PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 11 Preview

The Macarthur Rams lead the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition but it’s a real fight across the league for the other places.

MATCH OF THE ROUND

Macarthur Rams v Emerging Jets @Lynwood Park

At Lynwood Park, the Macarthur Rams will host the young Emerging Jets with the early kick off at 1:30pm.

Norm Boardman’s Rams extended their lead at the top of the table to eight points after Sunday’s games. Consistency has been the key for them, only dropping points twice this season in two draws.

Captain Renee Rollason is confident her team can continue their undefeated run to the season as they have enough depth and quality to do so.

When the Rams travelled to take on the Jets in round two, they came away with a comfortable 4-1 victory. Things have changed for this young side since then though, the experience they’ve picked up has seen them move into eighth place, registering three wins in the process.

Picking up a draw against a high flying Manly United side would’ve sent a warning to the Rams to not take them lightly. The result should also raise the confidence of the young side as they prepare for this big match.

Manly United v Central Coast @Cromer Park

Second placed Manly United welcome the Central Coast to Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon.

Manly had to settle for a draw last week away to the Jets but remained in second place. They’ve been playing well this season with Louise Neville and Kristie Crawford in particular in good form.

They’ll need to be wary though as a dangerous Central Coast make the trip to Manly. The Coast scored their first win of the season after nine straight losses last week. They’ll welcome this match in a buoyant mood and will hope to register another pleasing result.

The first match between the two went the way of Manly 4-0.

Football NSW Institute v North West Sydney Koalas @ELS Hall Park

It’ll be an interesting clash at ELS Hall Park as the Football NSW Institute take on the North West Sydney Koalas.

The Institute have only won once in their last six outings. This young squad has incredible quality all over the park and it’s just a matter of time before the results begin to fall into place for them.

A loss for the Champions could see them fall away from the finals places, making victory imperative for them.

A similar fate awaits the Koalas who like their opponents have the players to be registering better results. A loss last week didn’t help their cause for finals football and will need to get some points on Sunday.

The Institute came away with a tight 1-0 away win at ELS Hall Park in round two.

Illawarra Stingrays v North Shore Mariners @JJ Kelly Park 

At JJ Kelly Park on Sunday, it’s the Illawarra Stingrays taking on the North Shore Mariners.

The resurgent Stingray’s have improved vastly over recent weeks and have now started finishing off their high scoring encounters in their favour.  With only one loss in their last six matches, they now sit in seventh place on the ladder. A return to form for Jordan Baker has opposition defences shaking in their boots and she could be key for the ‘Rays’.

For the Mariners, it’s all about consistency as they are so far on a roller coaster ride, with the form guide something not to go by. Nevertheless, they sit in third place on the table, as coach Larry Bates hopes to keep them there with finals nearing.

It was one-way traffic the first time these two met as the Mariners came away with a whopping 7-2 victory.

Sydney University v Blacktown Spartans @Wilson Park

Wilson Park will host the fixture between fourth placed Sydney University and fifth placed Blacktown Spartans.

Heather Garriock must’ve though her team had done enough to register all three points last week but they faltered toward the end, leaving Wentworth Park empty handed.

A victory on Sunday would mean they extended their points advantage over their opponents and further cement their place in the finals.

The Spartans announced a massive mid-week signing in former Western Sydney Wanderer Teigen Allen to help their finals push. The Spartans will need to respond after last weeks loss and if they want to play finals football, this is a must win for them.

A tight 1-1 draw was the way the two played when they met earlier on in the season.

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