Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 13 Preview

The wooden spoon is no longer seemingly in sole position of Southern Branch as their win over Marconi Stallions last Sunday has given them hope of offloading the competition?s least desired trophy. These motivations have set up a sizzling weekend of football with a number of games that will have a vital bearing on the makeup of the competition ladder.
At Alec Lamberton Field in Bathurst the Western NSW Panthers meet the NWS Koalas.
These two sides seem to be heading in opposite directions on the ladder. The Panthers early season charge has hit the wall whilst The Koalas recent form has shown something of resurgence.
The Panthers have suffered successive losses at the hands of Illawarra Stingrays and Sydney University. The Bathurst girls always put in determined performances but the rise in class to the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League now seems to be a factor with the team unable to get a run of positive results. This game is of the utmost importance to their dwindling semi final chances; a win is the only result The Panthers will want form this game.
NWS Koalas struggled in the first half of the competition but appear to have turned their form around in recent weeks. They tested competition leaders Illawarra Stingrays at ELS Hall Park last week whilst their 5-1 win over Inter Lions in Round 9 has certainly been the highlight of their season. The Koalas appear to be too far back in the ruck to be a finals contender but they can cause plenty of damage to other hopefuls if they maintain their current form.
This should be a tight, tough game of football. The Panthers need a win but The Koalas would be enjoying the more positive results of late. I?ll tip a narrow Panthers victory.
At Hensley Athletic Field Sydney University take on Inter Lions.
Sydney University have started to find some solid form in the last few weeks as players have returned from injury. Some positive results have built confidence which culminated in a strong 3-0 win over Western Panthers last Sunday. University have looked impressive since their surprise defeat of Marconi Stallions back in round 7; that seems to have been the catalyst for their march up the competition table. Their recent efforts make one think that they may have proven to be serious finals contenders if everyone had stayed fit and healthy from the start of the season.
Inter Lions are finally starting to give the appearance of a team going places. It seems to have taken their shock 5-1 loss to NWS Koalas a few weeks back to kick the side into gear but The Lions are now taking on a more awesome look. Coach Joe Baldacci is brimming with confidence after the girls 1-0 win over second placed Manly United FC last Sunday. If the corner has truly been turned with this team then some grey hairs will be appearing on the heads of the coaches of other title contenders as the talent in the Inter Lions squad is undeniable.
Here we have two in form sides with plenty of skill who should produce a quality game of football. Sydney University are capable of proving to be a banana skin for Inter but I?m going to tip a Lions win.
At Lynwood Park, Macarthur Rams and Manly United FC meet in a match that could have a vital bearing on the race for a top two position in the finals.
The Rams have been going along steadily with successive wins over Marconi Stallions and Sutherland Sharks. Third place was looking as if it may be the best they could hope for in the run to the finals but Manly?s hiccup last weekend against Inter Lions has opened the door for a number of teams chasing second spot. Macarthur hasn?t been spectacular this season but they certainly have some players who are running into some solid form; players with a proven finals pedigree who will be motivated by the occasion on Sunday.
Manly United FC uncharacteristically struggled last week against a determined Inter Lions side. They are still missing their leading goal scorer of 2010, Captain Gill Foster, and her absence seem to have a bigger impact last week than so may have thought possible. Manly aren?t short on talent and still have plenty of players who know how to find the back of the net. This weekend will be a challenge as Macarthur are a tough opponent and Manly have put some pressure back on themselves with last week?s loss. It?s interesting to note though that, whilst in the past The Rams had always been a bogey team for Manly, recent meetings have proven much more positive for the visitors.
This is a big match between two fine football sides. I can find plenty of reasons to tip either side but I?m going to put my money on Macarthur Rams to come to the fore this weekend.
In South Nowra Southern Branch meet Sutherland Sharks.
Last weekend was like Christmas for Southern Branch when they scored their first win of 2010. Coach Shane Duffy is still celebrating and who can blame him? His girls showed plenty of grit to wear down Marconi last week and now the wooden spoon which appeared to have Southern Branch?s name already engraved on it could possibly find itself another home. The Southern girls will have taken tremendous confidence from last week?s win and enter this match against  a struggling Sharks side on a considerable high.
Sutherland would have approached this game with some confidence, despite their disappointing form. However, they must now be dreading the trip to South Nowra to take on a resurgent band of locals. Sutherland escaped with a win in the first round fixture between the two sides but only narrowly. The wooden spoon is not a trophy that the proud Sharks club would be keen to have and the hope would be that the desire to avert such a horror will inspire Michael Michael?s girls this weekend.
It may be a match between the two bottom teams on the competition ladder but this game has now taken on plenty of significance. The mindset of one team has suddenly become very positive whereas their opponents are in a rut that doesn?t seem to have an end.  I?m going to go for the positive mindset; Southern Branch to make it two from two.
At J.J.Kelly Park the competition leaders Illawarra stingrays play the Marconi Stallions.
The Stingrays remain undefeated atop the competition ladder though they found life without Captain Michelle Carney a little more difficult against NWS Koalas last Sunday. Carney is still enjoying the football in South Africa this week so Illawarra may need to be wary. Samantha Muscat has been in fine form for Illawarra in recent weeks, finding herself amongst the goals and generally playing good football. Looking at the Illawarra squad you wouldn?t think they?d have too much trouble covering any absences. Is anyone going to be able to stop them making it back to back titles?
Marconi Stallions may still be recovering from last weekend?s stunning loss against Southern Branch. It was another painful lesson for the youthful Marconi side that, despite being frayed around the edges from various playing and training commitments, seem to have been guilty of taking Southern Branch too easily. They paid the price and now have to face a much more daunting assignment against the competition frontrunners. The positive for the Marconi girls is that they gave Illawarra that team?s sternest test of the season when the two sides last met. I?m sure that, and last week?s defeat, will have the Stallions motivated for a big performance.
Whilst I?m expecting a big improvement from Marconi this weekend it?s hard to tip against Illawarra Stingrays in their present form. Stingrays to win.
This promises to be an excellent weekend of football. Do yourself a favour and get out to a match on Sunday for your home style brand of World Cup football.
See you at the ground this weekend.
-By Ross Anderson