Round 5 Preview – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Hopefully the Autumn weather allows a full program this weekend for round 5 of the PlayStation® 4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s 2016.
Curiously, the four sides who were washed out last weekend each come up against opposition who were unaffected by the weather, so we may see the week’s rest play a part in the coming results.
Round 5 sees Bankstown host the Mariners in a clash of the newcomers, Inter travel to St Marys looking to take down Nepean, the Tigers are still hunting their first win when they host Sutherland Shire, and Southern Branch make their way to Belmore to take on a rested Sydney Olympic.
Bankstown City FC vs Central Coast Mariners FC, 2.05pm Sunday the 1st of May at Jensen Park
The two new additions to the competition come into this one with differing fortunes to start the season. Bankstown have surprised a few with their early season performances, and while the points haven’t flowed as they perhaps could have, they’d be satisfied with their current position.
Central Coast on the other hand are finding life rather difficult so far. They sit on the bottom of the ladder without a point to their name, and have it all to do in the next few rounds. The extra week’s break due to the weather could be good for them as they can reassess and regroup before this encounter.
This weekend represents a great chance for the home side to claim another win as their dangerous attack could make short work of a Mariners defence that has proved brittle up until this point.
Nepean FC vs Inter Lions SC, 3pm Sunday the 1st of May at Cook Park
Inter would have to go into this one as favourites given their strong start to the year. Another win as well would take them halfway to last season’s points total already, and surely put them in a prime position to challenge for the title.
Nepean’s usually rock solid defence let them down in their last start – a lapse in concentration saw them concede from a simple long punt that was chased down – and they can ill afford a repeat of that against the Lions.
The midfield battle will decide this one, with both teams eternally keen to win the ball in the middle of the park and break from there. Expect it to be a tightly fought encounter with chances at a premium.
Northern Tigers FC vs Sutherland Shire FA, Sunday the 1st of May at Mills Park
Closing out games has proved a difficult prospect for the Tigers, and things won’t get any easier this week against Sutherland. Like the Mariners, the Tiger are still looking for their first victory of the season. And also like the Mariners the extra week to prepare should serve them well as they try to find a way to get off the mark in 2016.
Sutherland failed to make the most of a good performance in their last outing against Bankstown, but will feel the rewards will come if they can repeat that display at Mills Park. They’ve won 5 of their last 6 against the Tigers, so confidence will be high that they can pick up their third win of the year in this one.
Sydney Olympic FC vs Southern Branch FC, Sunday the 1st of May at Peter Moore Park
This match has been moved to Peter Moore after originally being scheduled for Nowra. As a result, this marks the third successive home game (two discounting the weather) for Olympic, so they need maximum points this weekend if they are to take anything worthwhile from this period of home advantage. Southern have shown they can be beaten, so a strong performance from their forward line should see them home.
Southern Branch will be smarting after their 2-0 defeat to Inter last weekend, and they face another tough test when they travel to Belmore. There are greater ambitions here than a mid-table finish, and a consistent run of wins is needed if they are to go one step further this season.
Both teams favour offence, so this could end up an open and free flowing contest.
-By Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Reporter
