Round 8 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Women’s

The closest season in years is upon us in the PlaStation4 NPL NSW Women’s competition.

Only seven points separate first to seventh on the ladder after seven rounds played.

Macarthur Rams V Emerging Jets

At Lynwood Park, the fourth placed Macarthur Rams will welcome the talented Emerging Jets.

The Rams battled hard last week with a number of key players missing from their line up.

With the likes of Ledbrook, Rollason and Khamis in the squad, the Rams are a different outfit and coach Norm Boardman will hope to have them on the park this week.

The Jets are continually improving week after week and are getting closer to their first points of the campaign.

Captain Clare Wheeler is an important part of this team and when she is on song so is her team.

Blacktown Spartans V Marconi Stallions

At Blacktown Football Park, the Blacktown Spartans take on the Marconi Stallions.

The Spartans have had a good start to the season, currently sitting in fifth place on the ladder. 

One loss in seven games underlines the Spartans’ strength and coach Paul Costantini will want his team to pick up another three points to stay in the battle for the Premiership.

The Stallions have stayed in their seventh position for most of the season but have insured they stay in touch with the leading teams of the competition.

Another team that was missing key players last week, Stephen Neligan was pleased with his team’s performance and knows a win here could put them in a finals position. 

Football NSW Institute V NWS Koalas

Valentine Sports Park will be the venue for the clash between the Football NSW Institute and the North West Sydney Koalas.

The Institute have showed they can play some good football but the results are yet to go their way.

They will be without Ellie Carpenter this week who received a Matilda’s call up, making life tougher for them.

The Koalas have so far gone about their business quietly and currently in third place on the ladder.

A tight defence seems to be the key for Stephen Peters’ team, having only conceded eight goals and holding the second best defence in the league.

North Shore Mariners V Manly United

The North Sydney derby takes place this week as the North Shore Mariners take on Manly United.

From one derby to another, the Mariners will be hoping for a different result this week compared to last week’s score.

Having now been on the back of consecutive defeats, Spencer Prior would want to make sure his team gets back to winning ways and stay with the leading pack.

Manly United picked up a big point last week and will continue to show how talented their squad is.

Finals places are still quite a long away but a win here would give United hope that they could yet throw themselves in the mix.

Illawarra Stingrays V Sydney University

At JJ Kelly Park on Sunday, it’ll be 1v2 as the Illawarra Stingrays host Sydney University.

Unstoppable. That is the best way to describe the Stingrays attack this season having scored at least two goals in every game they’ve played.

Michelle Heyman and Caitlin Cooper are btoh on Matilda’s duty, a great handicap for the girls in pink.

Having said that, the talented Jordan Baker will move in to replace Heyman at the point while Michelle Carney and Erica Halloway have been in fine form so far.

There was a slight dip in form from last year’s champions but the alarm bells didn’t ring.

Heather Garriock steadied the ship and the girls have really picked up from then, registering consecutive victories.

Evelyn Chronis is in arguably the form of her life at the moment, top scoring for Uni but there are many extremely talented players all over the park.

This promises to be a big one.

-By Nikola Pozder