Women’s Premier League – Finals Week One

After a long gruelling season, months of training, we are left with five teams fighting to be champions.
The first week of finals is upon us in the NSW Women’s Premier League. Valentine Sports Park will be centre stage for the elimination and qualifying finals on Saturday and Sunday.
Elimination Semi-Final – Saturday 31^st August 2013 – Valentine Sports Park Field 2 – 3:30pm
North West Sydney Koala’s (4^th) VS Sydney University SFC (5^th)
At Valentine Sports Park on Saturday afternoon at 3:30pm, the North West Sydney Koala’s take on Sydney University SFC.
The Koala’s were fighting for the minor premiership for most of the season and were in the top three up until the last few rounds where a dip in form saw them drop down to fourth place. This drop has seen them only one loss away from elimination from the finals series.
University is one of the most in form teams in the competition. Last week they managed to knock off the Marconi Stallions away from home in a rescheduled match and after a convincing win on the weekend, they deservedly sneaked into the top five by a slender two points.
The teams met in round four and fifteen of the competition and both matches were tight affairs with little goals scored. The first game ended in a share of the spoils as neither side could muster a winner in a 1-1 draw at ELS Hall Park. When the squads met at Wilson Park in the second game between the two, Daila-Tais Borg’s goal for the Koala’s was all that separated the two teams.
With this, it will be a tough match and the score can go either way in what will certainly be a tight affair. Both sides know that a loss will mean the end of their season and will do all they can to continue their dreams of winning the grand final.
Qualifying Semi-Final – Sunday 1^st September 2013 – Valentine Sports Park or Illawarra – 3:30pm
Illawarra Stingrays VS Macarthur Rams
On Sunday afternoon at 3:30pm, the Illawarra Stingrays will take on the Macarthur Rams in the qualifying final. As the teams finished within the top three, this game isn’t an elimination match. The loser will go on to verse the winner of the elimination final while the winner will take on the minor premiers the Marconi Stallions.
The Macarthur Rams had to wait until late Wednesday night to find out who their opponent will be in the qualifying final as the Marconi Stallions had a catch up game against Sydney University. Marconi won that game and finished on top of the table thanks to a superior goal difference over the Stingrays.
The Rams also finished in third place thanks to a better goal difference than the North West Sydney Koala’s and therefore have the luxury of having a chance in the finals series. They are also only two wins from the grand final and with Kylie Lebrook and Renee Rollason in red hot form in attack for them, anything is possible for the rampant Rams.
The Stingrays were hoping that University would do them a favour by getting over the Stallions twice within the one week. Unfortunately for them, they couldn’t do it and the stallions ran away with the minor premiership. Nevertheless, the Stingrays go on in the finals series from second place and with attacking midfield maestro Michelle Carney in the ranks they are one of the real favourites to be crowned champions.
It is a clash between the two sides boasting the best defensive records in the league, only having conceded 36 goals between the two of them all season! Which is less than a goal a game each in a competition where goals rain down.
Fixtures between these two this season have been extremely tight and both times the Stingrays came out on top by the odd goal. The identical score line of 2-1 in both Round 9 and 20 were the scores in favour of the Stingrays. Out of the four goals scored by the Stingrays, Carney scored three. She will be a real threat to the Rams defence and if they’re able to keep her quiet they may be that step closer to a surprise victory.
The match promises to be a tense affair and the odd goal may well decide the winner in this one as it has already twice this season.
Rescheduled Round 21:
Sydney University SFC VS Marconi Stallions
All eyes were at Wilson Park on Wednesday night as Sydney University SFC, who had already cemented their spot in the five, welcomed the premiership fighting Marconi Stallions at 7:30pm.
The Illawarra Stingrays were sweating waiting on the result of Wednesday nights result as anything but a Marconi victory would see them lift the minor premiership. After Universities shock 2-0 victory last week against the Stallions away from home, the Stingrays had reason for hope.
University had nothing to play for in this fixture having already guaranteed themselves finals football after their victory over the weekend, sneaking into fifth spot on the ladder.
The Stallions knew that victory would see them lift the minor premiership and they had it all to play for. Welcoming back the absent Evelyn Chronis, Jodie Bain and injured Heather Garriock, the Stallions went all guns blazing in this one.
The Stallions came out on top courtesy of a 3-1 victory. The goals for the Stallions were scored by the returning Garriock and Chronis, while the other went to the ever-dangerous Trudy Camilleri. The only goal for University was scored by Kathryn Ward.
The victory for the Stallions meant they took the minor premiership on goal difference and would have the first week of finals off, being only one victory from the grand final. University need to back up on Saturday afternoon as they take on the North West Sydney Koalas in the elimination final.
Football NSW would like to congratulate the Marconi Stallions on winning the minor premiership.
Reserve grade finals series:
Elimination Semi-Final – Saturday 31^st August 2013 – Valentine Sports Park Field 2 – 1:00pm
Sydney University SFC (4^th) VS Illawarra Stingrays (5^th)
Qualifying Semi-Final – Sunday 1^st September 2013 – Valentine Sports Park or Illawarra 1:00pm
Marconi Stallions (2^nd) VS FNSW Institute (3^rd)