been feeling confident but within two minutes of the resumption Eedy added a second for Blacktown to make it ?game on?! A tight struggle ensued before Louise Lloyd-Jones put the locals 4-2 up in the 65^th minute.
Blacktown still had a sting in their tail though with Bronwyn Jarvis scoring in the 75^th minute to bring it back to a 4-3 deficit. Southern NSW were not to be denied though with Emma Cobb sealing the win with her second goal in the 90^th minute.
An entertaining affair for the spectators; enough to give Southern NSW third place in the final standings. Blacktown gave a good account of themselves but couldn?t quite get across the line.
Southern NSW FC     5 (M.Armitage 4m, E.Dowse 30m, E.Cobb 35m/90m, L.Lloyd-Jones 65m)
Blacktown Spartans 3 (T.Eedy 29m/47m, B.Jarvis 75m)
The battle of The Tigers at Parklands Oval ended in a stalemate with a 1-1 draw ending Sydney Tigers slender finals hopes.
The Northern girls decided to end their season in style, putting in a spirited performance against a Sydney Tigers side who were touted as premiership contenders leading up to the start of the 2009 season.
Alice Wilson?s goal earned her Northern Tigers side a point whilst Kate Meehan was the scorer for the Sydney Tigers. Both sides will now start planning for 2010.
Northern Tigers 1 (A.Wilson)
Sydney Tigers     1 (K.Meehan)
Inter Lions completed a dominant season with a strong 8-2 win over St George FC at Ron Routley Field.
Clare Tyson opened the scoring for the home side in the 3^rd minute before Justine Vella added a second four minutes later. Nicholle Laws made it 3-0 in the 15^th minute but St George FC Captain Natalie Di Francesco got one back for the visitors two minutes after.
In the 30^th minute Dominique Caridad moved The Lions out to a 4-1 lead; an advantage that stretched even further when Elyce Goss scored seven minutes later. With a 5-1 half time lead it was a matter of how far for the rampant Lions. After the break Caridad scored again in the 52^nd minute. Alisha Hill stunned Inter when she scored The Saints second goal in the 68^th minute but Elyce Goss replied with Inter?s seventh within one minute. Caridad rounded off the scoring with her hat trick goal in the 87^th minute to leave Inter 8-2 winners.
The Lions now move on to the major semi final against Western NSW Panthers at Concord Oval next Sunday. St George FC see the end of a disappointing season, hoping that 2010 will bring a resurgence in their fortunes.
Inter Lions     8 (D.Caridad 30m/52m/87m, E.Goss 37m/69m, C.Tyson 3m, J.Vella 7m, N.Laws 15m)
St George FC 2 (N.Di Francesco 17m, A.Hill 68m)
Another goal fest was happening out at Melita Stadium where the PCYC Lady Hawks went blow for blow in an eight goal thriller with Central Coast Lightning.
I?d love to give a more detailed account of the action; however, I am unable to supply all of the goal scorers in this match. Maybe the scoreboard attendant got too excited and couldn?t keep track of the game?
Anyway, the match finished in an exciting 4-4 draw; enough to cement Central Coast?s final spot and a fitting result for a much improved PCYC Lady Hawks unit.
Centra Coast Lightning now meet Southern NSW FC in next Saturday?s minor semi final at Ison Park. PCYC Lady Hawks have had an excellent debut season and will be hoping to come back bigger and better in 2010.
PCYC Lady Hawks           4 (No goal scorers names supplied)
Central Coast Lightning 4 (J.Tatum, A.Morris, J.Hedge 2)
Six clubs can now plan end of season celebrations whilst the leagues top four move on to battle for the title. Inter Lions must start favourites to add to their Minor Premiership laurels but Western Panthers, the only team to beat The Lions in 2009, won?t be giving in without a fight. Southern NSW and Central Coast Lightning will both be doing their best to upset the two top of the table sides but who will survive their sudden death clash on Saturday?
A great finale to the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League awaits. Who will be the champions?

-By Ross Anderson