Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 9 Preview

The revitalised Ravens, finally fulfilling some of the promise of recent seasons, come into this mega match off a 3-0 win over St George FC. Whilst this wasn?t necessarily one of the side?s best performances of 2010 it did reflect the ?new? Ravens who still pick up the points even when they?re not on top of their game. Led from the midfield by the dominating Ashley Hulme Gladesville are starting to firm in the minds of many as prime title contenders this season. Their consistency across the park is one of the team?s assets in 2010.
The Spartans are, in many ways, a similar side to Gladesville. In the last few seasons Blacktown have shown the ability to match the league?s leading sides but haven?t always produced their best consistently. This year things are different as The Spartans are able to ground out results where required. They survived a tough encounter with Northern Tigers last Sunday before coming out midweek to dispose of fellow top four side APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1-0 to cement second place on the table. With inspirational Captain Bronwyn Jarvis leading the way the Blacktown side are going to be right in the thick of things when the finals come around.
This should be an exciting game of football between two talented football teams. Blacktown have had a busy week but should be buoyed by their big win on Tuesday night. Gladesville are playing with confidence though and Paul Wade?s girls seem to be determined to make a statement this season. This game?s a toss up but I?ll go for a narrow Gladesville win.
At Lambert Park third placed APIA take on the competition?s cellar dwellers Springwood United FC.
APIA have been in strong form recently but hit a speed bump midweek with their loss to Blacktown Spartans. However, the continued good form of players like Kylie Meehan,  Alicia Cavanagh and Natalie Spirovski would have Coach Tarek Madani confident that his side will bounce back quickly. On paper APIA look serious championship material but getting all the pieces to fall together isn?t always that easy when you have so many talented individuals together. Don?t doubt though that this is a seriously good football side.
Springwood?s initiation to the big time has not been easy.  They?ve battled away in an encouraging fashion but haven?t been able to find themselves a win so far in 2010. Last week they copped a 5-0 hiding at the hands of Central Coast Lightning; not a great precursor to a match up with the third placed Tigers. What Coach Sam Fornito can do to turn it around is anyone?s guess but Springwood will find 2010 to be a significant learning experience.
APIA look the goods in this match. They should win comfortably.
At Pluim Park Central Coast Lightning host Eastern UNSW Lions.
Central Coast have bounced back from their sole defeat of the season at the hands of Gladesvile Ravens with successive wins over Lady Hawks and Springwood United FC. Whilst the performance against the Lady Hawks was far from convincing The Lightning looked a little more settled last weekend when putting five past Springwood United. When Central Coast get into the groove of their own game they are a formidable side. They seem to have been a little rattled by the loss to Ravens but Central Coast are a side with plenty to offer.
Eastern UNSW Lions had the bye last weekend. The previous weekend they?d broken through for the first win in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League when victors over Springwood United. The Lions have proven quite competitive in their debut season. They?re certainly nobody?s ?bunnies?  and you can be confident that the Eastern UNSW girls will go to Pluim Park trying to add to their competition points tally with a win.
Central Coast look a little too good here but I?m sure that Eastern UNSW Lions will make them work for the points.
At St George Stadium St George FC meet Lady Hawks.
After a slow start to the season the Lady Hawks have done well to rise to fifth place on the competition ladder. The last two weeks haven?t been kind to the Lady Hawks with losses to Central Coast Lightning and APIA Leichhardt Tigers. The effort against Central Coast certainly had merit but the Lady Hawks struggled against APIA. With all due respect to St George FC this week represents a big drop in class for the visitors so the Lady Hawks would be hoping to rebound into the winner?s list on the weekend.
St George FC had four competition points after the first two round of the competition but have made little progress since. With only the Springwood United FC side behind them on the competition ladder the St George girls will be keen to make some improvement on home territory. They stayed with ladder leaders Gladesville Ravens until half time last weekend but faded out of contention late in the game. Still, there was some merit there which St George could carry into this week?s slightly easier assignment.
There doesn?t appear to be much between these two sides but I?m going to plump for the St George FC side to return to the winner?s list this week.
The Northern Tigers will be sitting with their feet up this weekend, enjoying the luxury of the bye.
If you?re looking for an afternoon of exciting football action you have plenty of choices this weekend. The Arrive Alive Women?s Super League is full of skilful footballers so get yourself out to a game this weekend and see why women?s football continues to move forward at such a rapid rate.
See you at the ground this weekend.