PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 9 Preview

A top four place is the only thing remaining for most sides as Marconi Stallions lead the competition by 13 points. In Round 9, there is a second versus third clash when Sutherland Shire host Northern Tigers, Sydney Olympic look to break into the top four when they face Southern Branch and UNSW Lions and Inter Lions search for a much needed win.

In the final game of the round, Marconi will look to maintain their 100 per cent record against Nepean FC who are on a three game winning streak.

Inter Lions vs UNSW Lions, 3pm Sunday 24 May at Concord Oval

When Inter Lions face off against UNSW Lions it will be a clash between two struggling sides as well as the league’s two worst defences. Inter Lions have won just one game in their last six, suffering heavy defeats to Sutherland Shire, Southern Branch and Marconi Stallions and last week lost 2-0 to Northern Tigers to fall out of the top four. But despite having conceded 23 goals already this season, they do not boast the worst record in the league. That is held by UNSW Lions who last week lost 6-0 to Sydney Olympic for the second time this season, taking their tally to 25 goals conceded. It has been a difficult start for UNSW, who sit in last place, and both sides will be desperate for a win.

Sutherland Shire vs Northern Tigers, 3pm Sunday 24 May at Harrie Denning Centre

Sutherland Shire’s three game winning streak was last week snapped by Nepean FC and will make this week’s game against Northern Tigers all the more interesting as both sides sit on 11 points. Sutherland were dominant against Nepean but unable to take their chances before conceding a late goal to travel home with nothing to show for their performance. But while Sutherland didn’t get the result they wanted, Northern Tigers took full advantage of their slip up, defeating Inter Lions 2-0 to go level on points with the second placed side. Only goal difference now separates the two however, when they meet, Tigers will have confidence, having beaten Sutherland 3-2 when they first met back in Round 2.

Sydney Olympic vs Southern Branch, 3pm Sunday 24 May at Peter Moore Park

Sydney Olympic got their season back on track emphatically last week when they defeated last placed UNSW Lions 6-0 for the second time this season. It looked promising for Olympic when they began the season with such a scoreline but the Belmore-based side failed to win another game until Round 8 when they again scored six unanswered goals. Now they will face seventh placed Southern Branch, who they drew 1-1 with in Round 2. Southern Branch is a side struggling for form, having picked up just one point in their last four games and last week lost 2-1 to first placed Marconi Stallions.

Marconi Stallions vs Nepean FC, 3pm Sunday 24 May at Marconi Stadium

The two new teams in the competition will face off against each other again in Round 8 but this time, their respective levels are clear. When Marconi Stallions, relegated from the PS4 NPL NSW Womens 1 competition, travelled to face promoted Nepean FC, the Stallions dispatched their opponents 5-2. That was the first game for Marconi, having had their Round 1 game forfeited, but after eight games they are still yet to drop a point. Nepean on the other hand struggled at the start of the season but have since gone on to win three games in a row, propelling them to fourth spot with two games in hand.

–By Kate Cohen, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Reporter