Women’s State League Round 11 Preview
As we enter the second half of the Women’s State League season, teams will have adjusted their objectives.
The race for first place is well and truly on, while some teams will be more focused on solidifying a position in the finals series. Round 11 promises typically high scoring and entertaining football.
Southern Districts Emeralds vs. Bankstown City – Sunday 21 June, 3PM at Ernie Smith Reserve – WASHED OUT
Southern Districts slumped to the bottom of the table for the first time this season, after a thoroughly disappointing defeat to Mt. Druitt in Round 10. They have a lot of work to do in the second half of the season, and Bankstown City will be confident about coming away with three points this Sunday.
City convincingly brushed aside the Gladesville Ravens on the weekend and continue to fight neck and neck with the Western NSW Mariners for first place. They will see this fixture as an opportunity to improve their goal difference. Samantha Muscat will also be looking to add to her golden boot efforts this year, leading the pack with seventeen goals.
But as teams have proven many times this season, nothing is impossible and Southern Districts will be primed to capitalise on any complacency from the visitors.
Parramatta FC vs. St. George FC – Sunday 21 June, 3PM at Melita Stadium – WASHED OUT
This will likely be the match of the week, with third and fourth place clashing at Melita Stadium. Both sides will be upset with their performances in Round 10, and fired up for what should be a fiery contest this Sunday.
Parramatta FC have been in red hot form, but were shocked by the APIA Leichhardt Tigers for the second time in as many weeks. The Tigers appear to be their bogey team, and Parramatta remain the only team to concede points to Leichhardt. Not only will Parramatta be concerned with losing on the weekend, but concerned with their inability to score, which hadn’t been an issue for the past month.
St. George were heavily beaten by the first placed Western NSW Mariners in Round 10. They seem unable to beat the two sides ahead of them on the table this season, after falling twice to Bankstown and now to the Mariners, but always perform strongly against everyone else. A heavy defeat to the Mariners at Proctor Park is something that many teams have faced this season, and St. George will look to quickly move on.
Both sides are aggressive and spectators can expect plenty of goalscoring. Whoever emerges victorious will be making a strong statement about their ability to contest for promotion this year. Three points for St. George would give them a massive four point buffer over Parramatta, with a game in hand. Meanwhile, Parramatta can leapfrog St. George into third place and set their targets on the Mariners and Bankstown above.
Mt. Druitt Town Rangers FC vs. Western NSW Mariners FC – Sunday 21 June, 3PM at Popondetta Park
Mt. Druitt will be delighted with their strong 5-1 win away from home against Southern Districts, and looking to jump-start their season from this foundation. Unfortunately for the Rangers, they are facing the first placed Western NSW Mariners in Round 11. They will have to be at their very best to come away with points from this fixture, but a win could potentially take them above the Gladesville Ravens into fifth place.
The Mariners’ objective will be to further their lead at the top of the table. They are equal on points with Bankstown, but have a game in hand and marginally superior goal difference. Similarly to Bankstown, they will have goal difference in mind and looking to score aplenty. However, the trip out to Popondetta Park isn’t easy and they must avoid becoming complacent. In the race for first place, stuttering against lower-table teams will be one’s undoing. Bankstown and the Mariners have the potential to do so this Sunday.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers vs. Gladesville Ravens – Sunday 21 June, 5:45PM at Lambert Park
The Tigers have lifted themselves off the bottom of the table for the first time this year with an incredible pair of victories over Parramatta FC in the past couple of weeks. They will be excited about the opportunity to claim their first points against a different side on Sunday, taking on a Ravens squad who were beaten thoroughly by Bankstown City in the previous round. With home ground advantage, the Tigers could well continue their midseason revival and even challenge Mt. Druitt and Gladesville ahead of them. This seemed almost inconceivable only a few weeks ago.
The Ravens will remain optimistic about their chances this season, but have been languishing in a midtable position for quite some time now. They have plenty of time to surge forward into the top four, but games like this Sunday’s must be won if they are to do so. The pressure will be on, whereas the Tigers will be playing with more confidence and freedom.
-by Daniel Palmer, Women’s State League Reporter
