Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 5 Preview

Whilst there are one or two matches that look a little lop sided on paper we have other very competitive games featuring some of the league?s form sides.
 One of the weekend?s best matches sees the Western NSW Panthers at home to Marconi Stallions at Alec Lamberton Field.
The Panthers sit in third place on the ladder after making s strong start to their first season in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League. True, they haven?t got past any of the league?s stronger sides in reaching that point but they can do no more than win. The Panthers always seem to rise to the occasion at home. Last weekend?s win over NWS Koalas was a solid lead up to this weekend. I?m sure that they will be ready for what looks like a challenging match this weekend.
The young Marconi Stallions side has been one of the surprise packets of the league so far this season. Two solid wins and two narrow losses have given promise of good things ahead for The Stallions. Talented youngsters Emma Stanbury and Helen Petinos certainly seem to know how to score a goal. They are sure to test the Western NSW defence on Sunday. I like the look of this Marconi side. Maybe the glory days aren?t far from being rekindled if The Stallions can keep this bunch of fillies together.
This should be a very competitive encounter but I fancy the visitors to come home with the points.
At J.J.Kelly Park the Illawarra Stingrays meet the Sutherland Sharks.
The undefeated Stingrays look like they have visions of back to back titles. Their ability to score goals is undoubted with Ash Connor in particular looking deadly in front of goal. The Stingrays haven?t had what one could call an ?easy? match so far this season as every opponent has seemed keen to snare the premier?s scalp. However, Illawarra have continued their momentum from season 2009 and always seem to find a way to win through. Last week?s late winner over Marconi Stallions is a case in point.
Sutherland Sharks have struggled in 2010. They seem capable of being very competitive for periods of their matches but have been unable to produce a 90 minute effort. There?s definitely an improvement on their 2009 form but The Sharks still have a way to go. They come into this encounter in a positive frame of mind after a hard earned win over Southern Branch last weekend. Having attended Sutherland?s Thursday night training session this week I can tell you that the girls are certainly not going into the weekend?s game with a defeatist attitude.
It?s hard to tip against The Stingrays here.
At Lynwood Park the Macarthur Rams meet Inter Lions.
Both sides have got off to what one may call a spluttering start in 2010. The ability and talent is in both squads but neither have been able to produce their best football in the first four rounds.
The Rams seem to be suffering from a combination of injury problems and post Kylie Ledbrook syndrome.  Wins over NWS Koalas and Sydney University were followed by losses at the hands of Marconi Stallions and Manly United FC.  I?m sure that Matt Turvey and his girls wouldn?t be hitting the panic button just yet but a turnaround in form is needed to restore team confidence. This would be a game worth winning for the locals.
Inter Lions were tipped by many to emulate Illawarra Stingrays by following a Arrive Alive Women?s Super League title with a Premier League success. The Lions haven?t quite produced the sort of form to back up those claims thus far. There?s talent galore in their squad but their football is lacking fluency. It would appear that the team is still ?gelling? but the positive is that, despite any early season hiccups, they still sit in fourth place on the ladder, in sight of the leaders.
This looks like being an excellent game of football. I?m going to sit on the fence here and tip the draw.
South Nowra Football Complex is the venue for the Southern Branch v Manly United FC match.
The season has been a trying one for the Southern Branch side so far. Their step up to the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League has seen them struggling to be competitive.  Yes, they?ve come up with a couple of good efforts against Western NSW Panthers and Sutherland Sharks but have conceded 15 goals in their other two games with NWS Koalas and Marconi Stallions. That?s hardly promising form going into a match with the competition leaders. Some good news for Southern Branch is the signing this week of their perennial goal scoring star Katie French for the rest of the season.
Manly United FC couldn?t have done much more than what they?ve shown us so far this season. Four solid wins, including very convincing 5-2 victories over finals contenders Inter Lions and Macarthur Rams would have the Manly United brimming with confidence. With Captain Gill Foster leading the way and Emma Stewart finding a rich vein of goal scoring form the Manly girls are firming in title betting every week. Given all of these positives the trip to Nowra wouldn?t be filling Larry Bates and his girls with dread.
Southern Branch need something to kick start their season but this match doesn?t look like being it. Manly have been dominant so far and this could get ugly.
Our final match for review is the Sydney University and NWS Koalas clash at Sydney University Oval 1.
Sydney University finally grabbed themselves a point last weekend after a 1-1 draw with Inter Lions. The University girls have certainly competed in most of their games but winning isn?t an art form they?ve come to grips with just yet.  This weekend?s game would appear to offer them an opportunity but can they lift themselves to a winning mindset? Last weekend?s effort would surely give them some momentum to work with.
The Koalas are one from four so far in 2010. A solitary win over Southern Branch is less than what this very successful club may have been expecting at this stage of the season. The Koalas were disappointing last weekend against Western NSW Panthers. A lot of improvement is required for NWS to lift themselves out of the lower levels of the competition ladder. This game takes on some importance for The Koalas from the point of view of where they may be heading in 2010.
An intriguing match. Neither side has been very convincing in 2010. That makes this game a real toss up. Rather than sit on the fence I?ll go for a narrow Koalas win.
Fans are reminded that, due to it being Anzac Day, the first grade matches this Sunday will not kick off until 6pm. So, it?s a chance for supporters to see the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League stars under the stars! Take the opportunity to get yourself to a game this weekend.
See you at the ground.
 -By Ross Anderson