PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 Semi Finals Preview
We are down to four teams in the PS4 NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition as we move into the Semi Finals.
The Macarthur Rams, Blacktown Spartans, Sydney University and Manly United will be the teams competing for this season’s ultimate prize, the 2015 Championship.
Sydney University (3) v Manly United (4) @Blacktown Football Park, 3:45pm Saturday, 15th August
The Minor Semi-Final between Sydney University and Manly United will see the elimination for one of these two at Blacktown Football Park on Saturday afternoon.
These two have been up around the top of the table for the whole season and deserve their spot in the Championship series. They’ve been hard to separate this year, same points, an identical goal difference and a win a piece against each other.
Manly will go into this one possibly slightly more confident having beaten Uni only two weeks ago, over-turning a half time deficit.
Ellen Wheatley has found some goal scoring form, scoring two in two weeks for her team which will please coach Gwynne Berry. United also have Louise Neville and the experienced Kristie Crawford that Uni will have to be aware of in this one.
Uni showed their capabilities only in the second half last week against the Premiers Macarthur. If they can bring that performance for the whole 90 minutes on Saturday it will be very tough for Manly to contain them.
Elizabeth Grey came off the bench to score a brace, the second in particular was quite a goal. If she can bring her scoring touch with her to Blacktown Football Park Uni will fancy themselves. They may have to do it without player/coach Heather Garriock who hobbled off last week and the coaching staff will be sweating on her fitness.
It will be a match where both sides must give it their all and leave everything they have on the pitch if they’re to progress.
Macarthur Rams (1) v Blacktown Spartans (2) @Sydney United Sports Centre, 3:45pm, Sunday 16th August
A spot in the Grand Final is up for grabs on Sunday as the Macarthur Rams take on the Blacktown Spartans at Sydney United Sports Centre.
The Spartans turn of form in the second half of the season has been quite spectacular, seeing them sneak into second spot virtually unnoticed. Paul Costantini’s girls only lost one game in the second half of the season and that defeat came against Sunday’s rivals.
A massive loss to the Spartans chances will be the absence of young starlet Tara Pender who is away with Young Matilda’s duty. Nevertheless, the likes of Morgan and Alix Roberts as well as Linda O’Neill will sure fill the gap left by Pender.
The Rams fell short last year of doing the double, having secured back-to-back Premiership’s the question is, can they do it this year and take the Championship? Norm Boardman has a side with quality all over the park and will be confident his team can book their place in the Grand Final.
Captain Renee Rollason will need to lead her team much like she has all season, by example. The creative midfielder will look to feed Matilda Leena Khamis as well as the inform Kate Hensman to find the goals. Hayley Crawford has been a rock at the back, commanding the best defence in the league and occasionally moving forward and creating an extra player in attack.
The Rams will also be without their own Young Matilda as stand-out goal keeper Jada Mathyssen-Whyman is away with the team.
Two victories to the Rams in round one and 10 saw them do the double over the Spartans in the regular part of the season but the girls from Blacktown will look to change that on Sunday.
by Nikola Pozder, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s 1 Reporter
