Arrive alive Women?s Premier League Round 2 Review

Round 2 of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier saw some keenly contested matches with a surprise upset of one of the competition?s ?big guns?.  Early impressions are that the state?s number one women?s league will be very competitive in the 2010 season.
Out at Marconi Stadium an injury hit Macarthur Rams started brightly against Marconi Stallions. Addatini scored in the 7^th minute of play for the visitors before The Rams doubled their lead just five minutes later through a goal by Linda Dudek.
It was looking like a long, tough day for The Stallions before they got themselves on the board with a goal from Stanbury in the 21^st minute. In the shadows of half time Addatini scored again for Macarthur, giving them a solid 3-1 lead at the break. Marconi looked to be in strife but they bounced back with venom after the resumption with a goal by Stanbury on the 56^th minute bringing them right back into the game. Within three minutes they had drawn level when Helen Petinos scored. The talented youngster then made herself the hero of the day when she snagged what turned out to be the winner in the 63^rd minute. This seven minute scoring spree from Marconi had turned the game on its head, with The Rams not being sure what hit them.
A great tonic for The Stallions and a shock defeat for The Rams. Is this the beginning of a Marconi resurgence? We can only wait and see.
MARCONI STALLIONS 4 (E.Stanbury 21m/56m, H.Petinos 59m/63m)
MACARTHUR RAMS 3 (B.Addatini 7m/42m, L.Dudek 12m)
In Bathurst the Western NSW Panthers came up against the 2009 Champions, Illawarra Stingrays.
Trudy Camilleri opened the scoring for Illawarra in the 26^th minute before Ash Connor doubled The Stingrays lead in the 39^th minute. Illawarra?s 2-0 half time lead became 3-0 just one minute after the break with another Trudy Camilleri goal. Callaghan got one back for The Panthers just three minutes later. However, Illawarra stepped up a gear with Hayley Kerrigan appearing to kill off a Western NSW comeback with her 58^th minute goal.
McFarland grabbed a consolation for The Panthers in the 75^th minute but The Stingrays were just too good on the day.
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 2 (C.Callaghan 49m, K.McFarland 75m)
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 4 (T.Camilleri 26m/46m, A.Connor 39m, H.Kerrigan 58m)
At Cromer Park Manly United FC were looking for two from two when they met Sydney University.
Manly started in fine style; Gill Foster putting her side up 1-0 after just 15 minutes.  Olivia Kennedy equalised for the University side 3 minutes after half time before Foster nabbed her second for the home side just two minutes later. Emma Stewart then scored a brace with goals in the 70^th and 87^th minutes to put the game out of Sydney University?s reach. Kennedy scored a second goal for University in injury time to make for a much more respectable final scoreline.
Manly remain undefeated whilst Sydney University are still looking for their first competition points of the season.
MANLY UNITED FC 4 (G.Foster 15m/51m, E.Stewart 70m/87m)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 2 (O.Kennedy 49m/91m)
NWS Koalas got their season back on track after a first round defeat with a 5-0 win over Southern Branch at ELS Hall Park.
Brooke Koster opened the scoring for The Koalas in the 28^th minute. A 1-0 lead was as far as NWS could achieve in the first half against a game Southern Branch side. After the break though, the home side gradually wore the visitors down.  Alexandra Smith extended the lead to 2-0 in the 65^th minute before Rachael Doyle made it three six minutes later. Jade Booty (83m) and Anna McLean (88m) rounded out the scoring for The Koalas.
A disappointing effort for Southern Branch but an encouraging win for NWS Koalas.
NWS KOALAS 5 (B.Koster 28m, A.Smith 65m, R.Doyle 71m, J.Booty 83m, A.McLean 88m)
SOUTHERN BRANCH 0
At Harrie Denning Centre the Sutherland Sharks shocked inter Lions early when Kathryn Pryer scored in the 22^nd minute.
Just as Sutherland looked to have won themselves a half time lead Inter scored twice in the final minutes before the break with Catherine Cannuli grabbing a goal in the 44^th minute followed quickly by Dani Calvi in the 45^th minute.
After the break The Sharks tried hard to get back on equal terms with their highly fancied visitors but to no avail. Jo Saliba cemented the win for Inter with their third goal in the 83^rd minute.
This was an improved effort by Sutherland but, in the end, Inter?s class was just a little too much to handle. The 2009 Arrive Alive Super League Champions are still a project in progress but they have the roster and talent to test the leading sides as the season goes on. Sutherland continue to show signs of life. Maybe season 2010 holds some promise for them also.
SUTHERLAND SHARKS 1 (K.Pryer 22m)
INTER LIONS 3 (C.Cannuli 44m, D.Calvi 45m, J.Saliba 83m)
The league will be in recess next weekend for the Easter break. I?d like to wish everyone; spectators, supporters, players and officials the very best for Easter. I look forward to more exciting football in a fortnight?s time. Watch out for those fattening Easter Eggs!
 -By Ross Anderson