PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Round 15 Preview

There are only four rounds left in the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition with no one assured a finals place yet.
The Macarthur Rams are in pole position to book their place in the finals and retain the Premiership, while the fight for the remaining three spots will go down to the wire.
MATCH OF THE ROUND  
Sydney University v Illawarra Stingrays @Wilson Park
What a game this promises to be at Wilson Park between Sydney University and Illawarra Stingrays.
It’s 3v4 with only one point separating these two teams.
Illawarra looked in big trouble after round 7 with only one win on the board and sitting in ninth place. Grahame Shaw’s belief in his squad was telling though with the girls only registering one draw since then and rocketing up the ladder! Last week, they knocked off the league leaders and with Michelle Carney rolling back the years and finding form, they’re looking like quite the outfit.
No defeats in their last four matches, along with two clean sheets, has seen Heather Garriock’s side find themselves in the fight for second place. At times this season, the young side has lacked experience but with Garriock in the line up now they’ve gained where they were lacking.
Shaw was spitting chips last time these two met as his side let a three-goal lead at half time slip, having to settle for a draw in an incredible Uni come back.
Emerging Jets v Central Coast @Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
It’s the F3 derby at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility in the early game on Sunday afternoon between the Emerging Jets and Central Coast.
The Jets have been good value for their first season in the states top tier competition, propping up in seventh place. Finals are still achievable for them but they’ll need wins and results to go their way in the run in.
The Coast will be looking to finish the season in the best possible way. They won’t be lying down for anyone and will try to pick up as many points as possible. Adriana Jones has perhaps been one of their best this season and she could pose a threat to the Jets defence.
Macarthur Rams v Football NSW Institute @Lynwood Park
A repeat of last years Grand Final takes place at Lynwood Park as the Macarthur Rams host the Football NSW Institute.
Macarthur are bouncing off a tight one-goal defeat last week, keeping the champagne on ice for a little longer. With the quality they posses all over the park, captain Renee Rollason should be able to pick up the Premiership over the next couple weeks.
The Institute kept their slight finals hopes alive with a well-earned three nil win last weekend. Front trio of Demi Koulizakis, Georgia Plessas and Princess Ibini-Isei will be the danger points for Norm Boardman’s Rams.
Last time these two met, it was one-way traffic with the Rams coming away with a commanding 5-0 win.
North Shore Mariners v Manly United @Northbridge Oval
The Northern Beaches derby see’s the North Shore Mariners take on Manly United at Northbridge Oval.
It was shock in the Mariners camp on Sunday when the referee blew full-time, going down 5-3 and putting their finals place in jeopardy. They’ve been there or thereabouts throughout the whole season and a defeat on Sunday will really dent their finals aspirations.
Gwynne Berry’s girls can’t catch a break in recent weeks and poor results over the last month has seen his side drop off the fight for the Premiership. Going down in this one will even bring Manly’s finals hopes in question as the Mariners will edge ever closer. If the side can replicate form from earlier on in the season they should be where it matters come August.
– by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter