Round 14 Preview – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Yet again we’ve got another catch up match from Round 10 to deal with this week before we get to the preview for what is shaping to be a massive Round 14 of the PlayStation® 4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s 2016.
And it could have a big influence on how one of the biggest games of the season plays out.
Round 10 catch up fixture:
Sutherland Shire FA vs Nepean FC, 8.15pm Thursday June 30th at Seymour Shaw
Sutherland come into this on the back of a straightforward win against Central Coast, and that should serve them well considering they have to play twice in four days this week. Sutherland got away with a tight 1-0 the last time these two sides met, but they’ll be hoping things are a little bit easier this time around.
Nepean are probably one of the worst sides to play midweek, as they’re never a pushover and they always deliver a contest. They had a fair slice of luck last weekend against Olympic, and a little more in this fixture wouldn’t go astray.
Round 14 Preview
We could have a big gap between the top 4 and the rest at the conclusion of Round 14, so the onus is on a couple of teams to prove they deserve to stay in the race for finals football.
The round though is headlined by the top of the table clash between Sutherland and Inter, with first place and a possible 4 or 5 point lead at the summit on offer depending on results. Elsewhere, Sydney Olympic will be ready to pounce on any slip ups from the top 2 when they host Bankstown City, and Nepean have their second away trip in 4 days when they head down to Nowra to face Southern Branch. In the final match the Tigers look to firm as a top 4 contender when they head up to Gosford.
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Northern Tigers FC, 2.05pm, Sunday July 3rd at Pluim Park NO.3
Fair to say the last time these two sides met, it wasn’t a great day for the Mariners. They’ll certainly be looking to improve upon that performance, and given their results in recent weeks they should be odds on to do so. A couple of draws and some narrow losses have been a tonic for the struggling Central Coast side, and long may it continue for their sake, and for the league.
The Tigers though are steadily moving their way up the table and won’t want to let this slip at all. The way they play, they should be able to drag the Mariners all over the park and open up spaces to attack.
Best attack up against the worst defence, there’s realistically only one way this one should go.
Sutherland Shire FA vs Inter Lions SC, 3pm, Sunday July 3rd at Harrie Denning Centre
One of the biggest matches of the season graces Harrie Denning this weekend as the league’s two best sides face off in a battle for first spot. Inter have surprised this season in leading the league at this stage. Not that their football hasn’t deserved it – they’ve been outstanding all year – but they just weren’t expected to improve this much. Their organisation is first class, and the way they hunt as a pack in midfield makes it very difficult for opposition sides to gain any sort of traction. They will be a different side in the second half of the season now that Freya Hickey has made the switch to Olympic, but they still have the quality to step into the breach.
Sutherland hit a bit of a rough patch in the middle of the season, and this is where they need to fully snap out of it. Facing Nepean a few days before this one is going to be a massive test for them, but if they could get out of this weekend with two wins then it’ll be hard to see anyone catching them over the remainder of the year.
The home side will doubtless have more of the ball here, but they have to create the dangerous chances that everyone knows they are capable of. There is so much ability in this team they are bound to get at least one, so ruthlessness is needed this weekend.
Sydney Olympic FC vs Bankstown City FC, 3pm Sunday July 3rd at Peter Moore Park
Olympic were excellent last outing, and will be steaming that they didn’t leave St Mary’s with the three points. So a reaction is likely when they host Bankstown this weekend. Despite the “goal” conceded last weekend Olympic have the best goalkeeper in the league in their skipper Amanda Seskin. In both her ability between the sticks and her organisational skills – open challenge to any other ‘keeper in the competition to out talk her during a match – the Olympic shot stopper is an ever present. The contest between her and Bankstown skipper Samantha Muscat is sure to be a great one here.
Bankstown have been up and down all year so far. To be fair to them, an inconsistent streak is to be expected with a team promoted from a lower division. In a similar way to Inter, they’ve shown an ability to remain compact and tactically smart at certain points of the year, which bodes very well for the future. Olympic now have arguably two of the best strikers in the competition at their disposal now, so that defence of Bankstown will need to put in a huge shift if they want the points on Sunday.
Southern Branch FC vs Nepean FC, 3pm, Sunday July 3rd at South Nowra Football Complex
Expect this one to be a rather feisty encounter as the last time these sides met we saw 4 red cards. So there’ll be no love lost at all between these two teams in what shapes up as a must win encounter if either are to be serious contenders for a finals position.
Nepean have the tougher road, with this being their second game in 4 days, but they’re a fighting team. Their defence has been a real hallmark of their game this season – equal best in the competition with Sutherland – they just lack the firepower that so many other teams possess up front.
Southern need the result more than Nepean, and that should work in their favour. They’ll be desperate for the points, and playing at home will give them the edge going into this one. Expect it to be a little niggly and very willing down at Nowra on Sunday afternoon.
By Eamonn Warner, PS4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s Reporter
