PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 2 Round 20 Preview

The penultimate round of the 2015 season is make or break for a number of sides as they chase the remaining positions in the finals. Southern Branch visits a Nepean side that will be pushing hard to upset the league’s form team.
Sutherland looks too sure up 3^rd spot when they host UNSW, and Inter need a near perfect performance to keep their season alive when they travel to Marconi. In the final match of the round Sydney Olympic welcome the Northern Tigers, who will be throwing everything they have at victory in the hopes of sneaking into 4^th spot.

Nepean FC v Southern Branch FC, 3pm Sunday 9^th August at Cook Park
Nepean needs an upset this weekend to give themselves the best chance of claiming 4^th spot at the end of the season. A big performance is needed all across the park, but a big defensive display should be their top priority. If the home side can play to their strengths and fight for every loose ball then they stand a chance of keeping Southern Branch’s potent attack of Hickling and Wehmeyer at bay. A win for the Nowra side ensures their probable second placed finish, and they will be looking to send a message to Nepean on the off chance they meet each other in the finals series.

Sutherland Shire FA v UNSW Lions, 3pm Sunday 9^th August at Harrie Denning Centre
Sutherland has a perfect record against UNSW this season, and it is crucial for them that they continue that run when they host the Lions this weekend – another win and they all but guarantee a finals berth with a round to play. The shire side weren’t at their best in their last outing, and they’ll need to create space in midfield so they can unleash their attacking talents on UNSW. The Lions just haven’t been able to get it done regularly enough to be a challenger this year, and they’ve started to crumble the longer the season has gone. Causing an upset here will give them something to build on for the 2016 campaign.

Marconi Stallions FC v Inter Lions SC, 3pm Sunday 9^th August at Marconi Stadium
Marconi can bring up their half century if they pick up at least a point when they host Inter this weekend. The Stallions’ dominance appears to know no bounds as they continue to roll through anyone in their path. Anything less than a win will make it extremely difficult for Inter heading into the final game of the season, so they need a huge boilover in this one. They have the ability to pull it off, but they will need a near flawless display from the likes of Pentecost, Ferreyra, and the captain Kalogeropoulos if they are to keep their season alive a little while longer.

Sydney Olympic FC v Northern Tigers FC, 3pm Sunday 9^th August at Peter Moore Park
Olympic have been holding onto 4^th spot for weeks now, and they won’t want to relinquish that grasp this weekend against the Northern Tigers. Olympic know they can beat anyone on their day and will be a dangerous proposition come finals time, regardless of who they draw. The Tigers have to attack as anything less than a win does them no favours here. This clarity of purpose will help the Tigers though as their forward line is by far their strongest attribute, so we should see an open game of football develop. There will be space all across the park for Olympic’s pacey attackers to exploit if they play this smart, and they’ll look to pick off the away side on the break whenever they over commit numbers forward.
by Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 2 Reporter