Women’s Premier League Round 21 Review

After Round 21, the NSW Women’s Premier League is a lot clearer but we still don’t have all of the answers that we are after.
It means the final round of competition will be a hot and interesting affair.
Central Coast Mariners Academy 0-10 Manly United FC
At Narrabeen Sports High in the only game to be played on Saturday, the Central Coast Mariners Academy hosted Manly United FC.
The Mariners, sitting in 10^th spot, were playing for nothing more than pride and for places next season. Manly on the other hand had much higher aspirations with a spot in the five still a viable option for them. Manly could not afford to drop points and if they were to play finals football they had to take victory.
Manly comfortably won the first fixture between the two team by 4-1 at Cromer Park. In the return game, United continued their push for that 5^th spot with a demoralising 10-0 win. On the wings of influential Kristie Crawford, it will be left up until the penultimate round of the competition for their fate to be decided.
North West Sydney Koala’s 0-0 Illawarra Stingrays
In one of the matches of the round, the North West Sydney Koala’s in 3^rd place welcomed the 1^st placed Illawarra Stingrays to ELS Hall Park.
The Koala’s hopes of winning the minor premiership had flown by but they knew that 3^rd place was still up for grabs and the opportunity to take a ‘double chance’.
The Stingrays, well they’re still in the hunt for first place and as they currently hold the mantle in the Premier League they know that two wins in the final two games are essential.
Michelle Carney was the difference between these two when the sides met in Round 10 when Illawarra came away from JJ Kelly Park with a 2-1 win.
The sides shared the spoils this time round as neither side could break the dead lock at ELS Hall Park in a 0-0 draw.
The result leaves the Koala’s in 4^th with a game less and a point less than 3^rd place with one week of the regular competition to go.
Sutherland Shire Football Association 1-4 Blacktown Spartans
At Harrie Denning Centre on Sunday afternoon, the Sutherland Shire Football Association entertained the Blacktown Spartans.
Neither side had much to play for. The Sharks possibly had more to fight for as they worked toward avoiding the wooden spoon. The Spartans sat in 9^th and have been sitting there comfortably for most of the season.
When the two met earlier this year, the Spartans snuck passed the Sharks in a close one 2-1 at Blacktown Football Park. This time, the Spartans were more convincing as they put four passed the Sharks in a commanding 4-1 win.
The result didn’t do much to the league table as the Spartans stayed in 9^th and the Sharks remained in 11^th.
Macarthur Rams 3-1 Inter Lions
At Lynwood Park, at 3pm on Sunday, the Macarthur Rams welcomed the Inter Lions.
The Rams were in 4^th and were looking to finish within the top 3 so they could get their double chance in the finals series. Inter on the other hand were in 8^th on the competition ladder and they knew that they had to get a result to keep their hopes alive.
The Rams steam rolled the Lions in the round 10 fixture when they came away from Concord Oval with a comprehensive 6-0 victory, completely against the form books.
The Lions were looking for revenge this time around but they didn’t get it, going down 3-1 to the Rams. 
The Rams moved into 3^rd place with this win and will leave the final day of the season to decide the end result of the table. The Lions mathematically still have a chance to play finals football but their chances are just about over in an up and down season.
Northern Tigers 0-4 Northbridge FC
Parklands Oval was the venue for the fixture between the Northern Tigers and Northbridge FC on Sunday afternoon.
Neither Parklands Oval nor Mills Park have been happy camping grounds for the Tigers this season as they’re still looking for that maiden win this season. The ‘Bridge’ still have a good chance of playing finals football and they know that victory is essential in the final two games if they’re to have any possible chance to play come September.
Northbridge comfortably won the first game between the two at Northbridge Oval 6-0.
This time the first half was a close affair, it was only 1-0 at halftime for the ‘Bridge’.  They steam rolled the Tigers in the second half coming away with a 4-0 win. Bronte Bates scored an impressive hat-trick in this one helping her team to the convincing win. Unfortunately, Hannah Brewer saw two yellows and subsequently a red meaning she’ll miss the important final game of the season.
-By Nikola Pozder