PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 12 Preview
The race for a top four finish hots up as three teams sit on 14 points going into Round 12. Sutherland Shire and Inter Lions, equal on points, will play off while Northern Tigers will look to prevent Southern Branch from also moving onto 14 points.
In the other two games, first placed Marconi Stallions host second placed Sydney Olympic and Nepean FC and UNSW Lions try to stay off the bottom of the table.
Nepean FC vs UNSW Lions, 3pm Sunday 14 June at Cook Park
For the second week in a row, UNSW Lions will be involved in a bottom of the table clash as they still look to stay in contention for a top four finish. Only a few weeks ago they were well out of the mix, picking up just three points in eight games but consecutive wins against Nepean FC and Northern Tigers helped them to move within five points of fourth spot. They will again be facing Nepean this weekend who, after going on a three game winning run, have now lost four games in a row. The latest of those losses came last week against Inter Lions leaving them just one point above bottom spot.
Marconi Stallions vs Sydney Olympic, 3pm Sunday 14 June at Marconi Stadium
It seems as if no one will stop Marconi Stallions this season but if anyone can do it, Sydney Olympic would be one of the few. Olympic know what it’s like to be second behind runaway leaders with Central Coast last season quickly establishing themselves as the best team but Olympic did pull off a shock win against them last season. A win here seems less probable, as Marconi have cruised to 11 wins, the latest against Northern Tigers. Sydney Olympic meanwhile lost to Tigers in a midweek catch up leaving them 15 points off top spot.
Southern Branch vs Northern Tigers, 3pm Sunday 14 June at South Nowra Football Complex
A 4-0 thumping at the hands of Sydney Olympic seemed to be the kickstarter for Southern Branch’s season. The loss saw them occupy bottom spot but since then they have gone on to win two matches – a 2-1 win over Inter Lions and a 3-2 win over UNSW Lions – to move within a win of their weekend’s opponents. Northern Tigers lead ahead of Southern Branch is due to their 2-1 midweek win over Sydney Olympic. Before then, a run of three straight losses culminated in Tigers falling out of the top four for the first time this season.
Sutherland Shire vs Inter Lions, 3pm Sunday 14 June at Harrie Denning Centre
Top four spaces are up for grabs when Sutherland Shire host Inter Lions. The two sides, along with Northern Tigers, are all level on 14 points with only a poor defensive record keeping Inter out of the top four. Part of that poor defensive record, conceding 27 goals in 11 games, came when Sutherland Shire defeated them 5-1 in Round 5. That was Sutherland’s first win of the season and they soon rose to second spot before consecutive losses to Marconi Stallions and Sydney Olympic saw them fall back towards the chasing pack.
–By Kate Cohen, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Reporter
