Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 9 Review
The Central Coast Lightning v Eastern UNSW Lions game at Pluim Park and the St George FC v Lady Hawks match at St George Stadium both suffered a watery fate and will now be played on a date to be fixed.
This may be the shortest Arrive Alive Women?s Super League review on record as very few details of the two remaining games are available.
At Lambert Park the APIA Leichhardt Tigers were given a big scare by Springwood United FC. Unfortunately I have not been supplied with either of the goal scorers for Springwood but the underdogs scored both their goals in the first half to snatch a 2-0 half time lead.
Just when a massive upset seemed on the cards the brilliance of Natalie Spirovski came to the fore. The former NWS Koalas and Inter Lions star showed all the tricks in her impressive arsenal of skills to bag a second half hat trick, giving APIA all three competition points.
This must have been a tremendous disappointment to Springwood Coach Sam Fornito and his girls. But they would be able to take an enormous amount of positives from their effort in this game. APIA Coach Tarek Madani may have to give his dazzling midfield star the keys to the city after saving his side from an embarrassing loss.
APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS 3 (N.Spirovski x 3)
SPRINGWOOD UNITED FC 2 (No details supplied)
At Francis Park the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League?s two leading sides went to battle with the competition lead at stake.
This turned out to be as tight a match as everyone thought it might with the two teams cancelling each other out in the first half to go to oranges at 0-0.
The second half was just as tense but, in the 62nd minute, Erin Connell pounced to give The Spartans a 1-0 lead. That advantage lasted just nine minutes before Gladesville?s super sub; Fatma Agar, scored a classy goal to get the fixture back on an even keel.
Just when the match looked headed for a draw the sizzling pace of Lauren Vosota came to the rescue of the home side, scoring the winning goal in the 84th minute. The Ravens players were obviously gutted to have lost the match but I feel confident in saying that these two sides will have quite a few more clashes before the title is decided. Look out for The Spartans and The Ravens come finals time.
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 2 (E.Connell 62m, L.Vosota 84m)
GLADESVILLE RAVENS 1 (F.Agar 71m)
So, the weekend?s football leaves Blacktown Spartans atop the ladder with a two point break. Gladesville Ravens now sit second, just one point in advance of APIA. Central Coast Lightning, with a game in hand, have the chance to join APIA in the coming weeks. Things are certainly getting tight as round two of the competition commences next weekend.
Let?s hope that the rain clouds move well out of range in the next few weeks. Playing catch up matches mid week is not everyone?s favourite pastime. The rain gods need to go on holiday so that the league stays on schedule.
I?d also like to pass on my condolences to the Eastoe family this week on the passing of their husband and father Phil after a short illness. Phil?s daughter Georgia plays in the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League with Northern Tigers.
See you at a ground next weekend.
-By Ross Anderson
