PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 5 Preseason Cup Review

It was an eventful and intriguing final day in the NPL NSW Women’s 1 Preseason Cup. Some crazy results and a real fight for the two Grand Final places took place.

It will be the Illawarra Stingrays in the Grand Final on Sunday to defend their Preseason Cup title from last season against the North West Sydney Koalas.

POOL 1 –

Illawarra Stingrays 3-2 Blacktown Spartans

At JJ Kelly Park, it was a battle for first place as the Illawarra Stingrays took on surprise packets Blacktown Spartans.

Tensions were high as only three points would be enough for the Stingrays for top spot while a draw would do the job for the Spartans.

In a five-goal thriller down the South Coast, it was the home team that snuck through with a tight 3-2 victory that saw them move into top place on the ladder and the Grand Final. This means the Stingrays will now have the opportunity to defend their title from 2014.

The Spartans have already showed how much they’ve improved from last season and if they carry their preseason for into the new year we can expect to see some good results from them.

Football NSW Institute 1-1 Macarthur Rams

The  Football NSW Institute took their home game to Lynwood Park on Sunday afternoon as they took on the Macarthur Rams.

It was a replay of last years Grand Final in which the Institute ran away as Champions.

With neither side able to make the Grand Final having dropped key points in the earlier rounds, it was virtually a dead rubber. Nevertheless, both sides gave it their all as the two couldn’t be separated, finishing the match 1-1.

POOL 2 –

Manly United 2-2 Emerging Jets

At Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon, Manly United welcomed the Emerging Jets, knowing they needed victory to have any chance of finishing top of the table.

With the incredible result from The Square going their way, the home team couldn’t capitalise as the girls in blue could only manage a draw.

The Emerging Jets have showed great improvement from their first cup game and have continued to better their results.

Tia Gavin showed she’s already in form ahead of the new season, scoring a brace for Manly. For the away side, Elizabeth Copus-Brown and Kally Lewis got their names on the scoresheet.

Sydney University 6-1 North West Sydney Koalas

At The Square, Sydney University welcomed top placed North West Sydney Koalas.

The Koalas knew that only a high scoring defeat could see them miss out on the final of the Preseason Cup.

In what has possibly been the surprise result of the Cup, not because of the teams but the score line, Uni came away with an astonishing 6-1 victory!

Fortunately for the Koalas, they still progressed courtesy of Manly slipping up at home in the other match in the Pool.

Amy Harrison picked up a brace while Evelyn Chronis, Melissa Caceres, Clare Woods and Stephanie Ambrose were the scorers for the home team.

-By Nikola Pozder