Women’s Premier League – Round 21 preview

With the second last round upon us, we’re still looking for answers. Who will be the minor premiers? Who will sneak into 5^th spot? Round 21 of the NSW Women’s Premier League could hold the beckoning answers for us.
It seems the minor premiership will go either the way of the Illawarra Stingrays or the Marconi Stallions. The North West Sydney Koala’s still have a mathematical chance of being crowned minor premiers and they’ll continue their fight till the final round.
The battle to play finals football gives us a complete different scenario. Four teams fight for one spot, the giant killers Northbridge are currently in 5^th spot, one point and one game ahead of their rivals. Manly United, Sydney University and the Inter Lions will not lie down in their pursuit for 5^th spot and the last couple weeks will be a real interesting affair.
Narrabeen Sports High will host the early fixture on Sunday afternoon at 1pm between the Central Coast Mariners Academy and Manly United FC.
The Mariners are playing for pride; they’ve secured 10^th spot on the ladder and are already focusing on next season.
Manly United on the other are one of the four teams fighting for 5^th place. They play good football and have been slightly unlucky in some of their previous fixtures. They’ve fought there way into a position to play finals football and will look to ensure they don’t slip up against the Mariners.
Manly came away with a 4-1 win in Round 10 at Cromer Park, Kristie Crawford and Chloe O’Brien each scoring a brace en route to victory.
At ELS Hall Park, a top of the table clash takes part at 3pm between the home side North West Sydney Koala’s and 1^st placed Illawarra Stingrays.
The Koala’s only have a mathematical chance of winning the minor premiership. The derby loss against Northbridge FC a couple weeks ago has cost them the opportunity to be right in the fight to be premiers.
The Stingrays are sitting in first place but they’ve played one game more than the chasing Marconi Stallions. Being two points in front, if they are to have any chance of winning the minor premiership, they must win their two remaining fixtures. They don’t come much tougher than the 3^rd placed Koala’s who have been premiership rivals throughout the whole season.
Michelle Carney has been in fine form this season and is really hitting her straps at the right time. She was the difference last time out as she scored a brace to give the Stingrays a 2-1 win down the coast.
The Sutherland Shire Football Association take on the Blacktown Spartans at Harrie Denning Centre on Sunday at 3pm.
The Spartans are playing their fourth straight away game, they’ve lost in the previous three. They were good value at times against the Stallions last week but it wasn’t enough against one of the competition heavyweights. Breanna Sampson made a difference with her introduction in the second half and she may be an option for the Spartans in this one.
Things haven’t been going well at the Shire this season and last weeks result really highlighted that fact. They went down to Northbridge by a staggering 15-0 score line.
Georgia Rowntree put up a great display last time against the Spartans and she’ll be key again if the Sharks are to have any chance. The Spartans sneaked through with a 2-1 win in a really tight game.
At Lynwood Park, we have another really interesting fixture ahead of us. The Macarthur Rams in 4^th place welcome the 8^th placed Inter Lions on Sunday at 3pm to their home ground.
The Rams have already secured a home elimination finals spot. They still have an opportunity to finish in 3^rd place and thus have their ‘second chance’ if they were to lose in the qualifying final. They went down last week to the Illawarra Stingrays in a tight one, 2-1, and will look to bounce back right away.
The Lions also went down to the Stingrays in a mid week catch up last week but bounced back over the weekend and defeated the Mariners 4-2. They must win to have any opportunity to finish in fourth and having a game in hand; they’re still in with a shout. With Catherine Cannuli in good form, they’ll be looking to her to lead the line.
Back at the beginning of June, the Rams absolutely thrashed the Lions 6-0 with Kylie Ledbrook and Renee Rollason scoring a brace each in the rout. The Lions will be out for revenge to prove they’re much better than that showing.
At Parklands Oval also on Sunday at 3pm, the bottom placed Northern Tigers play host to the giant killing Northbridge FC.
Northbridge is a side with real potential and they’ve proved that by taking points off most the big guns of the competition. They currently sit in 5^th place on the ladder with a game more than some of their rivals. Dropped points and slip-ups in the last two games are no option for Northbridge if they are to play finals football.
The Tigers are struggling but have put in some fighting displays over the last few weeks. Last week they went back to their old habits, going down to the North West Sydney Koala’s by a disappointing 6-0. They’ll be looking to mess things up for Northbridge as they search for their maiden victory of the season.
Northbridge won their rescheduled Round 10 fixture at Valentine Sports Park 6-0.
At Wilson Park on Sunday at 3pm, 7^th placed Sydney University SFC welcomes the 2^ND placed Marconi Stallions. Both sides have something to play for; the home side is fighting to sneak into the top 5 while the away side looks to win the minor premiership.
University can’t drop any more points. With a game less than the 5^th placed Northbridge FC, a victory is imperative for them. With their catch up game being against the Stallions next week, they’ll be looking to record a win at least one of the two games.
The Stallions will fancy themselves to win the minor premiership, with a game in hand against the same opponent; they know that three victories will bring them the glory they seek. Heather Garriock is a true leader on and off the park for the Stallions and with Linda O’Neill and Trudy Camilleri amongst the most dangerous players in the league, they’ll expect no less than wins.