Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 16 Preview

This weekend showcases four of the league?s top five teams in a couple of classic match ups. Elsewhere pride is what?s at stake for a number of sides as they do battle in interesting encounters. We?re getting to the business end of the competition and this is where the best teams step forward.
At Alec Lamberton Field in Bathurst the Western NSW Panthers host a must win game against second placed Manly United FC. Mathematically both sides have something to play for. The Panthers can still make the finals, but only just. Manly can still be Premiers but need results to start falling their way. So there?s plenty of reason for both sides to approach this match with a passion.
The Panthers have strung together three wins in succession; the latest being an easy 7-0 win over Sutherland Sharks. Megan Embleton has had a fine season for the Panthers; scoring plenty of goals that have contributed to Western NSW?s strong showing in their debut season in the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League. Megan will need to be on target this weekend as The Panthers face a side that?s been amongst the season?s best since the first ball was kicked in 2010. This is do or die for the girls from Bathurst.
Manly United FC gave defending champions Illawarra Stingrays a run for their money last Sunday, eventually earning a 1-1 draw with the competition leaders. Captain Gill Foster returned from overseas in time for last week?s match but will be all the better for the run. Manly will be hoping that Gill?s back into peak form quickly. Manly have been very impressive thus far and have proven themselves worthy title aspirants. Coach Larry Bates has his side humming over nicely. This match won?t be a walk in the park however.
I expect that The Panthers will give it their all but do they have the class of this Manly side? Manly have left a positive impression on this reporter and I think they?ll sound the death knell to Western NSW?s finals hopes here.
At Concord Oval inter Lions come up against competition leaders the Illawarra Stingrays.
What to make of this Inter Lions side? They looked like they?d hit their straps in recent weeks but they took a long time to get past Southern Branch in Nowra last Sunday. They will need to lift quite considerably against the team that is the benchmark in this competition. Coach Joe Baldacci is confident that his team can end The Stingrays undefeated run. When you look at his squad you can understand where that confidence is coming from. Catherine Cannuli is an important cog in the Inter Lions wheel and one wonders if her former W League team mate Lisa Gilbert will be given the job of shadowing the Inter Captain on Sunday.
The Stingrays have made a fine fist of defending their title. Coming into Round 16 they are undefeated and seven points clear of second placed Manly on the competition ladder. They welcome back Captain Michelle Carney this week; Carney played off the bench last Sunday but had only flown in from South Africa earlier in the day. Illawarra have played well in her absence with players like Samantha Muscat and Talitha Kramer stepping up to show some fine form. The Stingrays will be looking to set a solid platform for the finals series so a strong performance here is a must.
This will be a big game between two very stylish football teams. Attacking wise both have plenty to offer but the defensive spine of Illawarra is very hard to bend. I?m sure that Inter will be up for this one but I?m going to do them a favor and tip an Illawarra Stingrays win.
At Harrie Dening Centre Sutherland Sharks play NWS Koalas.
Sutherland were without a number of first grade players last weekend and subsequently took something of a hammering in Bathurst against the Western NSW Panthers. Hopefully, things will be back to normal this week for the Sharks though normal may not be quite what they are after. The Sharks plainly haven?t produced the goods this season and, with only three matches left in their season, they need to challenge themselves to end the season with a bang. This is not a team devoid of ability but finding ninety minutes of the same intensity has been a problem for the girls in 2010.
The Koalas scored s solid win last weekend over the Marconi Stallions. The back half of the 2010 season has been much more positive for The Koalas with some good football rewarded with success. Unfortunately it?s all came together a little late for NWS but they?ll be keen to finish with some more good results that guarantee the best possible finishing position. The side has had a host of contributors in recent weeks; Koalas fans will be looking for more of the same especially from young Carmel Di Marco who is becoming a regular fixture on the goal scoring list.
On last week?s form it?s hard to tip anything other than a Koalas win but I live in the hope that Sutherland might finally show their real worth.
At Marconi Stadium The Stallions come up against Sydney University.
The last time these two sides met Marconi were playing good football and on the cusp of the top four. The Stallions fell to a surprise loss that day and haven?t won a match since. Last weekend they were missing a number of players due to injury; one or two of those won?t be back this week including Marie Svinos who suffered a broken her nose at the National Titles in Coffs Harbour. It all adds up to make for a difficult task for the young Marconi side. The good impression they?ve made this season is lasting though and it will be interesting to see if they can take the next step forward in 2011.
Sydney University?s season also seemed to take a turn after that fateful game against Marconi at Sydney University Oval. Their turn, however, was a positive one. The University girls have made a raid rise up the ladder, now sitting in sixth place overall. They?ve produced some excellent results; results that have shown how competitive they may have been this season with a little more good fortune on the injury front. There?s a lot to like about the way this side has approached their football in the last eight or nine weeks. Did I mention Kate Trebilcock this week? I have now. She scored yet another goal in her side?s narrow loss to Macarthur Rams last Sunday. Well done Kate.
These are two good teams who show plenty of promise. This hasn?t been their season but look out for them both in 2011. Sydney University are my tip on Sunday.
Finally, in South Nowra, Southern Branch play Macarthur Rams.
Southern put in a gusty display against Inter Lions, only giving up the winning goal to the visitors inside the last five minutes. Since they broke their duck a few weeks back Southern Branch have played with more confidence but games like last week?s are hard to win when the opposition has so many potential match winners in their shirts. Sunday?s game doesn?t appear an easy one for the local but they?ll do their best to make Macarthur?s afternoon a tough one.
The Rams nearly threw away last Sunday?s game against Sydney University. After leading 3-1 at half time The Rams saw their opponents equalize before Stephanie Haim came to the rescue with a late goal. It was an un Rams like display from a side that has always been renowned for making sure their was no escape once they are on top. Macarthur still have plenty of talent at their disposal but they are going to need to lift their level quite considerably if they hope to make inroads come finals time. Haim?s hat trick was a reminder of what a valuable player she is to her side.
If the sun is shining on Sunday the best place you can be is in the crowd at your local ground watching the stars of the Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League in action. There?s some great games this weekend and the action is all yours, for free! Come along and enjoy it.
See you at a ground this weekend.
– Ross Anderson