PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 1 Preview
The PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 season finally kicks off this weekend. After months of preparation, trial games and a Preseason Cup, the girls are ready to roar in what promises to be one of the most even and exciting competitions yet.
With so many pretenders for the Premiership, who will take the crown on August 9?
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Sydney University SFC v North Shore Mariners @ Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre 3:00pm
At Wilson Park on Sunday afternoon, Sydney University open their season against the North Shore Mariners.
University have recruited extremely well for this season and have kept the majority of their squad from last season. Heather Garriock will be at the helm for the second year running and is hoping her young side can improve their consistency this season.
Captain Elizabeth Grey will spearhead the attack with new recruits Amy Harrison and Evelyn Chronis flying down the flanks. The welcome additions of a trio of Football NSW Institute youngsters will also boost the team this season.
The Mariners didn’t have a great season last year, finishing up in seventh place. A name change this year could mean better fortunes for the Red and White stripes but they’ll have to improve upon their Preseason Cup form.
Manly United v Emerging Jets @ Cromer Park, 1:30pm
Manly United will kick off round one in the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition at 1:30pm at Cromer Park against the newly promoted Emerging Jets.
With a new coach at the mantle, Gwynne Berry will be hoping his Manly United side get off to the best possible start. Inconsistency cost United a spot in the Finals Series last year and being a team that don’t disappoint when it comes to playing an attractive brand of football, they could be a dark horse this season.
With injuries a problem for Berry’s team at the moment the Manly coach is confident his team will continue to improve as the season moves on.
The Jets started life amongst the state’s elite in the worst possible way, humbled in their Round 1 Preseason Cup match. From that point on however the Jets haven’t looked back, improving their game week on week.
They managed to come away from Cromer Park with a draw only a few weeks away and will be hoping they can better that result.
Illawarra Stingrays v North West Sydney Koalas @ JJ Kelly Park, 3:00pm
What a game we have in Round One at JJ Kelly Park as the Illawarra Stingrays welcome North West Sydney Koalas to the south coast.
The Stingrays couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the season, picking up the first piece of silverware in the Preseason Cup. Having beaten the Koalas in the Final to defend last year’s Cup victory the Illawarra-based team will move into the first match of the season with confidence.
Coach Grahame Shaw has developed a team mixed with experience and youth, Michelle Carney and Jordan Baker at the forefront of their philosophy. Their strong youth ranks have seen the promotion of various players into the first team this season and they’ll be one of the favourites.
The Koalas were the shock of the Preseason Cup in both a positive and negative way. Having started the Cup competition like a house on fire the Koalas abruptly stopped in the last round and Final, conceding 12 goals, six of them in the Cup Final against Sunday’s opponents.
The coaching duo of Albert and Alex Di Sciascio know their team has the quality to mount a title challenge but have been quiet ahead of the season, not giving much away.
Macarthur Rams v Blacktown Spartans @Lynwood Park, 3:00pm
Another big game in the opening round takes us to Lynwood Park as the Macarthur Rams take on the Blacktown Spartans.
Last year’s Premiers are hoping to emulate last season’s success with new coach Norm Boardman at the helm. Boardman’s team had an ordinary Preseason Cup and won’t be to fazed with the results from that competition, throwing their focus to the regular season.
With players such as Renee Rollason and Georgia Yeoman-Dale back again along with the additions of Kylie Ledbrook and Leena Khamis, the Rams are sure to be a force in this season’s competition.
The Spartans have been the surprise packet of this year’s Preseason Cup, finishing second in their Pool and only just missing out on the fight for silverware. Also with a new coach in the dugout, Paul Constantini will be hoping for much more than his sides last place finish in 2014.
A spot in the top four may well be in the Spartans sights but to get there they must beat the best and Sunday’s game will be quite the test. Having already beaten the Rams by the odd goal in the Preseason Cup they’ll be confident leading into the match.
Football NSW Institute v Central Coast FC @Valentine Sports Park, 3:00pm
At the newly redeveloped Valentine Sports Park it’s Champions welcoming the promoted Central Coast FC.
After a truly memorable season in 2014 the Football NSW Institute will be looking for something similar. Sally Wolifson takes the top job this year with development the key for her. It’s hard to deny the quality the Institute possess though making it difficult not to say that they are amongst the favourites for this season.
Princess Ibini-Isei will head the team’s attack again this year and if she can repeat the form she showed last year, in particular during the Finals Series, the Institute will go a long way. In saying that, the young team has quality all over the park and as a collective team they are quite the joy to watch.
The Central Coast earned their right to be playing in the state’s top flight having completely over-run the Women’s 2 last season. They’ve had a slow start so far and will be hoping to vastly improve on their Preseason Cup form to remain in the competition for more than one season.
– by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter
