Arrive Alive Women?s Super League Round 11 Preview
Such success offers a great inspiration for young players coming through the ranks of the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League and Premier League. The benefits of the W League, no matter how much more improvement the organization of that competition might require is evident already through The Matildas results. Let?s hope that the deeds of our girls in Asia encourage even more girls throughout Australia to take up the world game.
This weekend in the Arrive Alive Super League doesn?t offer quite the prestige of a stadium in Chengdu but the match conditions may well be duplicated as the rain continues to fall on grounds throughout Sydney. Many games must be in jeopardy this weekend but we?ll keep our fingers crossed that we do get some football. Gladesville Ravens won?t mind the rain as they have the bye this weekend.
There?s little doubt that the match of the round is at Pluim Park on the Central Coast where fourth placed Central Coast Lightning play third placed APIA Lecihhardt Tigers.
The bad news for Central Coast Lightning is that, with washed out fixtures and the bye, they haven?t kicked a ball in anger since the 16th May. That hardly reads like an ideal preparation for The Lightning. Their form has been a little mixed this season but, at their best, Central Coast deserve to be rated as title aspirants. They are capable of playing some slick, expansive football that will test the APIA side?s resolve. The pressure is mounting to strike their best form.
APIA also sat out last weekend due to a wash out. This probably gave their Coach Tarek Madani a chance to recover from the heart palpitations he must have suffered during their narrow escape against Springwood United the previous Sunday afternoon. The brilliance of Nat Spirovski saved the day on that occasion but APIA?s roster reads so well that the side shouldn?t have to rely on any individual to come to the rescue. On paper this is a good football side but that needs to be taken onto the field. Can APIA rise to the occasion this weekend?
This should be an entertaining match. Both sides have plenty of talent on show but it?s a matter of who will produce on the day. I?m going to make the APIA Coach happy by tipping Central Coast Lightning to win.
Eastern UNSW Lions host St George FC at David Phillips Field. Another two teams who?ve been missing from the park for a couple of weeks due to washed out fixtures.
Eastern UNSW Lions won their first match in their debut season back on May 9th against Springwood United FC. They haven?t managed to take the field since. That?s got to be awfully frustrating for all concerned, especially when they may have hoped to gather some momentum from that initial success. The Lions have put in some fine performances during the season that have earnt them the respect of their Arrive Alive Super League colleagues.
St George FC have struggled through another difficult season. Their young squad has battled to compete with the league?s leading sides and hasn?t experienced much good fortune when up against the ?lesser lights?. Coach Craig Fletcher must be hoping for a rainbow at the end of this wet spell so his team can break out of their slump. The girls are doing their best each week but they?ve largely been outplayed.
The first round clash between these two sides at a windy St George Stadium ended in a 2-2 draw. I have a feeling that this week?s match will be a close one too but I see Eastern UNSW Lions as the likely winners.
Lady Hawks and Northern Tigers meet at Melita Stadium.
The Lady Hawks inconsistent season continued last weekend when they were comprehensively beaten by competition leaders Blacktown Spartans. The scoreline may have flattered the Lady Hawks somewhat on the day and they?ll need an improved performance this week to regain some credibility. This is a side that has some talented players; the experienced Danni Pringle, Michelle Brown and Grace Ryanhart competed well against The Spartans, so Lady Hawks are not a side that can be written off easily.
Northern Tigers have put in some very competitive efforts in 2010. They haven?t played since 16th May when they stretched Blacktown Spartans before going down narrowly at Mills Park. The Tigers played some good football that day and seem to be a different side this season. For a side of comparative youngsters with one or two youthful ?old heads? The Tigers have given an indication that they could be a side for the future. If that?s to be the case then games like Sunday?s are where they need to stand up and be counted.
I think this is another match where the end result will very close. I liked what I saw of Northern Tigers against Blacktown Spartans and that alone influences me to select them as likely winners here.
At Summerhayes Park it?s top versus bottom when Springwood United FC host competition leaders Blacktown Spartans.
Springwood United put in a massive effort against APIA a fortnight back, running to a 2-0 half time lead against their much vaunted opponents. Just when it seemed that the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League newcomers might be about to break their ?duck? for 2010 they were run down by a Natalie Spirovski hat trick. Still, the performance showed what Springwood are capable of on their day. That first win will taste ever so sweet when it?s achieved.
Blacktown Spartans are deserved competition front runners. They?ve become a much more consistent side in 2010 with the addition of a couple of new faces that have given them that extra ?something?. The Spartans played some sparkling football at times last Sunday with only some errant finishing stopping them from running up a more conclusive scoreline. The girls from Francis Park have a premiership look about them this season.
As much as I respect Springwood?s fine effort against APIA I can?t see them matching Blacktown on Sunday. The Spartans should win well.
So, let?s keep our fingers crossed that the rain disappears and our grounds are up to some football action this Sunday. There is a host of catch up games scheduled already so things will become very difficult if this weekend is lost as well.
If weather permits get yourself out to your local ground to watch the stars of the Arrive Alive Women?s Super League in action.
See you at the ground.
-By Ross Anderson
