Women?s Super League Round 13 Preview
As we approach the final third of the competition, this is where the action happens. The season might have started with a bang, but with a table as close as it is here, anything is possible and expected the unexpected.
Western NSW Mariners, Sydney Olympic, Southern Districts, Northern Tigers and Nepean FC all play host to fixtures this weekend. With nothing but sunshine predicted, there should be no interruptions to stop the perfect football on display.
MATCH OF THE ROUND: Southern Districts v Eastern UNSW Lions
Ernie Smith Reserve, 3pm kick off
Southern Districts have earned the right to host Round 13?s match of the round as they take on the mighty Eastern UNSW Lions. The last time these two titans fought off against each other, Southern Districts were left red faced as they went down 8-0 to a dominant Lions squad.
The Emeralds have been playing some solid football in recent weeks, recovering from a dip in form earlier on in the season. The team welcome back club captain Willow Shorrocks to the starting squad after a suspension has seen her miss out on the last three weeks of action. Round 12 saw the Emeralds claim an emphatic 2-1 win over top placed Southern Branch. That result boosting the confidence of the players at the perfect time during the season. A win against UNSW Lions at home and Southern Districts could sneak into the top four come seasons end.
Eastern UNSW Lions haven?t played a competitive fixture since way back in Round 10 when the team lost 1-0 to Parramatta Lady Hawks. The unpredictable Sydney weather has meant that thanks to the lack of games and training, UNSW Lions could look rusty when they take the field on Sunday afternoon. There is no doubt though that head coach, Sally Paterson will have her squad ready for action as soon as the starting whistle is blown. A win is exactly what the UNSW Lions girls need to challenge Southern Branch for that top spot on the table.
Western NSW Mariners v St. George FC
Alec Lamberton Field, 3pm kick off
With each round of the Super League competition that passes by, Western NSW Mariners continues to grow as the team to watch in the final third of the season. Having achieved a 2-2 draw at Melita Stadium against the powerhouse that is the Lady Hawks, the Mariners have embraced the poor weather as a change to rebuild their squad, which has been struggling with injuries in recent weeks. A win for the Mariners will see them leap frog St. George into 8th spot on the ladder, a loss could drag them closer to the wooden spoon.
St. George FC have had a hot and cold season, having moments of glory mixed in with moments the players wish they could forget. This inconsistency of results have ultimately cost the Saints much needed points on the table. When these two sides met back in Round 3, St. George managed to claim a 2-1 win over the Mariners. Heading into Round 13, the Saints will be hoping for much of the same however not having played a game since the 3rd of June, expect the travelling side to tire towards the dying stages of the game.
Sydney Olympic FC v Parramatta Lady Hawks
Blick Oval, 3pm kick off
Sydney Olympic have continued their good run of form maintaining fourth spot on the table with a goal difference of +4. Last weekend?s washout meant Olympic had a chance to recover from some injuries and continue working on their relationship between attack and defence. When these two sides last met, the points were shared in a 1-1 draw at Melita Stadium. This time, Olympic have in their sights a clean sheet and a sneaky goal or two to secure a famous victory in front of their home support at Blick Oval.
The Lady Hawks have quickly become the team to beat in the Super League after some outstanding performances in recent weeks. A win over Eastern UNSW Lions in Round 10 and a solid 2-2 draw with Western NSW Mariners in round 11 means the Lady Hawks are full of confidence heading into this fixture at Blick Oval. The player to watch is none other than the centre forward, Alice Roberts who has been in stand out form this season, scoring 10 of the club?s 26 goals so far.
Northern Tigers v Southern Branch
Mills Park, 3pm kick off
There is one thing to always keep in mind when coming up against the Tigers and that is their strong spirit cannot be broken. Despite having a patch of poor form earlier in the season, the girls in green have held strong and continue to play with a smile on their face. There aren?t many girls happier with the team?s performance this season than club captain, Gab Dal Pozzo who alongside her striking partners Ellana Balicki and Grace Ha have been the driving force behind the team?s climb into the top half of the table. The Tigers? ?never say die? attitude is one which Southern Branch will have to look out for on Sunday afternoon otherwise the home side will run away with all the points.
Back in Round 3 of the competition, Southern Branch were unlucky in their fixture against the Tigers going down 4-2 in a thrilling affair at Ison Park. The team from South Nowra are enjoying life at the top of the ladder, as they remain three points ahead of UNSW Lions despite playing two more games than the second placed squad. If Branch are to get a point from this game, the key figure in this fixture will be Chantel Nahokau. The centre back superstar is not afraid to move the ball out of defence and into attack, a deadly transition when the team counter attack with numbers.
Nepean FC v APIA Leichhardt Tigers
Cook Park, 3pm kick.
Cook Park plays host to Nepean FC v APIA Leichhardt Tigers with both sides pushing for a win in the final third of the season. Nepean haven?t won a game since the 3rd of June when they beat Southern Districts 1-0 at home. Enter Round 13 of the competition and the target is simple. Push the ball around, score early and try and keep a clean sheet. Achieve that and three points is almost guaranteed for the home side.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers continue to prop up the bottom of the ladder winning just the one game and drawing another throughout the season. The last time APIA took the field of battle against Nepean; they claimed a 3-1 win in front of their home support at Lambert Park. If APIA are to get at least a point this weekend, they need to focus on their defensive work first and worry about scoring second. The key to beating Nepean is to work the counter attacking play and dominate in the back third.
-By Peter Nowakowski
