NPL NSW Womens 1 Round 19 Preview
The NPL NSW Womens 1 Premiership has gone the way of the Macarthur Rams but there are still three intriguing rounds to go.
Sydney Uni and the Stingrays will play an interesting game with hopes of finals football. Manly will be aware that a slip up against Marconi could also cost them a finals place.
While the other two games see Northbridge welcome the new premiers, and the Koalas host the Spartans on a fun day at ELS Hall Park.
At ELS Hall Park, the North West Sydney Koalas host the Blacktown Spartans in what will be a special day with the home club organising a sponsor and community event.
The Koalas are on a high, defeating the premiers Macarthur on the weekend for the second time this season. The victory pushes them into second place on the ladder and they’ll look to continue their eight match unbeaten run on the weekend.
The Spartans are still searching for that elusive victory since round 6. They have come close on various occasions and have been somewhat unlucky in many matches.
The Koalas won the first game between the two comprehensively, 6-1, while the second was much closer with the Spartans snatching a draw, 1-1.
Manly United FC will entertain the Marconi Stallions at Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon.
United broke a bit of a poor run of two straight defeats, beating the Blacktown Spartans by the odd goal. The win couldn’t have come at a better time, putting the Northern Beaches side only two points outside of finals football.
The Stallions haven’t tasted victory in over a month and this run of results ended their finals aspirations. Nevertheless, the club has a relegation battle on their hands and can’t stop fighting.
Manly have had the better of the earlier fixtures between the two, winning the first 2-1 and settling for a draw the second time around.
A massive game for both clubs takes place at Wilson Park as Sydney University takes on the Illawarra Stingrays.
Uni moved back into the finals spots after winning their fourth straight game over the weekend. Heather Garriocks team seems to be hitting form at the right time of the season with finals only three weeks away.
The Stingrays have only lost twice in the past two months of football but still see themselves outside the top four. If they can’t pick up all three points here, there task will be all the more difficult.
The Stingrays suffered a shock 6-0 loss the first time these two met but improved significantly in the second game to record a 1-0 victory.
At Northbridge Oval on Sunday, Northbridge FC welcome the new premiers the Macarthur Rams.
The ‘Bridge’ can’t make finals football but would love to inflict defeat on the Rams for a second time this year. Northbridge has lost six games in a row and will look to end the poor run of results.
The Rams enter this one celebrating the premiership. Coach Stephen Neligan though will insure his team keep their form up as finals football is just around the corner.
The Rams destroyed the ‘Bridge’ the first time they played, winning 6-1. While Northbridge shocked the whole competition, winning the second match between the two 1-0.
-By Nikola Pozder
