Women?s Premier League Round 16 Review

The five semi final aspirants now appear to have been joined by a genuine sixth contender whilst the Illawarra Stingrays and Macarthur Rams continue to lead the pack.
The Manly United v Marconi Stallions match at Cromer Park held particular significance to the semi final race with Manly having made a surge back into the top half of the competition table in recent weeks. The Stallions, on the other hand, had suffered two crippling losses, the worst possibly being last weekend?s 2-1 surrender to the Blacktown Spartans.
This was a must win game for both sides. The Stallions had recruited Illawarra Stingrays star Hayley Kerrigan during the week in the hope of adding a little extra spark to their stuttering motor.
After a hard fought opening twenty minutes it was the locals who sprang to the lead though with Emma Stewart finding the back of the net with her 23^rd minute strike.
Things were to get worse for The Stallions though when, in the 36^th minute, Stewart scored again to stretch her side?s lead to 2-0.
Manly maintained this advantage into the half time break, ensuring a tense time in the visitors? dressing room as Marconi tried to regroup.
After the interval The Stallions did everything in their power to play their way back into match. They finally had some joy in the 62^nd minute when Renee Tomkins signalled her return to the goal scoring ranks with a well taken opportunity.
At 2-1 it was anyone?s game as both teams went after the all important three points. However, at the final whistle it was Manly United FC who held all the aces, winning 2-1 and continuing their climb towards the top four. Marconi?s season appears to be in free fall as they drop off the top four group.
Marconi are now four points outside the four with Manly United FC, who have a game in hand over The Stallions, just two points behind. The next few weeks will see a number of season defining matches with NWS Koalas, Marconi Stallions and Manly United FC facing the leading finals contenders in do or die encounters.   
MANLY UNITED FC 2 (E.Stewart 23m/36m)
MARCONI STALLIONS 1 (R.Tomkins 62m)
The NWS Koalas travelled to Bathurst for a match that was also of maximum importance to their finals chances.
Their opponents, Western NSW Panthers, had been in fine form. The Panthers are also very hard to beat on their home patch so things weren?t going to be easy for Gerry Gomez?s Koalas side.
As often seems to be the case when teams come visiting The Panthers the match was one where there was little between the two sides.  In the shadows of half time Katarina Kraft emerged as the hero for The Koalas, finding the back of the net to give her side a 1-0 lead at the break.
The second stanza was as tight as the first with The Panthers creating some genuine chances to grab an equaliser. However, The Koalas held on strongly; managing to defuse the most dangerous Western NSW attacks to take home the three points.
Gerry Gomez would have been very proud of his team?s resolve in another pressure game. It gets no easier for The Koalas next Sunday when they meet Macarthur Rams. The Panthers put in yet another solid effort. Next weekend they host the Blacktown Spartans.
WESTERN NSW PANTHERS 0
NWS KOALAS 1 (K.Kraft 44m)
Sydney University sought to cement their place in the top four when they met Blacktown Spartans at Hensley Athletic Field.
The Spartans were fresh from their first win of 2011 last weekend against Marconi Stallions. Sydney University came into the match on the back of a good win against fellow top four side NWS Koalas last Sunday.
The fairy tale never looked like continuing for The Spartans as a clinical Sydney University side went about the business of securing the three competition points.
Erin Wilson put the home side in front after 12 minutes before Samantha Spackman doubled the lead in the 35^th minute.
A tick after half time Wilson scored again to effectively put the match to bed. Jenna Kinglsey then chimed in for University with a brace; the first in the 58^th minute, the second just one minute later.
At 5-0 it wasn?t looking flash for Blacktown but, to their credit, they showed admirable spirit to pick up two late goals; one in the 71^st minute to Mladineo and the 82^nd minute to Bruce. The game was over though and Sydney University had taken their foot off the pedal.  I?m sure that minds would already have been thinking ahead to the big clash with Manly United FC next weekend.
Sydney University are three points clear of fourth placed NWS Koalas and only two points behind second placed Macarthur Rams. The next couple of weeks may tell the tale for University but a major semi final berth is not yet out of their reach.
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 5 (E.Wilson 12m/46m, J.Kingsley 58m/59m, S.Spackman 35m)
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 2 (K.Mladineo 71m, L.Bruce 82m)
The Macarthur Rams continued on their winning way as they trounced the battling Southern Branch at Ison Park.
Macarthur got off to a sizzling start with Linda Dudek scoring the opening goal in the first minute of play. Southern Branch stunned the visitors though when they equalised eight minutes later through youngster Caylie Wise.
Rather than put The Rams on their heels this little setback seemed to spark them into overdrive. Macarthur were back in front two minutes later when Renee Rollason scored the first of her four goals; the others following in the 30^th, 42^nd and 44^th minutes. These strikes were punctuated by a 28^th minute goal to Stephanie Haim. So, with a 6-1 half time lead, The Rams were able to put their feet up at half time and consider their options.
It hadn?t been a matter of the Southern Branch girls not trying through the first 45 minutes; they?d simply been outclassed.
After the break Linda Dudek added to her recent scoring blitz by snaring her second goal in the 55^th minute. The match then meandered its way towards a conclusion with The Rams dropping back a gear as Southern Branch battled to keep the score respectable.
Lucy Chapman scored Macarthur?s eighth and final goal in the 86^th minute to round off an impressive 8-1 win for her side.
Macarthur have bigger fish to fry in the next few weeks as they seek to ensure second place, at least, on the competition table. Renee Rollason was dynamic yet again; she certainly looks to be the league?s star recruit of 2011.
SOUTHERN BRANCH 1 (C.Wise 9m)
MACARTHUR RAMS 8 (R.Rollason 11m/30m/42m/44m, L.Dudek 1m/55m, S.Haim 28m, L.Chapman 86m)
The Illawarra Stingrays remain at the top of the competition table after a patchy 4-1 win over Central Coast FC at Pluim Park.
Illawarra started well enough but the Central Coast defence kept The Stingrays at bay until the 22^nd minute when striker Ash Connor put the visitors 1-0 up.
This may have been seen by some as a signal to the Pluim Park scoreboard attendant to prepare for a busy afternoon, but it didn?t turn out that way.
Central Coast FC hung in; repelling The Stingrays attempts to build on their lead before the half time whistle. Only being 1-0 down at the interval reflected well on the home side. I doubt though that Illawarra Coach Brett Wallin would have been a happy chappy when addressing his team during the interval.
Illawarra?s living legend, Michelle Carney, added a little of her brand of magic two minutes after the resumption to extend her side?s lead to 2-0.
Carney?s ?partner in crime?, the deadly Michelle Heyman, added a brace in the 58^th and 60^th minutes to put The Stingrays beyond the reach of their opponents. Central Coast did manage a reply of sorts though when, in the 67^th minute, Siahn Bozanic scored but it was too little too late for the home side.
Illawarra continued on their winning way though, once again, they seemed to fall in and out of the game. Central Coast gave it their best shot but Illawarra were simply too good.
CENTRAL COAST FC 1 (S.Bozanic 67m)
ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS 4 (M.Heyman 58m/60m, A.Connor 22m, M.Carney 47m)
Finally, over at Harrie Dening Centre, Inter Lions and Sutherland Shire sparred for bragging rights in a mid table clash where pride was the motivating factor.
Both teams finals hopes evaporated some weeks back but that mattered little as the two sides went into battle.
Inter Lions had been in good form coming into the match having registered a string of wins before some competitive losses to top four contenders. Sutherland?s form had dipped a little but they certainly aren?t one of the competition?s easy beats any longer so this match promised plenty of passion.
And so it was that the match looked like one that could be decided by one moment of inspiration. That came for Inter Lions in the 34^th minute when Heidi Makrillos buried a goal with a sweet strike to give her side a lead they held until the final whistle.
Inter Lions were dealt a body blow in the second half when Captain Temika Wearing injured an ankle and had to be carried from the field.
Inter had chances to extend their lead but some superb goalkeeping by Sutherland keeper Renee Krstanovska kept her side in the match. Sutherland tried hard to find a goal of their own but they unfortunately lack a goal bandit the like of what many other teams in the league can boast. That may be an off season recruitment issue for Sutherland Coach Michael Michael.
Kate Antonisz was in goals for Inter and did a good job herself when called upon during Sutherland?s second half resurgence. Sara Reay-Young, Kristi Pavlicevic, Natalie De Francesco and Stephanie Ascone also rallied in defence when Sutherland looked at their most dangerous.
A close tussle between two teams who, whilst they haven?t challenged in 2011, have given their fans some exciting moments.
SUTHERLAND SHIRE 0
INTER LIONS 1 (H.Makrillos 34m)
(Thank you to the Inter Lions club for the information supplied to put together this match report)
Round 17 coming up this weekend with some enormous matches; Macarthur Rams v NWS Koalas and Sydney University v Manly United FC. Marconi?s dwindling finals chances go on the line also when they meet the improving Inter Lions at Concord Oval.
I look forward to seeing you all at a ground this weekend.
-By Ross Anderson