Round 19 Preview – State League Women’s

Women’s State League round-19 games kick-off 3pm on Sunday as Western NSW Mariners welcome St George FC to Jack Brabham Park, Mount Druitt Town Rangers face SD Raiders at Popondetta Park, University of NSW host Parramatta FC at David Phillips Complex, and APIA Leichhardt Tigers have the bye.

Western NSW Mariners vs St George FC, Sunday 13 August 3pm, Jack Brabham Park

What a match across the Great Divide when St George traverse the Blue Mountains to face Western NSW Mariners at Jack Brabham Park.

A resurgent St George moved into second place on the ladder with a tough 0-0 draw with Mount Druitt, eclipsing rivals SD Raiders on goal-difference. They’ve won seven of their last nine games and kept three straight cleansheets (not conceding in over 300 minutes of football) to show strong intent on being a finals force.

But they face a Mariners side honing in on a belated top-four berth now just three points behind Uni and four off the Saints, and they boast a considerable fortress of their own having conceded just seven goals in seven matches. In fact, Uni are the only team to score more than twice against this season (a 4-3 win in May).

Western’s defensive fortitude has contributed massively to a goal-difference of +36 that is better than the three sides they’re chasing, and they’ll glean plenty from a 3-2 round-five win over the Saints at Jack Brabham (a ground where they’ve won both fixtures there this season). St George won the return bout 2-1.

Mount Druitt Town Rangers vs SD Raiders, Sunday 13 August 3pm, Popondetta Park

Despite Mount Druitt Town Rangers being out of the playoff picture their form indicates they’ll put up a good fight against Southern Districts Raiders at Popondetta Park.

Depending on whether you like your glass half-full or half-empty defending champions Raiders have won four of their last six games or lost six of their last 10 to sit third on the ladder, and they’ll definitely want maximum points ahead of their bye the following round.

Mount Druitt are enjoying some end-of-season wind in their sails and have put together a string of good performances that have troubled the top teams and garnished a quarter of their points in the last four matches. They’ve also kept a second cleansheet in three weeks and pushed Raiders in a tight 2-1 loss in their last meeting.

University of NSW vs Parramatta FC, Sunday 13 August 3pm, David Phillips Complex

University of NSW take on Parramatta FC at David Phillips Complex needing to get their finals push back on track.

Sitting second a fortnight ago Uni haven’t won since a 2-0 scoreline against Western NSW over a month ago, which followed a promising 10-match unbeaten streak, and their fourth spot is still under threat from the Mariners. A good run home will see them barking at a top-two finish.

In Parramatta’s corner the only goal they’ve scored since the opening round came in a 17-1 loss to Uni at Melita Stadium the last time they met.