Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 15 Preview

Illawarra Stingrays appear to have the premiership at their mercy though a win for Manly United FC in their top of the table clash this weekend could still give the Manly girls a glimmer of hope. Nonetheless, fans of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League look to be in for a fine weekend of football from the state?s elite female players.

In Bathurst the Western NSW Panthers meet Sutherland Sharks.
Mathematically The Panthers can still hold hopes of a semi final place but a lot of results will need to go their way if they are to come though. The only way they can contribute to that scenario is to keep winning. The Panthers have managed a couple of narrow wins in recent weeks with the NWS Koalas and Marconi Stallions their victims. That all seems good form for this weekend?s match; especially considering it?s a home tie at Alec Lamberton Field.
Sutherland Sharks sit at the wrong end of the ladder and will need to find some determination in their game if they hope to offload the wooden spoon. The Sharks just can?t seem to put a 90 minute performance together in what has been a miserable season for the Shire girls. Can they come up with one of the better efforts this weekend?
The Panthers should have the motivation to take a win from this game.
At ELS Hall Park the NWS Koalas play Marconi Stallions.
With both teams sitting in the lower half of the competition table this match is for pride only. Both teams have plenty of talent but 2010 hasn?t been their season.
The Koalas have found some of their better form towards the back end of the competition with a couple of surprise wins and competitive performances. Two losses in a row were followed by a hard fought draw against Sydney University in their latest game. The Koalas are always hard to beat on their home turf and they?ll be keen to finish the season off with a string of wins.
The Marconi Stallions have played some fine football this year though some of their most memorable performances have ended in defeat. They?ve now lost six matches in a row; a statistic that doesn?t reflect the promise the team has shown this season. Some players will be backing up on Sunday after a week at the Nationals in Coffs Harbour so weary legs may well be a factor.
I don?t expect that there?ll be much in this one. Both sides are more than capable of a win but I?ll stick with the Marconi girls to come through. Watching the Svinos sisters go to war could be worth the price of admission!
At South Nowra Southern Branch will host the Inter Lions.
Things must be a lot brighter in Nowra over the last few weeks with the Southern Branch girls recording a duo of wins which has lifted the cloud over their season. Yes, they fell back to Earth somewhat against Manly United FC but many teams have met that fate against manly this year so I?m sure the smiles are still on the faces of everyone connected with the Southern Branch team. This weekend is another tough one but at least the confidence levels should be brimming over now that the girls have leapt out of last place and had some success.
Inter Lions are starting to look more like a premiership contender in recent weeks. With wins over Manly United FC and Macarthur Rams in two of their last three matches The Lions appear to be hitting top gear at the right end of the season. Inspiring Captain Catherine Cannuli is recovering from the flu and her contribution has been a vital factor in the Inter resurgence. The team generally has lifted though and they?ll be keen to grab another three points from this weekend.
Inter Lions look too strong here but expect Southern Branch to give a good account of themselves.
At Sydney University Oval the Sydney University side takes on Macarthur Rams.
Sydney University have had a very positive back end of the season with some strong results. A win over Western NSW Panthers was followed by draws with Inter Lions and NWS Koalas as the University side has gradually climbed up the table. Kate Trebilcock has continued to score goals for University in what has been a stellar season for the supposedly ?makeshift? striker. The only unfortunate thing about University?s late surge is that it couldn?t have happened a little earlier.
Macarthur Rams were looking right in the title hunt but have stumbled with successive losses to Manly United FC and Inter Lions in their last two matches. Whilst the Rams are still a very capable side they don?t seem to command the same sort of fear from opponents as they once did. They need to turn things around quickly but this weekend?s clash won?t be an easy game in which to achieve that. They?ll need some big efforts from some of their seasoned performers in the coming weeks otherwise their finals campaign will finish quickly.
This will be another tight game. I can see plenty of reasons to tip either side but I?m going to go for Macarthur to bounce back into the winners? list.
The match of the day, or should that be the match of the season, will be at J.J.Kelly Park where the competition?s two leading sides do battle. The competition leaders and defending champions, the Illawarra Stingrays, meet second placed Manly United FC in what should be a great game of football.
The statistics show little between these two sides; Illawarra have scored 49 goals this season, Manly 48. Both teams have only conceded 12 goals. The two teams have their most inspirational players missing from this game; Michelle Carney for Illawarra and Gill Foster for Manly. Illawarra are still undefeated in 2010 whilst Manly lost the first round clash to the Stingrays 2-0 at Cromer Park along with a 1-0 loss to Inter Lions.
Illawarra hold a seven point lead on the competition table with four games remaining but Manly have a game in hand. A win by Illawarra on Sunday will ensure them of another premiership to go with their 2009 success.
The two teams have played some sparkling football this season. Coaches Larry Bates and Brett Wallin are to be congratulated on what their teams have achieved. The finals are just around the corner and you can be sure that these two teams will be right in the firing line once the big matches get under way.
Both lineups are full of talented players whose individual efforts could sway this game one way or another. Illawarra have outstanding depth but Manly sit equal first with Marconi Stallions on the Reserve Grade table so they?ll not be found wanting in any department.
I?m looking forward to this game with a relish. I?m expecting plenty of classy football but I suspect that The Stingrays may come out with their noses just in front.
There?s some excellent match ups on offer this weekend so do yourself a favor and get out to the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League match nearest you.
See you at the ground this weekend.
– Ross Anderson