Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 6 Review

The two leading sides in the league battled through an absorbing first half where neither could quite grab the initiative. Illawarra certainly looked the better side with Manly being unable to dominate as in previous weeks.
The teams went to the sheds at half time locked at 0-0. Was Larry Bates going to weave some magic to get his side back on track or would The Stingrays take advantage of their opportunities?
Six minutes after the resumption Illawarra struck with who else but the ever reliable Michelle Carney putting away the opening goal. Manly didn?t appear to be playing well enough to come back from this setback so it was no surprise when Ash Connor scored her side’s second goal in the 67^th minute.
The Stingrays held on strongly for the remainder of the match to run out deserving 2-0 winners.  They now sit atop the competition ladder on their lonesome; the only undefeated side in the league. It looks like the defending champions are flexing their muscles as they strive for back to back titles.
Manly didn?t have their best day but they?ve shown enough this season to convince everyone that they?ll bounce back. The second round at J.J.Kelly Park should be a beauty!
MANLY UNITED FC             0
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 2 (M.Carney 51m, A.Connor 67m)
At Concord Oval Southern Branch?s season of woe continued as they were given a football lesson by Inter Lions.
The match was highlighted by a marvelous goal scoring performance by Inter Captain, Catherine Cannuli. Inter?s football magician conjured up four goals of her own ; the opening goal of the match in the 24^th minute and then three second half efforts in the 48^th, 52^nd and 83^rd minutes. Cannuli is indeed a pleasure to watch when she?s in this sort of form and Southern Branch suffered at her hand today.
Dani Calvi scored for Inter in the 30^th minute to help the locals to a 2-0 half time lead before Renee Tomkins added to the Cannuli show by scoring in the 70^th minute.
Southern Branch are looking for a light at the end of what appears a very long tunnel. Hopefully something can turn things around for them soon. Inter Lions continue to look ominous but they still haven?t quite found the dazzle. Maybe it?s just around the corner?
INTER LIONS               6 (C.Cannuli 24m/48m/52m/83m, D.Calvi 30m, R.Tomkins 70m)
SOUTHERN BRANCH 0
At Harrie Dening Centre Sutherland Sharks took on the visiting Western NSW Panthers.
The Panthers grabbed the lead in the 9^th minute when Megan Embleton scored. Melissa Miles replied for the Sutherland side in the 26^th minute, leaving the teams locked 1-1 at half time.
Nine minutes into the second half Western NSW snatched the lead when Embleton was on hand to score from a Sutherland error. At 2-1 down The Sharks didn?t give up but their inability to score goals wasn?t helping them chase down a deficit.
The Panthers clinched all three points though in the 79^th minute when Megan Embleton completed her hat trick to maintain Western NSW?s hold on third place on the competition table.
The Sharks put up a good performance. Finding that winning formula though is proving very hard for the girls from The Shire.
SUTHERLAND SHARKS        1 (M.Miles 26m)
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 3 (M.Embleton 9m/54m/79m)
Out Campbelltown way Lynwood Park was rocking to the sound of goal scoring as the Macarthur Rams ran over the top of Sydney University.
The Rams were up 2-0 by half time with goals to Renee Cartwright (23m) and Linda Dudek (32m). After the break Macarthur lifted into another gear with four second half goals; two each to Laura Donnelly (47m/49m) and Stephanie Haim (72m/88m).
Donnelly is certainly getting the hang of this goal scoring caper; adding to her super strike last week against Inter Lions. Deadly Stephanie Haim is also running into form; something that won?t have the competition?s goal keepers in a happy frame of mind.
Sydney University grabbed a late goal through Trebilcode but it was only a consolation for a team that was outplayed on the day. Things aren?t looking good for the University girls as they struggle near the tail of the ladder.
MACARTHUR RAMS   6 ( R.Cartwright 23m, L.Dudek 32m, L.Donnelly 47m/49m, S.Haim 72m/88m)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 1 (K.Trebilcode 85m)
At Marconi Stadium Pearse?s Babes were out to continue their strong recent form. This time though they wanted to make sure they took home the competition points!
The young Stallions became embroiled in something of an arm wrestle in the first half as they struggled to find their way. NWS Koalas were well in the match at half time in holding Marconi to a 0-0 scoreline but after the break the home side managed to lift.
In the 54^th minute Emma Stanbury opened the scoring for Marconi before her partner in goal scoring crime, Helen Petinos, added the clincher in the 83^rd minute.
This wasn?t Marconi?s best performance but they happily boosted their points tally, staying within sight of the top four.
The Koalas are now in the unusual position of having lost touch with the top half dozen teams. They will need to turn things around quickly if they?re to play finals football in 2010.
MARCONI STALLIONS 2 (E.Stanbury 54m, H.Petinos 83m)
NWS KOALAS                 0 
So the competition has divided with the top six opening up a seven point break on the bottom four. Outside of the tearaway leaders, Illawarra Stingrays, the top half dozen sides are closely congested. A few wins here and there will certainly make the difference for one or two sides in the race for the finals.
I sense plenty of excitement coming up in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League.
-By Ross Anderson