PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 17 Preview
Round 17 could see this season’s top 3 all but decided well in advance of this season’s finals series.
Inter Lions will attempt to find some way to slow the charge of Southern Branch and Marconi host Sutherland in what is sure to be an attacking game of football. Nepean are out to continue Olympic’s malaise at Peter Moore Park, and the UNSW Lions put their pride on the line against the Northern Tigers.
Inter Lions SC v Southern Branch FC, 3pm Sunday 19th July at Concord Oval
Southern Branch will look to add Inter to their list of recent conquests when they travel to Concord Oval this weekend. 7 wins from 8 starts has seen the side from Nowra fly up the table in the past 2 months and they’ll be confident of chalking up another win against an Inter side that they have already defeated twice this season. The Lions from Concord have played some good football in recent weeks, and will be keen to cause an upset on their home turf. They’ll need to stop Southern Branch number 9 Sarah Hickling if they are any chance though, as her form now mirrors that of her own team after her hat trick last Sunday against Olympic.
Marconi Stallions FC v Sutherland Shire FA, 3pm Sunday 19th July at Marconi Stadium
After their wash out at the weekend Marconi will be keen to get back into the groove against Sutherland. The last outing for the Stallions was their first loss of the season, so they’ll be after a win here to reassert their strangle hold over the league. Sutherland look to be finding form at the right end of the season though, and with Rochelle Borremeo pulling the strings up front they are sure to create enough chances to push Marconi all the way. If the shire side can tighten up their defence, another big upset could be on the cards.
Northern Tigers FC v UNSW Lions, 3pm Sunday 19th July at Mills Park
The Tigers have been hot and cold over the last few weeks. With a winning performance against Olympic sandwiched between 2 disappointing losses, they can’t afford another slip up if they hold any realistic expectations for success this year and will need to pull out a good performance against an organised UNSW. The Lions look to be out of the finals race now, and will be using the rest of the season to add some effectiveness to their stylistic approach. The Tigers will miss suspended central midfielder Emily Usherwood, who provides much of their drive and energy out of the centre of the park.
Sydney Olympic FC v Nepean FC, 3pm Sunday 19th July at Peter Moore Park
1 win in 6 for Olympic has seen their rivals gain valuable ground on the ladder and only a win here will keep them in the hunt for the valuable double chance in the postseason. Nepean are now sitting just outside the top 4, and with a game in hand they’ll be confident they can put enough results together to take their place in the finals at the end of round 21. This should be a tight encounter, and Olympic will need to break through, or better yet bypass, the strong central defensive pairing of Vassallo and Wilson if they are to defeat the visitors.
-By Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Reporter
