Round 17 Preview – PS4 NPL NSW Women’s

It’s crunch time in the penultimate round of the PlayStation 4 NSW NPL Women’s competition.

Dropped points at this stage of the season could spell the end of someone’s dreams.

Emerging Jets V Macarthur Rams

The action kicks off on Sunday at Lake Macquarie Football Facility as the Emerging Jets and Macarthur Rams lock horns. 

The Jets game was washed out last week, meaning, they’ll play 3 games in 5 days, an extremely tough task.

The game against the Rams will round up their tough schedule where they’ll look to take as many points as possible.

With Leena Khamis instilling fear in all defences with her fantastic form, the Rams are in with a real shout here.

They won’t expect to drop points, putting them ever closer to another finals appearance.

A tough win away from home against the Stingrays means that the Rams hold the key to finals football in their own hands.

The Jets won 3-1 when these two met last time.

Manly United V North Shore Mariners

Cromer Park will host the North Sydney derby as Manly United take on the North Shore Mariners.

The in form side of the competition cannot drop any points if they are to play finals football.

Their undefeated run now has moved into double digits and if they had a better start to the season, would certainly be challenging for the Premiership.

United were troubled last week and seemed to take their foot off the pedal at times, the Mariners will punish any lapses.

The Mariners will be disappointed with the way their season has panned out after such a promising start.

Yet, they’d more than like to have their say in how things go down in the Premiership and finals race.

It was close when they met in round 8, with United sneaking passed with 2-1 win.

North West Sydney Koalas V Football NSW Institute

ELS Hall Park could be a very happy place on Sunday afternoon after the North West Sydney Koalas and Football NSW Institute play.

The Koalas are coming into this one with the opportunity to possibly take the Premiership, pending results go their way.

They have played some good, entertaining football to get them where they are and they would not like it to slip out of their grasp now.

For the Institute, they need points in their battle to avoid bottom place on the ladder.

They have enough firepower to hurt any team in the competition and will be dangerous.

It was the Koalas that took the points last time, winning 6-3 in an entertaining clash.

Marconi Stallions V Blacktown Spartans

Marconi Stadium will host the Marconi Stallions and Blacktown Spartans clash on Sunday.

Marconi are one of those teams that can’t afford to drop points in the run in to the end of the season.

The Stallions though, have two games in hand, something that could become extremely important.

Four wins should see the Stallions playing finals football.

Blacktown though, will not be one team that will not turn up to play.

They made it tough for Manly and will do more than the same on Sunday against the Stallions.

The Stallions took all three points when they met in round eight, winning 3-0.

Sydney University V Illawarra Stingrays

Sydney University and the Illawarra Stingrays will complete the round on Tuesday night at Sydney University Football Ground.

Probably the biggest clash of the round with much riding on it.

Dropped points for Uni will more than likely mean the end of Heather Garriock’s Premiership hopes.

A win, along with victories in their catch up games will bring the Premiership down to the final game of the season.

It won’t be easy for Uni though, with a tough schedule, playing four games in 10 days.

After being right up in the fight for the Premiership, the Stingrays are now in trouble of missing out on the finals altogether.

Some unlucky results mean that the South Coast side cannot drop any more points.

The Stingrays won this one by the odd goal last time they played and a tight one is what we can expect here on Tuesday night. 

BY: Nikola Pozder