PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 8 Preview

Almost every side has faced each other so far and now, as PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 season enters its second phase, the Round 1 fixtures will be reversed as sides look to move into a finals position.

Runaway leaders Marconi Stallions will travel to Southern Branch to try to keep their 100 per cent run going while the competition’s two other in form sides, Nepean FC and Sutherland Shire, will face off against each other.

In the other two matches, the leaky defences of Northern Tigers and Inter Lions will take each other on while last placed UNSW Lions will hope to avoid a repeat of their 6-0 Round 1 loss to Sydney Olympic.

Northern Tigers vs Inter Lions, 3pm Sunday 1 May at Charlie Bean Sportsground

When Northern Tigers and Inter Lions met in Round 1 earlier this season, the 3-3 scoreline would prove to be reflective of their later form. While both sides occupy a top four position – Tigers third ahead of Inter on goal difference – it has been their defensive record that has come into question. Inter, last week drawing 2-2 with Sydney Olympic, have the worst defensive record in the competition, conceding 21 goals in their seven games. For Tigers, it doesn’t get much better – conceding 16 goals in six games, the latest of which came in a 1-0 loss to Nepean FC. It is those records that will have to improve if one side is to pull away from their opponent on the ladder on Sunday.

UNSW Lions vs Sydney Olympic, 3pm Sunday 17 May at David Phillips Field

A 3-0 loss to Marconi Stallions last week sees UNSW Lions still stuck to the foot of the ladder on three points. A tough start to the season looked to be turning for UNSW when they defeated Southern Branch 2-1 in Round 4 but since then they have yet to score a goal, losing twice and seeing their match with Nepean FC washed out. In Round 8 they will face Sydney Olympic, the side who inflicted a 6-0 loss on UNSW in the opening game of the season. Olympic were ruthless in that game, taking advantage of UNSW errors but are yet to win a game since and occupy sixth place. After taking a 2-0 lead over Inter Lions last week, it looked as if Olympic would be returning to winning ways but a late collapse saw the game end in a draw.

Nepean FC vs Sutherland Shire, 3pm Sunday 17 May at Cook Park

It looked as if life in the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 competition would prove to be tough for the newly promoted Nepean FC side. Picking up just one point from their opening three matches, including a 5-2 loss at the hands of Marconi Stallions, Nepean began the season rooted to the bottom of the ladder. But two wins in two games has seen them push up to fifth place just one point off fourth highlighting how incredibly close this league is from second to eight. Next they host another team who had previously gone three games without a win – Sutherland Shire. Like Nepean, Sutherland’s turnaround of form, three wins in a row, has seen them rise to second spot. When the two sides met in Round 1, a 2-2 draw was played out but with both sides now in form, an interesting battle awaits. 

Southern Branch vs Marconi Stallions, 3pm Sunday 17 May at South Nowra Football Complex

After seven rounds of football, the question remains – who can stop Marconi Stallions? Marconi, who were relegated into the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 competition, have a 100 per cent record this season and already boast a seven point lead at the top. But one of those six wins came in Round 1 when Southern Branch forfeited. Since then, while Marconi have dominated, Southern Branch have struggled and sit second from bottom on five points. But despite only collecting one win, the Nowra side are just three points off fourth spot. If they can upset the odds, Southern Branch might be able to gain some momentum for the second third of the season.  
–By Kate Cohen, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Reporter