PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 5 Preview

In light of Female Football Week, Round 5 of the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition will be special in celebrating the women’s game.

There are only three undefeated teams left in the competition with the North Shore Mariners heading the pack.

Match of the Round:

Blacktown Spartans v Central Coast @Blacktown Football Park, 3pm

At Blacktown Football Park on Sunday afternoon, we head out west as the Blacktown Spartans tackle the Central Coast in a battle of two teams yet to register a victory.

The Spartans looked to be on course to make a real challenge for the title following their preseason form but a slow start has put them on the back foot. If they’re to put up a fight, they’ll need to start registering points immediately with the leading teams already creating quite a gap.

Central Coast, being promoted this season, had survival in their plans in their first season back in the top tier. Results haven’t gone their way so far, losing the two games they’ve played, conceding 11 goals in them. A two week break should’ve helped the girls from the Coast re-group and could work positively for them.

North Shore Mariners FC v Emerging Jets @Northbridge Oval, 1:30pm

Top of the table North Shore Mariners welcome the Emerging Jets to Northbridge Oval on Sunday afternoon in the early game.

League leading Mariners have been in sublime form, yet to lose a game this season. They took out last season’s Champions in the previous round and showed they’ll be a force in this season’s competition.

The Jets scored a famous victory in round 4, registering their first win in the state’s top competition. The victory will give them confidence that their good football will lead to better results on the park as they look to climb the ladder.

Macarthur Rams v Illawarra Stingrays @Lynwood Park, 3pm

The Rams finally get back on the pitch as they welcome the Illawarra Stingrays to Lynwood Park on Sunday afternoon.

Norm Boardman’s girls sit in fourth spot despite only playing two games. They hold a 100% record so far, winning both their previous games. Boardman will look to club stalwart and the experienced Renee Rollason to refresh and lead the girls following a two week break.

The Stingray’s have lost all three of their games in 2015 and haven’t won since their Preseason Cup glory. Following a strong but unlucky defeat against the Institute in round 3, the Stingrays had a week off and Grahame Shaw will ensure his girls will be back to their best this week.

Football NSW Institute v Manly United @Valentine Sports Park, 3pm

It’s second verse third at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday as the Football NSW Institute take On Manly United.

The Institute’s performance last week probably didn’t warrant defeat but the Mariners did enough to inflict the young teams first defeat in the league since 2014. With question marks hanging over the availability of Demi Koulizakis who limbered off last week, the Institute will look to another of their youngsters to step up.

Manly United sit in third spot currently, undefeated so far this season. Having had a week off also following the atrocious weather, they’ll look to score another three points on a surface that is familiar to them.

Sydney University v North West Sydney Koala’s @Wilson Park, 3pm

Two teams that have had almost identical starts to the season meet at Wilson Park as Sydney University host the North West Sydney Koala’s.

Uni finally got their first win of the season in round 3 but Heather Garriock would’ve been frustrated having had the teams last game washed out. A win is important for Garriock’s girls to start moving forward and putting together a good sequence of results.

The Koala’s suffered a tight loss to the Institute in their only defeat this season back in round 2 and have so far been inconsistent. They also didn’t play last week and will need to register an important three points to not lose pace with the leading teams.

– by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter