Women?s Premier League Round 13 Preview

This game will see a battle of fringe Matildas players, ex Matildas and W League stars as well as a sprinkling of exciting young talent. One could certainly find themselves a very competitive W League team from sifting through the players who?ll be on display in this Sunday?s match.
The Stingrays are the only undefeated side in the league; racing nine points clear of the rest of the pack on the competition table. At times this season they?ve been lackadaisical, at other times quite brilliant. Heyman, Connor and Bonilla have been lethal in attack putting many of the league?s best defences to the sword. Sydney FC W League keeper Demi Poulos has been sublime in goals, continuing her sizzling form from the last W League season. Whilst these players have stood out on the scoreboard statistics there?s obviously more to the Illawarra outfit than just a handful of players. An inspiring leader in Michelle Carney, a rock like defence headed by Cooper and Danyi plus the youthful dazzle from players such as Mayo and Kramer make this Illawarra team the best balanced in the league. If their form has been spasmodic up until here you can be sure that The Stingrays will be primed for Sunday?s challenge. Expect all the big guns to be firing.
Macarthur Rams start to the season was steady without too many fireworks. The early loss of Captain Renee Cartwright didn?t help and early results had many thinking that The Rams would be fringe candidates for a finals spot at best. Life has changed at Lynwood Park, in great part due to the return of some ?favourite daughters? and the influence they have had on the team. First Danielle Brogan, ?The Enforcer? to bolster the defence, then Renee Rollason to add spark to the attack and finally Kylie Ledbrook to orchestrate the play from midfield.  Add to these players the return of the uncompromising Sigrid Manty and suddenly Macarthur were cooking. Again, it?s not all about three or four players but their presence has given confidence to others in the squad; Stephanie Haim and Linda Dudek are benefitting from the service up front, Lauren Ralston, Claire Walsh and company seem reassured defensively and keeper Monique Jackson has been a revelation in goals. This team has quality.
The Rams are the only side to take any points from Illawarra in 2011, courtesy of a 1-1 draw at J.J.Kelly Park earlier in the season.  If there?s any game which befits the word ?blockbuster? it has to be this one. These two sides won?t take any prisoners as they battle for bragging rights. Lynwood Park is certainly the place to be this Sunday!
The NWS Koalas play host to Manly United FC at ELS Hall Park in a match which could have an important bearing on the fate of the top four.
The Koalas are in the leading group for now but Manly, after a poor run mid season, are now gathering momentum as they chase the leaders. However, one slip up may be enough to leave the peninsula girls languishing with the also rans for 2011 so they must keep winning.
The Koalas are clinging to a top four spot at the moment but their recent results haven?t been up to the standard of their impressive start to the season. Surprise losses to Sutherland Shire and Inter Lions coupled with an unconvincing performance in winning last weekend against Blacktown Spartans leaves Coach Gerry Gomez with some work to do to get his team firing on all six cylinders again. The Koalas form in the final third has been disappointing; the chances to score are certainly being created but finding the back of the net hasn?t been quite as easy. NWS have the players to do the job and, given that every match is vital for them now, one may expect the more experienced of those to come to the fore in matches like Sunday?s.
Manly United FC have won their last three games, scoring sixteen goals for whilst only conceding three. Granted that these games have been against what might be described as ?weaker opposition? but the wins have breathed some life back into Manly?s 2011 campaign. Last Sunday the side struggled through the first half against Southern Branch before putting on an eight goal rampage in the second half. Manly can be a somewhat inconsistent side in front of goal but, if their main target players are firing, the team are capable or racking up an impressive scoreline. The visitors must cash in on any scoring opportunities this Sunday in a game that is vital for their survival.  Coach Grant Lee is sure to have his girls ready to go for this one.
This match could be anything. The first round clash saw The Koalas come away narrow 1-0 winners. Neither side can afford to lose so expect plenty of passion from the opening whistle.
At Ison Park the Southern Branch girls meet the Marconi Stallions.
These two sides have had vastly different seasons thus far; Southern Branch struggling every week with player numbers and a disappointing lack of success whereas Marconi have lifted themselves into the role of title challenger with a blend of experienced campaigners and youthful prodigies.
Southern Branch put up a sterling performance last week against Manly United FC; a performance which wasn?t done justice by the final scoreline. The locals went into half time locked at 1-1 with their much vaunted opponents but wilted in the second half as the demands of playing multiple matches in one afternoon told on various members of their squad. The previous weekend the Southern Branch side celebrated their first win of 2011 when they downed Blacktown Spartans. So, there have been some promising signs for Coach Shane Duffy and his ladies; can they produce another big effort this Sunday?
The Marconi Stallions side will certainly be fresh for this encounter, having sat out last weekend after their match with Central Coast FC was postponed. The Stallions have had some big days out this season but the more pleasing aspect of the first thirteen rounds has been their ability to get away with the points even when they haven?t played at their best. I always see that as the sign of a good side. Marconi?s 2011 recruits have generally given the side plenty of impetus this season with Samantha Muscat and Trudy Camilleri giving extra dimension in attack whilst Jodie Bain, Jo Saliba and Sophie Svinos have been solid defensively. Helen Petinos continues to show great promise for The Stallions at the pointy end. The imposing figure of Renee Tomkins in midfield hasn?t quite been at her brilliant best this season but expect her to be an important cog in the Marconi wheel as the big games get closer.
Southern Branch, as always, will try their hearts out but Marconi will be determined to leave South Nowra with three points.
Pluim Park in Gosford sees the Central Coast FC side up against Sydney University.
Central Coast FC were stymied by the wet weather last Sunday with their match against Marconi being postponed. Meanwhile Sydney University were holding off Sutherland Shire in a hard fought match at Harrie Dening Centre.
I?m not sure what Central Coast FC expected from 2011; given their success in the Football NSW Women?s Super League last season which won them promotion. The club didn?t go out to recruit a bevy of new stars but rather stuck with the players who brought them success in 2010. That loyalty is something to be admired. The team has struggled at times against the leagues big guns but they?ve also come up with some strong performances that have seen them grab three wins and two draws from their twelve matches. They sit eighth on the competition table; a position they will be attempting to improve upon in the second half of the competition.
Sydney University continue to be mentioned amongst the title chances for this season, despite failing to beat any of the other top four teams so far. That statistic may not be as damning as it looks with Sydney University certainly proving competitive in all of their matches this season. They can only keep winning with the hope that they can reverse a few of those ?top four? results during the run towards the finals. Having watched the University side in action against both Marconi Stallions and Illawarra Stingrays it?s obvious that the side has the attacking flair to trouble any side. However, they seem to have been caught out defensively in both those games; an aspect of their play that I?m sure the coaching staff will be attempting to rectify in the coming weeks.
Sydney University are in a tight situation with the top four, despite currently being in second place. They can?t really afford to drop points to sides in the lower half of the ladder. That point may make Central Coast?s afternoon a lot tougher.
I?m not sure I?d fancy a trip to Alec Lamberton Field in Bathurst this weekend. The Sutherland Shire girls, however, will be wending their way over the mountains to do battle with the Western NSW Panthers. I hope they pack their thermal underwear!
The Panthers have slipped right out of the picture in recent weeks, plummeting to tenth on the competition table ahead of only Southern Branch and Blacktown Spartans. The return of the talented Sammie Wood hasn?t produced any dividends for the Western NSW side yet but she is certainly the sort of player who can make a difference. The Panthers have also had a change of coach and, sometimes, new ideas take a little while to bear fruit. The Panthers have always been a capable side but, unfortunately, lack the sort of flair of the league?s high flyers. Home ground advantage is always something that brings a big effort from The Panthers so expect them to warm their local crowd with a strong performance on Sunday.
Sutherland Shire have been one of the league?s big improvers in 2011. You might ask how given they sit seventh on the table but this team are a lot different to the Sutherland teams of the last two seasons. They appear a much more committed unit, with their performances reflecting a newfound spirit. The Shire girls are a relatively youthful bunch but the lack of experienced heads doesn?t necessarily seem to have been a hindrance to them so far. They?ve surprised on more than one occasion and come close to upsetting more fancied rivals in a number of other matches. Coach Michael Michael has the basis of a promising squad here. I?d expect them to continue to be a ?banana skin? side for the finals contenders in the remainder of the season.
Sutherland would start the favourites here but it?s certainly a game where they themselves should be aware of the ?banana skin? factor. Expect a tight encounter in freezing conditions!
Francis Park at Blacktown is the venue for the Blacktown Spartans versus Inter Lions match.
Blacktown?s season has been a bleak one. They?re yet to taste success, having garnered just one competition point in eleven matches. They?ve come tantalisingly close on more than one occasion; even against some of the tougher opposition in the competition. If an opposing teams shot can take a rebound to hit the back of the net or a Blacktown opportunity hits both posts and the cross bar before staying out of goal then you can be assured it?s happened. Add to the bad luck factor a crippling injury toll and you get the sum total of The Spartans woes in 2011. It may be time for Coach Neil Ross to find a practicing witch doctor who can remove whatever doomsday spell Blacktown is under. The side need a win, sooner rather than later.
Inter Lions season hadn?t been too bubbly either until a sudden rash of form which has produced three wins in a row. The Lions had last weekend off after their match with Macarthur Rams was postponed; something which may work in their favour. Coach ?Diamond Joe? Baldacci finally seems to have got his side humming after a variety of squad changes and line up reshuffles. Whilst Inter may have conceded their season?s hopes for 2011 they are looking to the future, taking the opportunity to groom a number of young players in the top grade for the rest of the year. Heidi Makrillos has been a stand out for The Lions this season but the experience of players like Temika Wearing and Brooke Starrett has also come to the fore in recent victories.
These two sides are still to play their first round match after a series of wet weather postponements. Therefore, we have no form guide other than Blacktown?s perseverance and Inter?s new found belief to work from. Inter Lions shouldn?t travel to Francis Park expecting a carefree afternoon.
I?ll be travelling to Lynwood Park on Sunday to catch the Macarthur Rams versus Illawarra Stingrays match. If this cold snap keeps up I?ll be carrying with me three jackets, a thermos and my pet cat to keep me warm. I?m sure that the football on show will keep my blood pumping. Those of you who?ll be off to other grounds to watch your favourite teams in action are sure to enjoy yourselves also, no matter what the conditions.
Congratulations and good luck also to all of the players selected in The Matlidas World Cup squad which will be leaving for Germany next week. I?m sure that the girls will do us proud with some top class performances.
See you at the ground this weekend.
-By Ross Anderson