PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 11 Preview

The top four and bottom four sides face off against each other in Round 11 as just three points separate fourth spot and last on the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 ladder.

Retaining fourth spot will be difficult for Northern Tigers as they face runaway leaders Marconi Stallions and Inter Lions and Nepean FC will be looking to pounce on dropped points when they face off against each other.

So too will UNSW Lions and Southern Branch in a bottom-of-the-table clash. In the final game of the round, Sydney Olympic will host Sutherland Shire as both sides will try to avoid being caught up in the battle for a top four spot.

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Inter Lions vs Nepean FC, 3pm Sunday 7 June at Concord Oval

With the top four teams due to face each other this week, fifth placed Inter Lions and sixth placed Nepean FC are well placed to take advantage of teams above them dropping points. It has been a forgettable few weeks for both teams, with Inter picking up just four points from their last six games and with Nepean currently on a three game losing streak, but that could change should one of them win this week. Equal on points with fourth placed Northern Tigers, Inter will be hoping to repeat their Round 4 2-1 win over Nepean, who themselves are just one point behind fourth place.

Northern Tigers vs Marconi Stallions, 3pm Sunday 7 June at Mills Park

Failing to take advantage of a match against struggling UNSW Lions last week, another loss for Northern Tigers could see them fall out of the top four when they face Marconi Stallions. The 1-0 loss to UNSW was the latest poor result in a run which has seen Tigers pick up just four points in their last six games and leaves them precariously placed to fall out of the top four for the first time this season. That is because they will be facing Marconi Stallions, who made it 10 wins in 10 last round when they comfortably defeated second placed Sutherland Shire 3-1.

UNSW Lions vs Southern Branch, 3pm Sunday 7 June at David Phillips Field

With both teams now back in the race for fourth spot, this clash between seventh placed UNSW Lions and eight placed Southern Branch doesn’t feel like a normal bottom of the table match up. This time last week, UNSW Lions were eight points off fourth placed Northern Tigers but by defeating them, and by winning their midweek catch up game against Nepean FC, they now sit just two points behind them. Similarly for Southern Branch, who were six points off fourth, a second win of the season over Inter Lions has put them back within a win of a top four placing.

Sydney Olympic vs Sutherland Shire, 3pm Sunday 7 June at Peter Moore Park

With top spot too far out of reach, both Sydney Olympic and Sutherland Shire will be looking to consolidate their spots on the ladder with a win when they face each other on Sunday afternoon. With Olympic just one point ahead of Sutherland in second place, a result for either side will help to keep a buffer on teams below them. Recent form suggests Sydney Olympic will have a slight edge, with the Belmore-based side currently on a three game winning streak. The latest of those wins came last week when, with thanks to a Danielle Calvi hat-trick, Olympic saw off Nepean FC 3-2. Sutherland’s form is a little bit patchier, having lost two of their last three games, the latest against Marconi.

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