Women’s Premier League – Round 22 Preview

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The final day of the season lies ahead of us, the penultimate Round 22 of the NSW Women’s Premier League. The premiership will be decided as will the fifth finals spot.
A blockbuster final round lies ahead; will the premiers be the Illawarra Stingrays or the Marconi Stallions? Who will take the prize of 5th place? Can Manly sneak in? Will it be University? Or can the giant killers Northbridge keep their place? Inter hold a mathematical chance of finals football, will they do the impossible?
Then we make our way to the other end of the table. A direct clash to avoid that dreaded wooden spoon. Goal difference could decide who takes the tag as wooden spooners.
In the early game on Sunday afternoon, the Marconi Stallions entertain the Central Coast Mariners Academy at 1pm at Marconi Stadium.
The Stallions are closing in on the title and with a victory mid week in their catch up game against Sydney University, they hold the keys to glory in their own hands. They have been in great form, only losing to Manly United in the second half of the season and their march to the title has been superb.
The Mariners have been struggling and after their horrid display last week, they went down 10-0 at home. Nevertheless, the Mariners are playing for pride and denting the Stallions hopes of lifting the minor premiership would be a massive coup for the side.
When the two teams met in round 11, the Stallions won with a comfortable 6-0. The always dangerous Helen Petinos scoring a memorable hat-trick.
At Balls Paddock, The Illawarra Stingrays welcome Northbridge FC down south in a massive game for both squads on Sunday at 3pm.
Even if the Illawarra Stingrays defeat Northbridge on Sunday afternoon the title could still slip away from them. With the Stallions having a catch up game up their sleeves, all the Stingrays can do is win and hope. They’ve been sitting a top the league throughout most of the season, changing the lead between Marconi and the North West Sydney Koala’s who are out of the race now. Last week, the Stingrays drew with the Koala’s in a 0-0 stalemate.
Northbridge are also waiting on the mid week clash to know where they stand on the ladder. Currently they’re in 5th on the table, they know that they must win to sneak into the five with Manly and University breathing down their necks. They’ve taken down the biggest sides in the league and are possibly a win away from meeting those teams again.
Northbridge started their giant killing run with victory over Illawarra in round 11, Bronte Bates and Hannah Bromley scored in the 2-1 win as the influential Michelle Carney scored the Stingrays only goal. An interesting game with a lot on the line for both teams.
At Blacktown Football Park, the Blacktown Spartans host Sydney University SFC on Sunday at 3pm.
The Spartans have had a solid campaign and regardless of results after the final round, will remain in 9th position. In a season where more could’ve been achieved they’ll have a good basis to work from for next season. Even though they can’t make the top five, they’ll look to leave their mark and eliminate Sydney University from the race.
The Spartans have played their last three games away from home and it will be a relief to finally be back at Blacktown Football Park. They also haven’t won since their 10-1 thrashing of the Northern Tigers in the middle of July.
University, as opposed to the Spartans, still has a chance to make the finals. It is imperative for them to win their mid week clash against one of the best sides in the competition, Marconi. To be the best, you must be the best one once said, and it it starts for University on Thursday night. It will be an intriguing week for them where two wins from two may not be enough.
Back in June, the sides shared the spoils at Wilson Park in a 1-1 draw.
 At Concord Oval on Sunday at 3pm, the Inter Lions entertain the North West Sydney Koala’s.
The Lions threw away their chance of being the leaders for the top five spot when they were defeated on Sunday afternoon by the Macarthur Rams. The result left them in 8th place, five points behind 5th with a game in hand against cellar dwellers, the Northern Tigers. They are still an outside mathematical chance to make the finals but will rely on other results if they’re able to secure the two victories.
The Koala’s played out a tough draw with the Illawarra Stingrays at ELS Hall Park in a 0-0 stalemate. The Koala’s chances of lifting the minor premiership diminished a couple weeks ago but are still in the hunt to finish in the top three, enabling them to have a ‘double chance’ in the semi finals. Nothing but victory can see them pip the Rams for third spot and it will be imperative for them.
When the two sides met in round 10, the Koala’s came away from their home ground with a tight 2-1 win.
At Mills Park on Sunday at 3pm, an interesting battle will take place between the Northern Tigers and Sutherland Shire Football Association.
This is a battle between the two bottom clubs of the league For many, this match does not mean much. For others though, it will be like a grand final and will have meaning to the young ladies out there on Sunday afternoon.
The Northern Tigers, 21 rounds in, are yet to taste victory this season. They sit in bottom place with a solitary point. They have come close on countless occasions going down by the odd goal or two. It is now or never for the Tigers to register their maiden win of the season. The other major point in this battle is the fact that the Tigers will avoid the dreaded wooden spoon with victory as they have a superior goal difference as opposed to the Sharks.
Sutherland is a side who has also been unlucky this year in some fixtures. They sit in 11th position with a win and a draw. An issue that seems to arise with this team is that after they concede a few goals the heads go down and everything goes pear shaped. They are capable of playing solid football but have lacked that killer instinct this season. A draw would mean they avoid the wooden spoon but it is certain that the girls would like to go out of the 2013 campaign with a victory.
When these two sides met at Harrie Denning Centre in round 11, the Sharks registered their one and only win this year against the Tigers with a comprehensive 4-1 result. They’ll look to winger Kristina Glisic to spearhead their attack this time around.
At the unusual venue of the Sydney Academy Of Sport, Manly United FC will host the Macarthur Rams on Sunday afternoon at 3pm. Two sides who have a lot to fight for and are in need of a victory. 
Manly United sit in equal 5th place on the ladder with Northbridge. As the ‘Bridge’ has a better goal difference, a win may not be enough for United. A side that plays good football but in some situations lacked the final pass or finish is still in the hunt and a win for them is imperative in this fixture.
The Rams though, cannot finish first and cannot finish outside the top four. A win is important for them in the hunt for a spot in the top three, enabling them to have a ‘second chance’ in the finals series.
When these two met in round 11 in a highly entertaining fixture, Kylie Ledbrook scored the winner in the dieing stages of the match where an unlucky manly went home empty handed. This fixture will be no different with both sides chasing the win. Who will make the difference? Will it be Ledbrook or will it be Kristie Crawford?