Women?s Premier League Round 16 Preview

Whilst that isn?t always a recipe for close fought encounters you can be sure that there are a few of the less favoured sides who?d like nothing better than to spoil the best laid plans of opposing coaches. You can never be sure when there might be an upset or two on the cards.
Out at Blacktown Football Park Blacktown Spartans and Gladesville Ravens will take in the scent of the artificial turf as they do battle in a match that?s as much about pride as anything else.
It hasn?t been a stellar season for either side though both have managed to acquit themselves well in patches. Last weekend the Blacktown girls travelled to Lynwood Park to endure a 5-0 drubbing from the high flying Macarthur Rams. Gladesville put up a credible effort against competition front runners Sydney University but were eventually outclassed 6-0.
These two teams are not without talent. Both have had mid-season coaching changes which may or may not bear fruit. With only six games to go in the season after this weekend neither of these sides will have plans for finals week but they?ll be keen to make sure they bank as many competition points as possible before they pull down the shutters on 2012.
This is a game either side can win. There won?t be much in it so an individual piece of brilliance here or there may be what separates the two sides at the final whistle.
Concord Oval has been the site of a few bruising Wallabies matches in its Rugby Union past but on Sunday Grant Lee?s Manly United FC come calling for a date with Joe Baldacci?s Inter Lions.
The visitors come in as winners, having overturned NWS Koalas last weekend courtesy of an Ellen Wheatley goal. Manly are right in the semi-final hunt, poised just behind the competition front runners. They have been in sparkling form; racking up a series of strong wins against all comers. They come to Concord brimming with confidence.
Inter Lions were on the wrong end of a 6-2 mauling by Marconi Stallions last weekend. The Lions don?t appear to have much trouble creating chances but putting them away has proven to be quite a challenge for them in 2012. There is plenty of youthful talent in this side, led by the experience of W League/Matildas star Catherine Cannuli. They won?t start favourites on Sunday but they are capable of giving Manly a very difficult afternoon.
The competition table says Manly are the side to beat here but Inter are not to be underestimated.
The NWS Koalas are home at ELS Hall Park for their match against Sutherland Shire.
The Koalas winning run was brought to a halt last Sunday when they travelled to Cromer Park to play Manly United FC. There wasn?t much in that game; a solitary goal separating the two sides, and The Koalas were not disgraced in defeat. There was a lot to like about their victory over Marconi Stallions the previous week and Gerry Gomez?s squad have plenty going for them.
Sutherland Shire have bookended some promising efforts with some harsh defeats in recent weeks. It?s been another difficult season for the Sutherland side as they sit just above the cellar dwellers on the competition ladder. They won?t find life any easier in trying to match the NWS side. There are some good young players in this side but they?ve been unable to stem the tide so far in 2012.
The Koalas have finals on their mind and their fate in that respect hinges on them continuing to tally up competition points. They?d be hot favourites to snatch all three here and Sutherland will need to lift considerably if they hope to cause an upset.
The Illawarra Stingrays visit Marconi Stadium on Sunday for their clash with the Marconi Stallions.
This match sees a battle between two sides that haven?t quite lived up to pre-season expectations. Yes, the Stingrays are still right in the title hunt but they have seemed strangely vulnerable this season with a series of listless performances. Even in victory last weekend against Northbridge FC they failed to show their usual killer instinct, taking almost until the half time whistle to break a deadlock with the struggling Northbridge FC side. What will we see this week from the champions?
Marconi?s lengthy injury list has been well discussed. Like other sides they?ve had a coaching change whilst players have also come and gone. That may summarise why The Stallions haven?t produced the sorts of performances they gave us in 2011. A look through their roster shows that there?s plenty of talent still available. Some optimists still give them a chance of playing in the finals but that does look to be quite a stretch. But they are a side who can win any game on a given day.
Have The Stingrays become bored with winning? Is there a missing ingredient this season? Can they find their mojo? Are The Stallions going well enough to cause the premiers further pain? It will be an intriguing afternoon at Marconi Stadium.
Northbridge Oval will be the venue for a clash between two sides at opposite ends of the spectrum in this season?s Premier League; competition leaders Sydney University up against the side at the bottom of the ladder, Northbridge FC.
Northbridge are brave and they put up a courageous effort against the Illawarra Stingrays last Sunday. It?s not been an easy assignment for them this season; being pitched into the cauldron of Premier League football at the last moment. They battled away womanfully (is that a word?) but are still looking for their first win of 2012. If they can achieve that on Sunday then they?ll cause the biggest surprise since David beat Goliath.
Sydney University are looking more like title contenders with every week that passes. They are playing good football, have two in form goal scorers who are ripping apart opposition defences and its all systems go as they have sped to the top of the table. It took them a while to put Gladesville to bed last weekend but they remained composed before delivering the killer blow when the opportunity arose. There?s a lot to like about this football team.
This could get messy for Northbridge FC but, if they can lock Jenna Kingsley and Olivia Kennedy in the dressing rooms prior to kick off, anything could happen.
Fortress Pluim Park will have its reputation tested on Sunday when the improving Central Coast Mariners Academy takes on Macarthur Rams.
Central Coast have taken seven points from their last four games through two wins and a draw; the latter being against defending Premiers the Illawarra Stingrays. That?s pretty good form coming into this match. Their only defeat in that four match period was a competitive 2-0 loss to Sydney University so the locals won?t be coming into this game with any inferiority complex. Miranda Walker has been finding the back of the net in recent weeks and her side will need more of the same from her against The Rams.
Outside of Sydney University a full strength Macarthur Rams outfit look the side most capable of being crowned Premiers in 2012. They have a well-balanced side, given a steely look by the presence of A League/Matildas regulars in Brogan, Rollason and Ledbrook. Renee Cartwright and Stephanie Haim have also been strong contributors this season whilst The Rams defence has been hard to breach. All that would appear to add up to a testing afternoon for the home side.
Central Coast form coming into this game earns them more than a passing respect. Macarthur are going places though so it might not be prudent to get in their way.
The lovers of women?s football will have plenty to keep them smiling this weekend. We?re on the run towards the finals; six rounds to go after this Sunday and the premiership title is still up for grabs.
See you at a ground this weekend.
-By Ross Anderson