Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 8 Preview

If these matches go according to the form guide it could see a gap appear in the competition table that will leave the teams in the lower half of the ladder chasing the breakaways. An upset or two this Sunday will certainly help to keep things buzzing in the battle for finals places.
Eastern UNSW Lions, fresh from their first win of 2010 last week, have the bye on Sunday. 
At Magdala Park the competition front runners, Gladesville Ravens, play host to St George FC.
The Ravens suffered their first defeat of 2010 last Sunday, going down narrowly to APIA Leichhardt Tigers. Gladesville were hampered in their quest to maintain their unbeaten run by an injury during the pre match warm up to their influential midfielder, Ashley Hulme. Hulme did play the last ten minutes of the match but The Ravens missed her dominating presence in midfield during the match. Gladesville will want to turn around last week?s loss quickly and maintain their place atop the competition table.
St George FC managed a hard fought draw with Northern Tigers last Sunday; a result which halted their run of outs in recent weeks. St George?s promising start to the season now seems to have petered out and they need a morale boosting win sooner rather than later. St George have a young side in 2010 and their lack of experience seems to be showing. This will be a tough game in which to turn things around.
Gladesville lost no admirers with last week?s loss to APIA. They?ve looked serious contenders since Round 1 and, as such, should be able to get past St George FC on Sunday.
Lady Hawks meet APIA Leichhardt Tigers at Melita Stadium.
The Lady Hawks put in a brave effort last weekend against the highly rated Central Coast Lightning side before falling 1-0 at Pluim Park. They sit just outside the top four at the moment and have the incentive of staying in touch with the top group if they can beat APIA on Sunday. Their form has been quite reasonable in recent weeks but this looms as quite a test for the home side.
APIA remain one of the league?s undefeated sides this season. Their form has been a little patchy but they certainly showed their worth last weekend in beating Gladesville Ravens 2-1 at Magdala Park. The side seems to be starting to fire with their big guns finding form. On paper the APIA side has an awesome look about it. If they transfer that form from paper to the field consistently APIA will be very hard to beat for honors in 2010.
APIA Coach Tarek Madani has offered me all the prawns I can eat from his new seafood business if I keep tipping against APIA. This week I?m going to have to do with baked beans at home as I think APIA will be too good for Lady Hawks.
The Northern Tigers play Blacktown Spartans at Mills Park.
The Tigers have had their ups and downs this season. Just when they looked to be on a roll the side stumbled again with two losses before last Sunday?s draw with St George FC. Back home this week they don?t face an easy task against one of the form sides of the competition, the Blacktown Spartans. Some injury concerns from last week?s match don?t help the locals but I?m sure that they?ll give their usual enthusiastic performance.
The Spartans are coming off last weekend?s bye with an unbeaten record this season. They?ve played some attractive football that has earned them plenty of praise from opposing coaches. Their toughest games so far this season seem to have been against a few of the competition?s lesser lights so that may offer Northern Tigers a glimmer of hope here.
Much as I?d like to tip Northern Tigers the Blacktown side are deserved favorites for this clash. I think that The Spartans should win.
Up at Summerhayes Park, Sam Fornito?s Springwood United FC side take on Central Coast Lightning.
If you look at Springwood?s statistics they make for interesting reading. Yes, they have lost six from six and they?ve only managed to score two goals. However, they?ve only conceded 17 goals which, if you take away one or two tough days at the office, it shows that they?ve been competitive in many of their games. That first win doesn?t necessarily look any closer but the girls are obviously putting in a big effort every Sunday.
Central Coast Lightning have endured a couple of difficult weeks with a loss to Gladesville Ravens being followed by an unconvincing 1-0 win over Lady Hawks at Pluim Park last Sunday. These two performances have not been what we?ve come to expect from this talented Central Coast side. I think they?re due to bounce back to their best and this could be the week they do so. They are still one of the leading title contenders for mine.
I sincerely hope that Springwood?s statistics will look even better after Sunday?s match but it?s hard to see them beating Central Coast Lightning. I think that the Lightning girls will be too good. 
So, whilst I haven?t tipped any upsets, frankly I?d like to see some. I?m sure that there are one or two coaches who think that their sides can overturn the form guide on the weekend. Let?s hope that they?re right and we see plenty of classy football from the girls in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League.
See you at the ground this weekend.
-By Ross Anderson